irun magazine volume 1 | Page 12

TRAINING METABOLIC EFFICIENT TRAINING W hether you’re an experienced athlete or just getting started, Metabolic Efficiency concepts apply to you! Metabolic efficient training is the perfect way to avoid gastrointestinal (GI) upset while fueling during races, different from the common “carb-loading” theories. Have you ever, despite consuming hundreds of calories from high-energy carbohydrate fueling supplements during events, still run out of energy late in races? The vast array of products are designed to deliver “fuel” quickly and simply. As we exercise, especially at race-like intensities, our body diverts blood flow away from the digestive tract to deliver oxygen-rich blood to our working muscles. Athletes have seen drastic reductions in GI distress occurrences as they improve their efficiency. These athletes have 10 IRUNCOMPANY.COM I 2014 also seen radical performance improvements, all while taking in fewer calories during training sessions and races. They’ve become more “metabolically efficient”. The real benefit of Metabolic Efficiency isn’t for world class athletes. Metabolic Efficiency principles apply to everyone! Our bodies work like hybrid automobiles in a sense; we can burn a variety of fuels depending on the intensity of the activity we do on a daily basis. A good first step into a metabolic efficiency will be gradually reducing the calorie intake per hour of exercise every week. Example: if you are a traditional athlete who intake 500 calories per hour, start reducing that amount by 50 calories every week until you reach between 115 to 175 calories per hour of exercise. Low calorie intake has proven solid results, race faster and stronger in your next race. “ High calorie intake during races slows you down”