Glycerol

As far as I am aware, the value of glycerin for a distance runner is limited to its ability to allow increased water stores ("hyperhydration") in the body during a very long run, such as a marathon. The physiology of it is pretty interesting; take a look at "Better Training for Distance Runners," by David Martin and Peter Coe, at pages 370-372. I doubt that you will find much benefit to it unless you are running a hot-weather marathon. Although I'm not certain, I believe that Steve Spence (who was working with David Martin at the time) used it prior to his third-place finish in the very hot 1991 World Championships marathon in Tokyo. You might try it on a long run just to see if you notice the difference.

A little more info please. Are you a miler? If so, dehydration is much less of an issue at least you should be able to be well-hydrated on water/juices/sports drink to last for a mile. Heck, wrestlers dehydrate themselves and do quite well for a bout.

Glycerol does seem to help hyperhydrate (reduces urine output and increases interstitial stores) but the studies showing benefits in this area have not been consistent in showing PERFORMANCE benefits. One study that I remember used an unrealistic performance test (cycle as long as possible at 70% VO2max) that is just not a real life situation. (This is one of the great weaknesses in exercise science: protocols that are not real life).

Back when I was CO-Biker, I found it to be quite beneficial on long, hot rides during the summer. I found that I didn't crash quite as hard, and that I wasn't devistated after really long rides.

I've used it several times on long runs with good results as well. One note of caution, as with most new things, give it a try when it doesn't count to see if it agrees with you. I've heard that it can give some people the runs, so be prepared, although I haven't experienced this. You have to do some planning, as it requires that you begin hydrating 2 - 6 hours prior to your doing your particular activity.

[quote]luv2run wrote:

A little more info please. Are you a miler? If so, dehydration is much less of an issue at least you should be able to be well-hydrated on water/juices/sports drink to last for a mile.

---------------------

I usually run anything from the 800-5k on the track, but also run xc. I was thinking that it might be advantageous to training, and not only racing. I was told that it would help to delay fatigue on your muscles. The longer you can fight off fatigue, the harder you can work out, thus the faster you can get. Is there any truth to this fatigue aspect? Or any other supplement that might do something like this?

Boston George wrote:

[quote]luv2run wrote:

A little more info please. Are you a miler? If so, dehydration is much less of an issue at least you should be able to be well-hydrated on water/juices/sports drink to last for a mile.

---------------------

I usually run anything from the 800-5k on the track, but also run xc. I was thinking that it might be advantageous to training, and not only racing. I was told that it would help to delay fatigue on your muscles. The longer you can fight off fatigue, the harder you can work out, thus the faster you can get. Is there any truth to this fatigue aspect? Or any other supplement that might do something like this?

The best supplement is training. It might delay fatigue by reducing water loss, but again we are talking about long duration exercise. For runs of up to one hour, you should be able to hydrate orally just fine prior to the run. Hydration is a 24 hour process, it needs to be attended to around the clock (well while awake anyway).

where would I purchase Glycerol on the D.C. area, and what does it look like? Is it a drink, a powder, a pill? Who makes it? How much does it cost?

Dr. Robert Cade, Gainesville, FL inventor of Gatorade did studies using glycerol as a sweetener in new Gatorade formula(called GTQ2,I think), and had promising results. Stokley Van Camp bought the formula, but buried it, because they didn't want to mount a new advertising campaign, or admit that something was better than Gatorade.

The results are published somewhere, and were presented at a couple of national conventions.