After decades of hearing about sodium bicarbonate as a performance booster for hard anaerobic efforts, but being scared off by the horror stories (bathroom emergencies, puking mid-race, etc.), I finally decided to give the Maurten Bicarb System a shot. Here’s how it went for me during an 800m track race:
The Setup:
• I took the mix at 4:45pm, about 2 hours before my race.
• The science behind it is that the hydrogel protects your stomach, allowing the bicarb to bypass it and absorb directly in the small intestine.
The Experience:
• Digestive side effects: I was skeptical, but the hydrogel seemed to do its job. No bloating, cramps, or trips to the bathroom. Other than a single burp around 5:45pm, my stomach stayed calm. A huge win compared to raw baking soda.
• Performance effects: This is where it gets harder to gauge. I ran my first 800m race in 16 years, so adrenaline and excitement definitely played a role. That said:
• Warm-up felt smooth—I hit 4x200m in 27-30 seconds and flying 30s close to max effort, which matched my workouts in the last 2 weeks but felt more sustainable and less acidic.
• The race itself was solid. Opened in 58 seconds for 400m, passed people on the backstretch, and closed 2:06 without feeling the usual heavy legs from lactic buildup.
• Subjectively, I felt like there were fewer hydrogen ions locking up my muscles. Could I credit the bicarb entirely? Maybe partially, but it was likely a mix of factors.
Downsides:
• 6,000mg of sodium is no joke. I don’t eat a super high-sodium diet, so this felt excessive. That said, it’s probably no worse than a typical meal at a fast-food chain for many people. I think a rack of ribs at Chilis, hamburgers and fries, etc actually has more sodium than this.
Would I Use It Again?
Yes, but only for key races or workouts. It’s not something I’d use regularly due to the sodium content and cost. However, for critical efforts where every edge matters, I’d definitely reach for it again.
Curious to hear others’ experiences with Maurten Bicarb.
This race gave me courage that I can pursue an 800 meter training block without getting injured. I feel I have the raw leg speed and aerobic endurance (1:17 half marathon) to go sub-2, I just need to spend 10-12 weeks doing things like 3 sets of 3x300m at goal pace with 60 seconds between reps and a few minutes between sets, 400s, 600s, faster than race pace 150s, etc.