Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

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Jwolf
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Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby Jwolf » Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:22 pm

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ian
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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby ian » Thu Jul 23, 2015 3:09 pm

Paraphrase of the article's lede: Somebody once had a heart attack in a marathon for which they carb-loaded. Clearly, carb-loading causes heart attacks.

After the first few paragraphs, the article was solid (but, as far as I know, it's been a couple of decades since the depletion-overload tactic has been common).

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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby Jwolf » Thu Jul 23, 2015 10:08 pm

ian wrote:After the first few paragraphs, the article was solid (but, as far as I know, it's been a couple of decades since the depletion-overload tactic has been common).


Yet people still talk about carbo-loading the night before or the days leading up to a race.
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ian
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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby ian » Thu Jul 23, 2015 10:18 pm

Jwolf wrote:
ian wrote:After the first few paragraphs, the article was solid (but, as far as I know, it's been a couple of decades since the depletion-overload tactic has been common).


Yet people still talk about carbo-loading the night before or the days leading up to a race.

… but not preceded by a depletion phase. Also, on the day before a race, when replacing some of one's protein and fat calories for carbs, it certainly feels like carb "loading", even if the overall intake is within the range needed to top up cellular and liver glycogen stores. Unless the article was aimed at brand new runners whose intuition is based on conventional wisdom from generations past, it seemed to me like the author was trying to express currently standard practices as some sort of little-known breakthrough.

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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby daddy_runner » Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:54 pm

Not to be a total dick here, but... Hasn't it also been a few decades since somebody broke the Canadian men's marathon record?
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Jwolf
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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby Jwolf » Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:57 pm

I'm trying to figure out how that comment relates to the article I posted.
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turd ferguson
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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby turd ferguson » Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:59 pm

Jwolf wrote:I'm trying to figure out how that comment relates to the article I posted.


We stopped doing depletion runs and carbo-loading, we stopped breaking records. We claim to know more than we used to, but we're actually running slower.
"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so." - Douglas Adams

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Jwolf
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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby Jwolf » Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:18 pm

turd ferguson wrote:
Jwolf wrote:I'm trying to figure out how that comment relates to the article I posted.


We stopped doing depletion runs and carbo-loading, we stopped breaking records. We claim to know more than we used to, but we're actually running slower.


Well, Canadians aren't the only ones in the world that are running. And in general, times are getting faster, and records are being broken. And there's lots more going on besides carb-loading.

Anyway, I posted this mostly for the average people who think that carb-loading is useful. And why it might not be.
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ian
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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby ian » Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:54 pm

Bring back the leather racing flats and cotton singlets!

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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby turd ferguson » Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:56 pm

ian wrote:Bring back the leather racing flats and cotton singlets!


I'm already wearing my budgie smugglers
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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby ultraslacker » Mon Jul 27, 2015 6:23 pm

I'm not under the impression that carb-loading is going to help me. But it's yummy and gives me an excuse to pig out on pasta, so that's good enough. :)
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daddy_runner
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Re: Why carbo-loading doesn't work and what to do instead

Postby daddy_runner » Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:06 pm

ultraslacker wrote:I'm not under the impression that carb-loading is going to help me. But it's yummy and gives me an excuse to pig out on pasta, so that's good enough. :)


I'm definitely under the impression that *anything*-loading is going to help me before an ultra. Sure beats heading into a race fasted, that's for sure.
Plan for 2017:
END-SURE 25k...done! 2:30:23
Spruce Woods Ultra volunteering...done!
Kettle Moraine 100
Western States 100 crewing
Falcon Fatass 50k
Superior 100


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