Carbo Loading

Last minute thoughts on Carbo-loading and training for Cycle challenge Sunday!

Well, the big week is here! In my many conversations with people recently, the popular subject of carbo-loading came up. I thought I’d share some of my experiences and feelings on the subject with you.

What carbo-loading is not?
This is not a time when you stuff your face with as many carbohydrate foods as you can lay your hands on! For me, my golden rule is don't go overboard! I see athletes at these pasta parties pile their plates high and then go back for more! I feel I do not want to place unnecessary work on my digestive enzymes so I tend to eat what is a normal amount for me. I want to avoid that bloated feeling of too much food. Be aware that when you eat high carbohydrate meals your body requires additional water. This is also what contributes to that bloated feeling.

Remember that in race week, your training volume is reduced (please tell me this is so!) In this time of less training, you usually find that your stomach still requires the same amount of food even though your energy output is less. This means you are already in a sense, carbo-loading because your body is ingesting more food because the input is more than the output.

What is the aim of carbo-loading?
Essentially, carbohydrates are your body's primary source of fuel. Your body converts the carbohydrates to glycogen (or stored energy). Your body then utilizes these energy stores to keep you going. The theory behind carbo-loading is to provide sufficient glycogen for your body to delay fatigue in the race. In other words its like fuelling your car's petrol tank before a long journey. Generally speaking, when the tank is full, the car performs the most efficiently. I am sure you have noticed how much quicker your car uses petrol when it is less than half a tank. Your body works in a similar way. What is important though is knowing when "your own tank is full" I find there are many athletes who "carbo-overload". One of the side effects of this is a feeling if sluggishness.

Signs that your tank is full (and this may need a PG symbol here!)
Personally, I don't change too much in the way I EAT before a major long distance race because of the point I made earlier-my training volume is greatly reduced. I prefer to drink my carbohydrates-and no, this is not in the form of beer! For a race like 94.7, I would typically, drink 1-2 extra bottles per day of Enervit G two days prior to the race. These bottles would be in addition to my training bottles. I would make them the usual concentration that I am accustomed to in training conditions. The first and most primitive sign that I have hydrated sufficiently for the race is the number of times I heed the Call Of Nature. Once I begin to go more than is usual, that tells my body is full.

Secondly, as I have mentioned to some of you, take notice the colour of your urine. Should it be clear and pale, that is some indication that your body is adequately fuelled.

I think one of the keys for me here is to trust to and listen to your body.

I hope this helps you some of the way...

If you have any other pre race questions, please feel free to mail me

Quote of the week: "When nothing is sure, everything is possible." Margaret Drabble

Why Enervitene, and not Enervit G?
This product is 97% carbohydrates, and doesn't contain all the required electrolytes for racing endurance events. Enervit G contains all the necessary electrolytes that are lost during long distance training and racing.