DopeyBadger
Imagathoner
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2015
- Messages
- 10,350
I use the Australian method - for me that means 3500 calories worth of carbs the day before the race. That is more than my normal caloric intake on a day without exercise (by about 1000 calories), but it works. The key is to do some short but very vigorous running just before you start your carb load. For some reason this helps your legs take on more glycogen than they do under normal circumstances.
Also, remember - complex carbs only. No juice and no products made with corn syrup. Those carbs don't convert properly.
I'm really interested in using this method the next time around and honestly a little scared of it. Let me know if I got this correct from reading the original 2002 paper, they make the following recommendations:
-Morning before marathon, warm-up for 5 minutes. Run 150 seconds at 130% VO2max (4:30 minute mile for me), followed by 30 seconds at all out speed. This sounds INTENSE!
-Within 20 minutes of completion of the run start the carb loading protocol.
-10.3 g carbs per kg body weight (technically 12 g per kg lean body mass), which for me is 787 g carbs.
-It is recommended that ~80% of the carbs consumed should be in liquid complex carb form (for me 629 g carbs). They used Polycose as their liquid maltodrextin. The other 20% should be complex carbs (pasta, bread, rice).
-The carbs should constitute 90% of the diet, and the remainder filled with protein and fat. 1g protein = 4 cals and 1g fat = 9 cals. Thus, roughly 3500 total calories needs to be consumed (3146 of which is from carbs (787x4), 280 cals from protein (70g), and 70 cals of fat (roughly 8g) for me.
-Absolutely no exercise after the carb loading procedure begins.
Does this sound like a good summary to you? What liquid carb source do you use? Do you have a sample of your previously used diet plan?