In re-reading some Vigil and Dave Martin stuff, I saw where they advise AGAINST fueling with anything other than water for at least four hours before racing the marathon. They say that insulin responds to any carbs by turning on the glycogen-burning mechanism when we .of course, want the fat-burning fueling to occur.
Any thoughts out there on this seemingly unwise approach?
Jason?
Hadd?
JK?
Others?
next time I see martin or vigil run a good marathon I will take their advice to heart.
but to get to the answer. People respond in a variety of ways to pre-race feeding. I suggest that if you have run enough long runs you will have an idea of what works best for you.
I always eat something 2-3 hours out. I have never been a fast marathoner but I never hit the "dead on my feet" wall.
It might be a good question to ask of Ryan Shay who has been training under Vigil and Larsen.
mplatt wrote:
People respond in a variety of ways to pre-race feeding.
And water will never hurt you.
Taking into account the young ages/inexperience of most of the runners these two have coached, a conservative approach might have been best at the time.
P.S.= I believe both these gentlemen are for using carb/electrolyte drinks DURING the race. I think the idea is to get the body going in fat-burning mode first and then supplement to avoid hitting the wall.
mplatt wrote:
next time I see martin or vigil run a good marathon I will take their advice to heart.
but to get to the answer. People respond in a variety of ways to pre-race feeding. I suggest that if you have run enough long runs you will have an idea of what works best for you.
I always eat something 2-3 hours out. I have never been a fast marathoner but I never hit the "dead on my feet" wall.
They have worked with some very good runners and both have studied physiology and performance. I would need to read what they said exactly, but in "Better Training for Distance Runners, 2nd edition" on page 368 Martin mentions that a light CHO meal 4 to 5 hours can top off fuel reserves (it also helps restore lost liver glycogen, not to mention keep hunger pangs in check). Martin does offer that Newsholme and even Costill suggests that CHO drinks and snacks be avoided in the time immediate to the race (2 hours to 30min).
excatly!
If you need to know how to prepare you are better asking someone who has done the event.
For any pseudoscientist to offer such specific advice when the real answer, as known by real runners, has such varying correct answers, is irritating to me.
mplatt wrote:
next time I see martin or vigil run a good marathon I will take their advice to heart.
but to get to the answer. People respond in a variety of ways to pre-race feeding. I suggest that if you have run enough long runs you will have an idea of what works best for you.
mike -- i agree that everyone should try different things and see what works best for them, but blankly dismissing vigil's advice is like ignoring salk's polio vaccine since he didn't have the disease himself. the man is a great motivator, and i love to sit and listen to him, but he's got some science behind his methods too.