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The Long Brown Path's avatar

With regards to eating ultra-processed running foods as in bars, gels, electrolytes, etc. -- why bother? I mean if you're trying to set a PR, then some kcals might help, but if your focus is on health, then maybe consider running and racing in a fasted state. Since it appears that metabolic illness is widespread, and the theory is that it has to do with excessive carbs and not enough ability to burn fat (although there are other theories, like seed oils etc), it makes sense to me to avoid all kcals before and during, which ought to maximize fat burning. For myself, I've run as far as 50 miles without kcals, although more recently I'll typically start eating after 50k.

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Raziq Rauf's avatar

It's a good question, and I think it may depend on your personal perspective on health. Fat burning is only one part of that for me. A big part is not getting hungry while I run, so I do like potatoes.

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Jeff Calvert's avatar

I'm ok with fair enhancement (and I'd watch an Enhanced Games). "Fair" in this context means:

1) clear presentation of the rules (what the boundaries for "enhancement" are),

2) ruthless and effective enforcement of those rules, and

3) full disclosure/transparency.

I was going to add that I'd never personally enhance, but then I started thinking about a bunch of things I use (trekking poles, graphene soles, LMNT, caffeine, Vespa, warm and lightweight high-tech clothing, etc. etc.) and it becomes very clear to me that this is not a yes-or-no question, but rather a question of where we decide to draw the line at a particular time for a particular event.

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Raziq Rauf's avatar

Yep, most people enhance themselves to some extent, and everything becomes normalized after a while, so that line changes.

Someone doing botox in 2024 is far less jarring than someone doing it in 1994, for instance. And I think you can apply that logic to pretty much everything.

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Julie B. Hughes's avatar

Oh yes the immediate need to find a bathroom or a tree! LOL

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Raziq Rauf's avatar

There were some public bathrooms along the beach but they... weren't in optimal condition haha

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Julie B. Hughes's avatar

HA! I hear ya.

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Brittany Vermeer's avatar

One of my favorite post-run drinks is orange juice with pink Himalayan sea salt. 🧂 🍊 Perfect mix.

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