Marathoners hitting the wall

ilsie99

Apparently, I'm "untrained" because according to mynameisuntz, people who "run regularly" can run a marathon and not hit the wall without eating gels and drinking energy drink.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/227620-fathead-the-movie-your-thoughts?page=2

Any other marathoners out there who are untrained?

tmcowan

Haven't checked it out yet but I can't imagine keeping my body going for that length of time without fueling it.

emmaleigh47

Umm I have to fuel ... and I am trained (3 halfs under my belt)
After reading and reading and reading I am under the impression that fueling is a very very individual thing... I need carbs earlier than some people... but I also know people that start a race with a Gu or Chomps so whats that about?

scottb81

Any trained marathoner can hit the wall. It's a function of pace as much as it is of glycogen stores.

jeffrodgers1

Well... I guess I am untrained too then... as are the countless others who routinely run marathon's including the likes of Scott Jurek, Dean Karnazes, Patrick Ivuti (oops.. I saw him drink water while running in Honolulu... oh and he won averaging a 5 minute mile)... I could go on.

Don't listen to this person.... they don't know what they are talking about.

Black_Swan

OK I dont have that much experience but I think this could be VERY individual!

RMinVA

WIth marathons in particular, I believe you have to take in some sort of nutrition after a certain point in time just to keep electrolytes in balance. A lot of sources now say that w/proper training, you should be able to go about 90 minutes w/no "nutrition." Supposedly, training that way helps you tap into other energy stores (i.e. fat) quicker once glycogen stores have been depleted. But even the fastest marathon runners are still @ 2+ hours.

I have done training runs up to 10 miles w/no nutrition supplements, but that is very dependent on how I am feeling, weather, etc. and no 2 runs are the same. On race day, all bets are off!! I'll take any extra "boost" I can get. I certainly didn't start out there though...I was pulling out the gummy bears on anything over 6 miles when I started.

And I agree with what someone else already said: ANYONE can hit a wall!! And what you do in the days leading up to your race are just as important as the day of.

ilsie99

A lot of sources now say that w/proper training, you should be able to go about 90 minutes w/no "nutrition." Supposedly, training that way helps you tap into other energy stores (i.e. fat) quicker once glycogen stores have been depleted. I have done training runs up to 10 miles w/no nutrition supplements, but that is very dependent on how I am feeling, weather, etc. and no 2 runs are the same. On race day, all bets are off!! I'll take any extra "boost" I can get. I certainly didn't start out there though...I was pulling out the gummy bears on anything over 6 miles when I started.

And I agree with what someone else already said: ANYONE can hit a wall!! And what you do in the days leading up to your race are just as important as the day of.

I can go 90 minutes without nutrition easily. It's not fun, but I've done it. But seeing as the world record in the marathon is a little over 2 hours depending on who you ask, and for most people 3, 4, or 5 hours...

emmaleigh47

See and I laugh because YOUR 90 minutes is 10 miles... and my 90 minutes is a 10K ... I can go a 10K without fuel as long as you dont ask me to go further than that. In my long run I start carbs at 45 minutes.

Plus ... I agree the elites marathon is 2 hours and mine is gonna be like 7

Samerah12

....but why would you want to? Why not just eat?