What a way to finish off this year's running: a very soggy and blustery 91 minutes round Chazey Wood. With that done, I think it's a good time to sum up my running for 2012.
So what happened in 2012 in my little running world? Well, lots.
I started the year by switching my training to follow the maximum aerobic function (MAF) theory and method devised by Phil Maffetone (see my post Does Maximum Aerobic Function (MAF) Training Work?
A very interesting study (you can read the whole article for free, not just an abstract) on the effects of a pre-exercise high-fat meal (HFM) on endurance performance versus a high-carbohydrate meal (HCM).
We observed that the time until exhaustion was significantly longer in the HFM + M (p 0.05) than in HFM + P and HCM + P conditions. Furthermore, the total amount of fat oxidation during exercise was significantly higher in HFM + M and HFM + P than in HCM + P (p 0.05). These results suggest that ingestion of a HFM prior to exercise is more favorable for endurance performance than HCM. In addition, HFM and maltodextrin ingestion following 3 days of carbohydrate loading enhances endurance running performance.
— Significant Effect of a Pre-Exercise High-Fat Meal after a 3-Day High-Carbohydrate Diet on Endurance Performance
This study puts some scientific backing to my own findings now I've switched to a predominantly high-fat low-carb diet. Interestingly, I've not tried the maltodextrin jelly part yet. Maybe before my next race.
It's been a while since I last posted about my running so this is going to be a long summary post covering my recent training and diet. I'll write another, probably shorter, post on racing after this post.
Training is going really well. I'm continuing to run using the maximum aerobic function (MAF) principals written about by Phil Maffetone which I questioned in September last year
I'm slowly working my way through Phil Maffetone's The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing and I must say it's quite a varied read. One topic I've just finished reading is about carbohydrate intolerance. Carbohydrate Intolerance and the Two-Week Test gives a good idea what the chapter is about, though this post doesn't go into the performance affecting aspects like the book does.
I've read on numerous occasions, and with ever increasing regularity now, about how maybe we've got it all wrong and we really shouldn't be consuming anywhere near the level of carbs that we do, but this is the first time I've actually seen anyone correlate common aches and pains with our carbohydrate rich diets. This is quite an interesting topic, which I'm eager to test, especially if it'll have a positive impact on my overall health and running performance.
This week I find myself in the tropical (read: sweltering humid heat) of Orlando Florida as I'm presenting at Collaborate 11 on Tuesday morning.
Travelling always has an effect on my training in two ways:
) and I find I turn to the plethora of junk foods and sweets we don't get in the UK just to see what they're like.