Stand at the 25-mile mark of any marathon and youll see lots of runners (and Ive been one) who clearly stopped fueling adequately and are left to struggle to the finish line. For the vast majority of athletes, your ideal running weight is roughly 10 lbs heavier than what is suggested by our Running Weight Calculator. Before discovering Maurten, I always had the UCAN Energy Powder 30 minutes before the race. Coach Greg McMillan joins Generation UCAN for a webinar on the top 3 marathon fueling strategies! You should ingest a liquid with carbohydrates and a little protein within the first few minutes (less than 30 minutes) after a No-Fuel/Slow-Fuel long run. Dathan Ritzenhein's Marathon Fueling Journey - PodiumRunner The harder you run, the more calories you burn, and the fastest runners in the world can burn over 1000 calories per hour. Disclaimer: These products work well for me, but each runner has unique needs. . As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. This seems to provide the best of both worlds. The amount and frequency of carbohydrate fueling depend on the length and intensity of the event, as well as the runners body weight. Best Selling Book I have used the bars during both training runs and races. UCAN simplifies marathon nutrition for runners. I was quickly struck by how the nutritional value overwhelmingly pointed to Ucan as a better option. It's why we do what we do every day. Do you have a long run fueling strategy in place? The only app with personalized training plans designed specifically for real people who want to accomplish something amazing in endurance sports. Electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride, also play a key role in maintaining proper hydration. If you are traveling for a race, make sure to bring some of your usual pre-workout fueling options as well as plan ahead and search the area you will be staying in to find some options for pre-race fueling. But UCAN isn't just for elite runners - it's for anyone looking to improve performance and fitness in training without having . I've used those Power Gels from Power Bar is a couple of marathons in the past and never felt it made a difference compared to doing nothing at all so I kind of tossed the gel thing aside. You may not feel you need the fuel that early on, but it is better to start fueling early rather than waiting until its too late. The number revealed by the Marathon Nutrition Calculator is more than just a number you cannot fuel your marathon with equal amounts of chocolate cake, sports gels, or broccoli and expect the same result.Not all calories are created equal when it comes to marathon nutrition and fueling your training session. FREE SHIPPING Get a free shipping on all orders over $200 (Australia), HAVE A QUESTION? As I mentioned, Ive had better success with this strategy than the traditional strategy but there are a few considerations. When youre putting in the hard work to train for a marathon, the last thing you want is your nutrition to hold you back. Runners use any combination of sports drinks and/or gels as part of this strategy and runners are now even using candy and other fast-acting carbohydrates to get this quick shot of glucose into the blood stream. Conversely, larger and heavier runners will burn more calories than smaller runners. Stations in destination locations like Santa Barbara, Napa and Truckee mean weekend getaways with your FCEV. I use Maurten in long runs when I want to "practice" my race fueling. We start with non-GMO corn and apply a patented, natural cooking process with just the right amount of heat and moisture over a long period of time. The longer you run, the more calories you will burn. Liquid sources of calories are best for marathon training and racing because of the pounding effects of running. Check out the Energy Lab blog for recipes, podcasts and posts that will help you optimize your training and nutrition! Assuming you have carb-loaded the day before the race, your body can store up to 2000-2500 calories overnight. UCAN marathon fuel: Utilizing a super starch they claim both no stomach issues and no crashes. A large portion of UCANs running customers come to UCAN because of this steady feeling of long-lasting, strong performance without sugar. Maurten uses a hydrogel technology that makes the fuel super easy to digest and quickly accessible as you run. Osmolality is a term describing how quickly a solution clears your stomach and enters the gut. Marathon Runner Nutrition Plan During Race | UCAN Australia Gels. I cant honestly say that I have tried all of them, but I have tried many varieties and have experimented with a combination of gels and energy bars during my long training runs and races. What is LIVSTEADY Trusted by the Best. This rise and fall (or commonly called the spike and crash) cycle would be interrupted by the regular dump of glucose into the blood stream so that the blood glucose level would remain at optimal levels. It seems that marathon fueling is so individual that it simply takes lots of trial and error in training and tune-up races to find the strategy that works best for you. My favorite flavor is Lemon and I have tried them all. I was so excited when the Edge gels came out but they were a flop for me. Check out the handy chart on the left to see how UCAN simplifies your nutrition for races of any distance. Edge won't give you a sugar rush like a typical energy gel, and you don't need to chase it with water to digest it. I like UCAN energy before races. It is flavored with real fruit so has less sugar than other fueling products. In fact, studies show that energy deficits greater than 1,000 calories a day have been measured in ultrarunners (Costa et al., 2013a; McCubbin et al., 2016).The good news is that our body stores "fuel" in the form of glycogen in muscles and liver . You shouldnt be shedding pounds in the middle of the season. LEARN MORE ABOUT RECOVERY NUTRITION FOR RUNNERS. Drink a 2nd serving of UCAN around 15km and a 3rd serving around Mile 25. If you are planning on taking on fuel during your race, you can probably get away with around 300-500 calories before the race, if you run 1:20 or under so will not be needing fuel, try to have 500-800 calories. For UCAN, drink a serving of Energy Powder 30-60 minutes before the start and then 1 serving Edge Energy every hour. Dilute the carbohydrates with more water later in the race to account of the compromised GI tract. The calculator suggests that you consume roughly 25% of your burned calories during the marathon. Using UCAN pre-run is the best way to ensure you have steady energy throughout. A pre-workout meal before a long run or race may include: This is a good combination of high carb, moderate protein, and a small amount of fat. Fueling before a workout is especially important if the workout is going to last more than one hour or if the workout is high intensity and you are trying to perform your best. Like any other muscle in your body, your gut needs to be trained to take on and absorb heaps of carbohydrates in the middle of a hard run. Most sports drinks and gels also include electrolytes. Hi there! In between servings, you hydrate with water and electrolytes. In fact, I have even gobbled up one of these from time to time when I am need of a snack during the day. Low-calorie electrolyte mixes not only provide fuel and hydration but also increase absorption of carbohydrates. Firstly, you want to make sure you are eating enough throughout your training cycle carbs, protein and fat. Instead, you use slow-absorbing carbohydrates that maintain a steady blood glucose level and are kinder on a dehydrated GI tract. I also drink it on a daily basis just to keep my electrolytes in check in the summer months. But for those still sorting out GI distress, bonks and other issues, I would recommend experimenting beyond the go-to gels. Its such a great race, requiring speed, My recent article on PodiumRunner. Here, were going to take you step-by-step through the crucial fueling windows for a marathon. Thanks for the write-up of UCAN bars. Most endurance energy products have simple sugars or maltodextrin as their carbohydrate source and deliver quick bursts of energy that require repeated re-dosing. If using the Plain UCAN, mix with a scoop of protein powder or with sugar-free electrolytes for flavor. water or sports drink) every 15-20 minutes, Train yourself to drink during exercise if this is new to you. I thought of you during the race! For an 8:00 am race, that means having breakfast at 4:00 am. Low-sugar energy snacks to help bring out your personal best. As a professional runner and nurse anesthetist, Sarah Sellers relies on UCAN to energize smarter before her morning long runs. Sign up for our newsletter for all the latest news and offers. With some experimentation, you can use more or less UCAN each feeding and/or take it more and less frequently. of low-fat milk and a banana. While the blood glucose level is really important to fuel your brain, running also pulls some glucose from the blood so as you run your marathon, you need glucose in the blood to supplement the intramuscular fat and carbohydrates that are the primary fuels for marathon running. They do not cost you anything to use, but are a huge help to support the ongoing content creation process. All Rights Reserved. There are lots of things that could go wrong the weather might change, you might forget a packet of gels, or you might start bonking with 7 miles to go. Most traditional sports nutrition with simple carbs provide a spike and crash effect, and youre left managing the sugary roller coaster. If you have a misstep in your fueling protocol, then you might end up running out of energy or hitting the wall. Prioritizing the fuel you put into your body will have you on track for your best marathon training block yet, and youll be well on your way to crushing your goals. As you know, I give you my honest feedback on all products. Dialing in your nutrition approach takes time since trial and error is the most effective way to arrive at a nutrition approach that works for you. Most stations are clustered in urban areas where driving a few miles can take 20 minutes. Compared to Tailwind, thats a little less carbs (fuel) and a little more sodium per scoop. Chat With Us, Privacy Policy | Contact Support | Terms and Conditions. An important part of taking in carbohydrates during the race is to take them with water, and take them consistently. Based on fueling and hydration recommendations, you may need 1-2 scoops per hour of racing. Nothing new on race day. Marathon Fueling with Pro Runners Sara Hall, Emma Bates and - ucan.co What to eat while running a marathon is so individual. UCAN | How Can SuperStarch Fuel Your Run- RunToTheFinish Whether you have time for a whole morning meal or not,you should be fueling with 20-50 grams of carbohydrates 15-30 minutes before the race starts. She also relies on UCAN to. Strategy 2 - Slow Acting Carbohydrates UCAN is the first thing that goes into my system immediately after a hard workout. Adjust up or down based on your energy needs. ENERGY THAT LASTS UCAN delivers a steady flow of energy to help you avoid the dreaded bonk! So it's important to train my body to digest those gels. High osmolality means that there are lots and lots of small molecules in a given space, and each one of them needs to be transported (by water molecules) through the stomach barrier and into the gut, says Bob Seebohar, former U.S. Olympic sports dietitian and founder of eNRG Performance. You might decide, or be coached, to instead run a 20 mile long run with two 6-mile marathon-paced segments included as your race simulation. Write us an email : sales@generationucan.com.au, Created by September Studio - Designer and WP developer | Copyright Generation UCAN Ltd. Free 5-days standard shipping on orders $200+ (Australia) | Shipping overnight is available! And I would much rather do so without constantly stuffing gels in my pie hole. Sub-threshold. Before longer or low-intensity training sessions, it is acceptable to consume more fat and protein in your diet. Refunds Privacy Policy Terms of Service, Empowering You to Run a Marathon and Change Your Life. ", 4x U.S. Olympian, Boston & NYC Marathon Champion, "Any time Im doing any type of physical activity, if I have a big day, or Im on the go, UCAN is a must. If your long runs last longer, I would recommend two gels on top of the initial UCAN serving. I have to admit I don't use anything and maybe i'd get my sub 2:50:00 if I experimented more. Dilute the carbohydrates with more water later in the race to account of the compromised GI tract. July 29, 2019 Dathan Ritzenhein My marathon career started off like many others. Everyones body is unique and can handle different types and amounts of food before a workout. Sign Up to Receive a Weekly Newsletter with Top Running Tips, Best Running Belts That Wont Slip or Bounce and Carry it All, How Far Did I Run? When I use UCAN, I drink a full serving of the Energy Powder 30 minutes before I start. Stomach issues or GI distress is one of the most common challenges faced by marathon runners. As for the cinnamon swirl option, it has a similar amount of protein and carbs and other measureable nutritional elements but lacks the flavor of the chocolate bars. UCAN Edge - - Long run fuel 70 calories (less than half of most gels) with 19 grams of carbohydrates and 55mg of sodium. Tailwind is a popular option. Required fields are marked *. fructose and glucose) and maltodextrin have been used in a big way by sports nutrition companies to fuel runners. One scoop provides 21g of carbs and 380mg of sodium. Assuming you have carb-loaded the day before the race, your body can store up to 2000-2500 calories overnight. My favorite flavors are Berry and Watermelon. HERE AT MTTIV WERE BIG FANS OF UCAN PRODUCTS: Get a 20% discount on Ucan products here (discount applied at checkout). Clinically proven to help maintain stable blood sugar, LIVSTEADY supports increased productivity, sharper focus, and optimal energy levels. Soups, broths, salted nuts and nut butters, dairy, breads, crackers, and pretzels can be great to incorporate in your overall diet to help improve sodium intake. I want to thank MTA for all the advice I received as I trainedit was appreciated! Check out the Energy Lab blog for recipes, podcasts and posts that will help you optimize your training and nutrition! I, myself, made the switch to this strategy a few years ago and found it to easily overcome the issues I had with the spike/crash and GI upset in marathons (from using Strategy #1). How to Perfect Your Marathon Fueling Strategy with Coach Greg - YouTube The Great Fueling Experiment of 2020 | McMillan Running Thanks for reading the blog and your question. You can practice various methods of carrying and consuming your nutrition so that on race day you are not burdened with anything more than the physical goal youve set for yourself. How to Prepare for a Marathon: Marathon Fueling Strategy Again, youll want to experiment during training for your long run fueling strategy and see what works best for you. After all, thats what the aid stations provided. I used Gu gels, and later Hammer Nutritions versions, for my long-distance runs and races. In general, alow carb diet for runnerisnt going to help with performance, though it can be helpful for teaching the body to use more fat for longer distances. We talk about the differences between fueling for. This makes it a stomach-friendly solution for runners who are struggling to take in sugary sports fuels. It will still take several long runs, hard workouts and tune-up races to fully dial in your optimal feeding schedule. Electrolyte needs are very individualized but a good starting point is to consume 500 to 1000mg of sodium per hour during exercise. Consume the serving over a 5-10 minute span rather than sipping on it slowly like a traditional sports drink. Adding salt to foods is also a great way to increase sodium intake to meet higher needs. They have 2 types of gels and 3 drink mixes. -Sharon W. First marathon in the books! I think that big smile was due to my awesome MTA training that kept me strong until the end. With all this talk about eating, fueling, running, and food, it is inevitable that we talk about ideal running weight. -Emily H. VERY FIRST MARATHON! UCAN takes the worries out of running, says Coach McMillan. Thank you again! 1 serving of Energy Powder has 20g of LIVSTEADY carbs and delivers 60-90 minutes of steady energy; 1 serving of Edge has 15g LIVSTEADY and delivers 45-60 minutes of steady energy. Ahead of race day, you should be able to lay out your race-day nutrition with the exact amount of total calories you need for the race. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Maurten is a fast-acting energy source that allows you to easily digest and use a large amount of carbs which has shown to enhance performance. They recommend one every 60 minutes. You shouldnt need any solid food during a marathon, as this will be difficult and maybe even painful to process mid-run. The fueling begins 15-30 minutes before the race start. And this should be the biggest take away. Here are some tips to get started: Here are some tips on fueling with UCAN during a workout: Refueling with Energy + Protein after a tough session helps your muscles recover while giving you a consistent release of energy so you dont crash. Running coach and exercise scientist Greg McMillan and Generation UCAN share the secrets to running your best marathon. Though it should be noted that you still must work out the amount to ingest so your blood glucose level doesnt drop. This is where it all starts coming together we know how many calories we need to consume during the marathon, the type of foods we should consume, and how to separate your fluids from your calories. Like many newbie runners, I used Gu Energy gels for my initial half marathons and marathons. Your email address will not be published. Instead, we can focus on a high quality pre-run meal and a high quality post-run meal over our quick fuel. Other things to consider include texture, taste, flavor, caffeine amount, and portability (how will you carry it?). Learn how to make your own electrolyte drink here. (Ucan) Angie prefers to take one serving of Ucan before the race and then carry one serving in a small hydration bottle and sip it as she goes. These foods can cause GI issues such as bloating, gas, constipation, and/or diarrhea. Using this combo method, you avoid the issues early in the race so your GI tract is more receptive to the (diluted) fast acting carbohydrates late in the race.