Bicarb for 14 year old daughter

I'm mulling this question over myself. My daughter knows about the bicarb and while I don't think it's necessary yet to use it, you can be sure that usage will spread like wildfire through high school runners. We've already seen kids in our area using lactate meters and doing obvious double threshold plans (easy to spot on Strava). Anybody who pays attention to competitive running is going to be facing this question.

Just like the supershoes, etc, if you don't use the bicarb, you'll eventually be at a disadvantage. These are kids competing for not just state meet spots and championships, but also scholarships. A few seconds could make the difference between taking huge student loans or having someone else pay for your school.

So my approach with my daughter has been to keep her informed, while encouraging her to improve without it and then we can evaluate later whether it's something she wants to consider if it's going to be a close call for state qualification or something like that. In her case, she's so far ahead of where she was last year, she's gonna destroy all her PRs significantly. I could only see her using it if it's going to be the factor that puts her over the edge in some important way.

What other posters have said about using it before the meet where you're going to need it is spot on. If my daughter ends up using it, I would first want to see her use it for 2 separate interval workouts, then in a throwaway dual meet, then in an invitational setting (but not the key race). That's what I'd recommend for anyone whose child is going to consider doing this.

Aint no way her stress is managed well with a dad like this.

Does anyone know if college distance runners are all using it?

I’d also add that I’ve been in situations where I advanced to championships or failed to advance by 1/10th of a second. Even 20 years later it is engrained in my mind and I can play it back like it was yesterday. I will always wonder if Bicarb would have made the difference. (800 meters)

By consuming it, there won’t be any doubt that anything she could do to perform 110% was left on the table.

Yea they are.

I like how digestible baking soda has become so scary boogeyman for people. Coffee before a race gives me people the wrong kind of runs too yet no one gets their heart rate up over using it (pun intended).

Maybe. You have to train your gut for it from what I read. Maurten’s solution works well, I hear. My wife has done buffering during marathon training to good effect (pre-maurten), but it did mess up digestion.

I hear/read you have to get acclimated to it. Also, I hear/read using it during workouts can be beneficial.

Those who claim it is cheating or it will hurt your kid are being ridiculous. Bicarb is a solution that’s been around for a looooong time. It is not new.

However, you should, I think, let your daughter lead the way. I’ve discussed it some with my own (15yr old; regional top 5 maybe, but not state; more for the half marathons she runs). She is not ready yet—wants to get faster or wait for a full marathon before trying it.

I’d also try and encourage her to work on dialing in her fueling. A lot of HS girls (HS students, really, but I think the boys are physically affected less) don’t eat well (enough!) and get worn down and their training adaptations are impacted. This isn’t just because of disordered eating—it’s as much because of the stress and schedule of school.

I would avoid ketones—the other hot thing. They tend to be more used for longer distances (long runs; 10k and half and marathon runners), so less helpful for shorter runs. May be useful. Definitely legal. But the studies on long term effects are just not there yet.

Good luck to her (and you, coach parent)!

So horrible, her dad cares about her!

I get it, this is probably too much. But a little over thinking beats what is much more normal parenting style which is absence.

No... As a 14 year old, she'll recover from not making states, but embarrassment from a mid-race potty mishap will stay with her for a lifetime.

I have much more concerns about having a 14-15 yo training and competing in half marathons and marathons than taking bicarb.

Have you also implemented other actions to maximize her performance and help her to run faster?

Such as-new pair of super spikes, working with a sport psychologist, short haircut or hair braiding to be more aerodynamic, training stints at altitude, caffeine, working with a massage therapist, lactate monitoring during training, specific weight training program, having a personal coach, incentives and rewards for running faster, sleep monitoring, etc.

Obviously yes. For less trained athletes with a weak ability to clear and neutralize acidity, bicarbonate should help MORE.

Source: I made it up right now

You know what works better than bicarb? Heart. Heart gets you to States.

I've only got $50.

No,

100% yes! Give your kids every safe and legal advantage in life that you can and bicarb is both of those things. Give her the bicarb, some caffeine tabs, super shoes and send her to the start line with the best chance to succeed at crushing the crap out of her competition. She's 14, not 4 and if she's done the work to be that close to making it to state, give her the proper tools to help get her there. Ignore these morons that probably don't even have kids. She's going to get good sleep, maybe take in some carbs, hydrate properly and if you choose, bicarb is just another piece of the prep work. Nothing wrong with it at all!

Signed,

Someone who's daughter made it to state at age 13.

Just do it!

Well good luck getting it! Sold out in bicarb 12 and 15 guess if your not using it your lining up with runners who are!

You can get bicarb and loaded burritos for $27.99 on Tuesdays.

Highly recommended for 14 year olds and helicopter parents.

Some of the best athletes in the world had helicopter parents, don't knock it til' you've tried it.