50k Preparation…how do you know?

[mtwarden]

I was using Hammer Perpetuem for awhile- a calorie/electrolyte mix that goes in your water. I did really well with it for about a year and then we decided to do the Rim to Rim to Rim. Everything was going pretty well (as pretty well as R2R2R can go) I had descended the South Rim, ascended and descend the North Rim and was on the last leg- ascending the South Rim. I stopped at Phantom Ranch and sat on one of their benches for a short rest and to get some calories in. I pounded one of my premade bags of Perpetuem and decided that since I had made a couple of extra bags of the stuff, I'd do another for the steep climb.

Within a half hour I was very nauseous and slowed to a crawl (almost literally). I was so nauseous that I couldn't get a calorie in and couldn't even drink water—even though I knew I had to. Within a couple of hours of climbing (very, very slowly climbing) I was thinking about just crawling off the trail and dying. That thought crossed my mind the entire way up.

Not sure how, but I did finally make it to the top. The nausea finally started to give way and I was able to drink water and even eat a p&j sandwich I had in the truck.

That was the end of the Perpetuem, but I don't think it wasn't the mixes fault. I never should have doubled up the mix, but just the thought of drinking the stuff made we want to vomit. I had a big jug of the stuff that went into the garbage can

 

[BBob]

I never should have doubled up the mix,

Your gut can handle only so many simple carbohydrates at a time (100ish gm per hr). You can train your gut to process more. Exceed your limits and you’re sick. Ratio’s of the different carbs in your mix can make a difference too. Too much fructose and you’ll be sick. Maltodextrin to Fructose at a 1:8 ratio seems to be the max fructose. Lots of science and info out there now on how much your gut can handle per hour and how to train it to handle more. This is how the elite cyclists and runners are killing it these days!

 

[mtwarden]

Your gut can handle only so many simple carbohydrates at a time (100ish gm per hr). You can train your gut to process more. Exceed your limits and you’re sick. Ratio’s of the different carbs in your mix can make a difference too. Too much fructose and you’ll be sick. Maltodextrin to Fructose at a 1:8 ratio seems to be the max fructose. Lots of science and info out there now on how much your gut can handle per hour and how to train it to handle more. This is how the elite cyclists and runners are killing it these days!

I've always preferred to learn the hard way