If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
My Painless Ski Marathon
I skied my first ski marathon of this season this weekend, the 46K
Pepsi Challenge in Biwabik, MN. Great snow, great weather, great course, great competition. I guess you could say I had a really great time! This race was, however, was a bit of a paradox. I skied a realtively painless race, and although I wasn't quite ready to do it all again in 5 minutes, I could have gone a lot farther. I also had an unusually easy recovery. My first thought is that I can enjoy skiing marathons a lot more this way. But my second thought is that I could have pushed harder, A LOT HARDER, and done significantly better. The paradox is that I don't think I could have gone much faster. During the race, every time I tried to pick up the pace, my guts churned up in protest. As near as I could tell, I was going about as fast as I could for any significant distance. Possibly more relevant was my average heart rate. I averaged 172bpm during the race, which is exactly in line with all of my races of this length over the past several years. I'm not sure what's going on here, or how I can drive myself harder. Have I developed a high tollerance for pain? Are endorphins blocking the pain? Am I having too much fun to notice it? Am I missing something in my race preparation? Do I need to take in more or less food and liquids during the race? What is that gut-churning feeling a result of, and is there a way to avoid it? Thanks, Jon |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
|
#3
|
|||
|
|||
HI Jon! What exactly did you take before the race? I like to say
"drop the powerade/gatorade and nobody gets hurt!" I am not affiliated with hammer gel but I am going to plug it because it is tops! Go to hammergel.com and go to resources, free downloads, then download endurance atheletes guide to success. I read it, use there guide and it is great! No more puking!!!! Here is what I learned, that those simple sugars in powerade are brutal to breakdown, all your blood and energy are working to break them down and it rocks your guts. So in the morning before a race 1 1/2hrs to 2 hrs, just a simple breakfast of say yogurt and a banana and h2o, you should be powered up from the previous days nutrition. Then 10 mins before a race, have a hammer gel and then every 45 mins or so after that with h2o, you might event want to add a protein element like sustained energy. Check out that guide to success and learn all about, it am sure you will feel much better and less like puking!! Good luck |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Is Hammergel significantly different than stuff like Gu? I've used Gu
and a couple of other similar products and they work fine but are tough to use when it's cold. I've tried a Gu flask and cut the product 1/2 with water so it isn't so thick and that seems to help. On the other hand, I've not had a problem with Powerade - but I train with it so maybe my stomach's used to it? The thing I have problems with on a ski marathon is any solid food like the cookies and fig newtons that seem so popular at food stations. Cold bananas? YUCH, they're awful. I'm a 3:30 to 3:50 finisher in the 5 or 6 "50 K's" I've done - I've heard that we slow skiers have significantly differnet needs vis-a-vis glycogen stores, need for calories enroute, etc. than the fast skiers. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Is Hammergel packaged like Gu with the little foil packets? I've
wondered what racers do to dispose of the foil packets. If they just toss it on the snow in a classic race that would be a problem on klister days for the skiers that follow. Or do they just tuck the foil packets into their race suits? Edgar |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Hammer comes in foil pouches just like GU's and others, but I prefer
the flask which can be attached to a belt or I have even seen them on a string around ones neck. If I use a pouch I try not to leave it on the trail, I usually put it up my sleeve or something! The Hammer does tend to get viscous when cold, some flavors more than other. You can mix it in water. Just like your usual energy drink but without the sugars! Here is what is says about : - Hammer Gel and HEED - have carbs (long-chain Maltodextrin) only as their energy source. Both are maltodextrin-based and contain no added simple sugars They are your best choices for events lasting up to two hours, especially when the pace is fast and intense (75-85% MHR). The next two on the list - Sustained Energy and Perpetuem - contain protein also and other components for fueling longer exercise sessions. This is what it doesn't have: artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, wheat gluten, dairy, FRUCTOSE OR OTHER SIMPLE SUGERS (IE SUCROSE), stimulants or other fad ingrediants. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Hammer comes in foil pouches just like GU's and others, but I prefer
the flask which can be attached to a belt or I have even seen them on a string around ones neck. If I use a pouch I try not to leave it on the trail, I usually put it up my sleeve or something! The Hammer does tend to get viscous when cold, some flavors more than other. You can mix it in water. Just like your usual energy drink but without the sugars! Here is what is says about : - Hammer Gel and HEED - have carbs (long-chain Maltodextrin) only as their energy source. Both are maltodextrin-based and contain no added simple sugars They are your best choices for events lasting up to two hours, especially when the pace is fast and intense (75-85% MHR). The next two on the list - Sustained Energy and Perpetuem - contain protein also and other components for fueling longer exercise sessions. This is what it doesn't have: artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, wheat gluten, dairy, FRUCTOSE OR OTHER SIMPLE SUGERS (IE SUCROSE), stimulants or other fad ingrediants. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
On 24 Jan 2006 10:48:48 -0800, "Edgar" wrote:
Is Hammergel packaged like Gu with the little foil packets? I've wondered what racers do to dispose of the foil packets. If they just toss it on the snow in a classic race that would be a problem on klister days for the skiers that follow. Or do they just tuck the foil packets into their race suits? I always stuff the wrappers down my pants on the side (same in bike races). Though frankly I often drop the little top tab that pulls off with the teeth. JT **************************** Remove "remove" to reply Visit http://www.jt10000.com **************************** |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for the responses and great questions. I will try to answer
your questions without enumerating all the details of my training plan and pre-race preparation... Diet: I eat a breakfast of oatmeal 3 hours before the race, in this case, that was all I had to eat before the race. I drink the energy drinks and water they offer at aid stations during the racebut not the food. I also bring along some PowerGel, in this case I consumed 3 during the race (and I stowed the wrappers on my waist until the next aid station). Training: I am in good shape (by my standards), perhaps the best I've been in since college 18 years ago. My training includes 3-4 hours/wk of long/slow distance, biking or skiing with or w/o poles, 1-2 hours a week of level 3 interval workouts (running or skiing) or a race, some strength (double-polling). I don't do much in level 4, maybe that's where I'm lacking. I've never used hammer gel, I assume it's going to be 95% the same as Gu or PowerGel, Skier Girl, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I'll look at the hammergel site and see if they can sell me on it. Thanks again, Jon |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
FIS Marathon Cup | Gary Jacobson | Nordic Skiing | 0 | March 21st 05 01:21 AM |
snow melting, so a new marathon in mind | 32 degrees | Nordic Skiing | 0 | February 9th 05 12:40 AM |
64 days till marathon | 32 degrees | Nordic Skiing | 2 | March 30th 04 03:39 AM |
Overlander Ski Marathon | dobson | Nordic Skiing | 0 | January 20th 04 05:08 AM |
Lodge recommendations for Craftsbury marathon, VT? | Vic | Nordic Skiing | 0 | December 3rd 03 03:48 AM |