The Real Science of Sport Podcast Do You Need Only 10g per Hour of Carbs? Tim Noakes Thinks So / Pacing Implosions: When Regulation Fails
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Oct 16, 2025 Dive into the intricate dynamics of pacing and physiology with thrilling insights from recent marathons. Explore how small pacing errors can lead to significant consequences for elite runners, like Kiplimo's dramatic performance. Discover the fascinating implications of carbohydrate intake on endurance and the brain's role in regulating fatigue. Hear about tactical shifts for athletes like Femke Bol as they transition races. Plus, the surprising effects of heat and race environments on marathon success are unpacked in detail.
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Marathon Pacing Is Incredibly Fragile
- Elite marathon pacing sits only a few percent below threshold, so tiny early surges create exponential physiological costs.
- Ross Tucker explains Kiplimo's fast early splits as 'physiology taking a loan' that the body later repays dramatically.
Tech Can Shift Physiological Thresholds
- Technological advances (e.g., carbon plate shoes) shift physiological thresholds, enabling faster sustainable paces.
- Ross Tucker says the shoes effectively raised athletes' thresholds, allowing closer-to-threshold marathon pace.
Stick To Your Plan Under Heat Stress
- Stick to your pre-planned pacing and power numbers rather than chasing rivals' surges.
- Ross Tucker and Kat Matthews praise disciplined execution as the route to consistent fast results in hot conditions.