More Then Vitamin Water

Topic: Nutritional Changes
Key Works: Butt crease, 4:1, Landmark study
Word Count: 487
Likely Next Topic: Seven or so steps to success

Tonight was time to test the hammy. Three miles at Memorial, and I was determined to finish the loop barring serious leg pain. In summary, things went pretty well. The leg pain returned, but it was much higher up the hamstring than it had been the past two runs. For most of the Spring I had a pain at what I call the "butt crease-hamstring interface", and I was able to tolerate it fairly well. As long as the pain stays there, and subsides a bit, I think I'll be back in business. Maybe not 10 on Saturday, but I hope to be there soon.

As promised last time, on to nutrition.

They say that if you repeat the same steps and expect different results, you're an idiot. For the last two marathons I've trained the same way and haven't broken 4:30. There are at least seven or so things that I plan to do differently for Chicago (I'll post a full list soon), but several of them fall into the category of "Nutrition".

After a decent amount of reading, I'm convinced that Accelerade (with it's 4:1 carb to protein ratio) is good thing to give a shot. I've been using the drink mix for all of the Fall season, and once my GUs are gone, I'm going to get some Accelerade gels and use those on my long runs. In theory, the stuff will help endurance performance, and maybe most importantly, will speed recovery from long runs.

I've ordered a bottle of Endurolytes. Atwell and a co-worker of mine use the stuff for cramps and swear by them. I decided to give them a shot after David (Jamoosh) told me that he didn't use them for cramps, he used them for stomach issues and just to feel better late in the run; the first two marathons he used them he PR'd. Two of my three marathons I've had some bad stomach issues; if I can avoid those problem I think I can go a little harder late in the run. As a caveat, I'm a little reluctant to jack with my electrolytes too much, as that can make you real sick, but I hope to ease into taking them, and figure out a good way to train with them in hot Houston and intelligently take them in cold Chicago.

Two marathons ago I took glucosamine. Since then, the government has released it's landmark study that showed the stuff might work for some, and it is generally tolerated and thought to be free of side effects. This time I'm taking the glucosamine/chondrontin combo (the kind most commonly taken) as I figure it can only help the knees and ankles stay healthy.

Building Hags 2.0 ..... from the inside out!