If Glycogen Isn’t the Limiter, Why Do Pros Eat So Many Carbs?
About this episode
The episode discusses the role of carbohydrates in endurance performance and challenges the notion that fatigue is solely due to glycogen depletion.
A thoughtful response to the recent Noakes et al. review questioning the role of carbohydrates in endurance performance. We explore why fatigue isn’t caused by running out of muscle glycogen, why blood glucose protection is critical, and why that still doesn’t explain elite fueling strategies. Using recent research and real-world endurance racing, we explain how carbohydrate availability supports mitochondrial throughput, late-race durability, and sustained power — even when glycogen isn’t spared.
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- What Pros Do Differently (And What Actually Matters for You)
- The 6 Most Important Movement Priorities for the Ironman Run
- The Most Important Ironman Workouts Nobody Brags About
- Ironman Swim Training for Working Triathletes: The 5 Things That Actually Matter
- Why Rigid Ironman Plans Fail — and What Actually Works
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