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.

People in this episode

Hosts: Derek Stone, Conrad Goeringer

Topics covered

• carbohydrates
• endurance performance
• fatigue
• glycogen
• fueling strategies
• mitochondrial throughput

Keywords

• glycogen
• carbohydrates
• endurance
• fatigue
• blood glucose
• mitochondrial throughput
• fueling strategies

More episodes of The Working Triathlete Podcast

• What Transfers from Short Course to Long Course Racing · April 12, 2026 · 55 min
• What Pros Do Differently (And What Actually Matters for You) · March 27, 2026 · 53 min
• The 6 Most Important Movement Priorities for the Ironman Run · February 27, 2026 · 47 min
• The Most Important Ironman Workouts Nobody Brags About · February 18, 2026 · 37 min
• Ironman Swim Training for Working Triathletes: The 5 Things That Actually Matter · February 2, 2026 · 44 min
• Why Rigid Ironman Plans Fail — and What Actually Works · January 16, 2026 · 56 min