Lack of carbs?? Distance runners

pyro13g

So I run 30-45 minutes on a treadmill 4-5 times a week. I also have this ammonia like smell when I am done. I am only running about 3 miles not a marathon. I've been wondering the same thing.. If someone could explain this to me more in detail I would appreciate it

Not much to explain. When you are glycogen depleted, your body starts to breakdown your muscle for energy.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/290746-acidic-smell-after-cardio-exercise/

TK421NotAtPost

Your body uses carbs first, after 20 minutes, it burns carbs and fat or carbs or muscle (depends what you have more of on your body) but it is not intensity so much as the length of cardio. So marathon runners burn carbs in the beginning but at the end of the marathon, they are burning nothing but fat (if they have any).

taem, actually your intensity level does dictate to some degree the glycogen/lipid ratio your body will be burning. If your cardio consists of doing walks, then you are getting a higher percentage of your energy from fats than from your glycogen stores.

taem

Your body uses carbs first, after 20 minutes, it burns carbs and fat or carbs or muscle (depends what you have more of on your body) but it is not intensity so much as the length of cardio. So marathon runners burn carbs in the beginning but at the end of the marathon, they are burning nothing but fat (if they have any).

taem, actually your intensity level does dictate to some degree the glycogen/lipid ratio your body will be burning. If your cardio consists of doing walks, then you are getting a higher percentage of your energy from fats than from your glycogen stores.

Yes, you are right. But I am making a comparison from a walker (me) to a runner (the poster).

I'm off walking so see you folks in about a few hours.

rickydeuce

Once again, thanks for the awesome feedback so far.

I've kept to a plan on here with a 3.66/1 carb to protein ration and given my body time to adjust to it. So I know everyone is different,, but perhaps that is too low a ratio? Or at least a day or two prior to runs?

I mean, not to use the term "carb loading" but, if you go over on a given day, will the excess "disappear" naturally in a short time, or will it remain in your body for a couple of days?

pyro13g

Once again, thanks for the awesome feedback so far.

This only seems to happen after prolonged period of activity. I've kept to a plan on here with a 3.66/1 carb to protein ration and given my body time to adjust to it. I think I just may have to up the ratio a day or two before long runs.

Burning up muscle on long runs isn't a huge deal if you add strength training to recoup the losses. You still want to protect that metabolic tissue and the systems that adjust to support it(organs, heart, skeletal). Lose muscle the other systems shrink since they have less to support. It's really a personal preference. Just keep in mind that if you shrink muscle mass, your shrinking glycogen storage.