By Coach Fred Matheny There are many advantages to being able to eat and drink on the move. It’s essential on long rides and a great timesaver compared to stopping. But it’s harder to do than it looks. Energy bars are tough to peel when pedaling along. Reaching for food makes the bike waver, and…
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. When it comes to belly cramps, cyclists are different from runners. The most common cause of belly camps in a cyclist is stool in the colon. In runners, it is a stretching of the ligaments from the diaphragm that holds up the liver. Fit athletes rarely suffer discomfort from small amounts…
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. A study of elite race walkers shows that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet will slow their race times and training (J of Physiology, February 14, 2017). Thirty world-class race walkers participated in an intense, high-speed training program and took in the same total calories. They were divided into three groups: High-carbohydrate Alternating…
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. Many years ago the Gatorade Sports Science Institute published a study showing that 46 percent of recreational exercisers are dehydrated (Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, June 2006). However, the study did not say that the exercisers were harmed by their dehydration, with good reason.
