Some Work, All Play 163. Courtney's Legendary Hardrock 100, Fueling Before Events, and Pre-Cooling!
Hydration's Importance
- David Roche recounts a previous Aspen race where dehydration led to a severe physical incident.
- This time, he hydrated properly and avoided the negative consequences.
Carb Loading Strategy
- Consume 8-12 grams of carbs per kilogram of body weight the day before racing.
- Plan carb intake; avoid bean-based pasta like Banza, which can cause digestive issues.
Pre-Cooling Techniques
- Pre-cool before and during events with water on the neck and back.
- Find shade and apply cold water for optimal performance benefits.
We brought hearts full of love and legs full of toxic waste to this episode! Our main discussion was a big breakdown of science-driven lessons that we try to put into practice with racing. Megan is BACK, winning and crashing the overall podium at a tough mountain 25k! We talk about the science of pre-race carb intake, and how we screwed it up. Pro tip: make sure your pasta is not made of beans. Other topics: pre-cooling and performance, hiking v. running, altitude considerations, ankle taping, using rest opportunities, and liquid fueling.
The most fun we had though was talking about Courtney Dauwalter making history at the Hardrock 100! Three weeks ago, she demolished the record at the Western States 100, only to back it up with another record at Hardrock. How is that possible? We speculate on the physiology behind the best ultra athlete in human history, and what we can all learn from the GOAT. Ice cream is necessary, but it's not sufficient.
And we talked about so many other fun things! Topics: blood volume and performance, what that means for hydration and altitude, the murky science of fatigue resistance, more science from the Tour de France, a wild story about Strava being used in war, Hot Takes, and the most life-affirming listener corner.
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