Congrats! I know you mentioned cramping problems before. I just listened to some interview with David Roche (winner of Leadville 100) and he mentioned that sodium bicarbonate helped him with cramping. It's nothing something I heard before, but maybe it's worthwhile looking into.
Thanks Ivan! Interesting that you mention it, I took Maurten bicarb for most of my races in these two years and had a similar experience (fewer cramps / problems). For my last race in Winschoten I opted just for sodium loading, as the bicarb / hydrogel started to give me nausea and also too much thirst (there’s lots of sodium in there, a few grams, which maybe are what gives the benefit?). I’ll keep trying just with sodium and see how it goes, but indeed the bicarb might be a useful addition if you can stomach it well.
Thanks for the tips. Not that I’m planning to ever do an ultra but- you know what they say- never say never. I said that about marathons and I’m 5 weeks out from my 6th 😂
Thank you Marco for this detailed report and congrats again for your performance. Your journey is so inspiring. Couple of very specific questions:
1/ Taping: any differences in strategy for the last years? Just in case it could explain your feeling and lower HRV values.
2/ Passive heat acclimatation: beside preparing for a specific race with high temperature I'm also interested on this subject. I searched but don't havec access to a sauna hence the hot bath is something I consider. What temperature would be recommended? From science or your own experience.
3/ HRV4TRAINING: I spotted in the subjective questionnaire the next day of the race you answered close to Great for Physical condition, even with the muscle pain and fatigue? Personaly I'd expected overall physical condition score to be impacted downward in case of pain and overall fatigue or perhaps I don't get the definition properly.
4/ Training in the race environment: I'm reading this makes a big difference for you, so a bit like trailers moving to live in the Alpes when training for the UTMB. I'd be interested about training/race reports for Passatore for runners coming from abroad, if you know anyone?
Overall I'd like to say that when I read you this creates inner motivation and interest to run a 100k one day. Grazie :-) Best regards from Belgium
1. I did the same as last time, so high volume / intensity until the very end, then easy only on race week. Maximizing volume until 2 weeks before, then still hard workouts the week before the race. Last year I had the same suppression in HRV on race week, somewhat interestingly, but I recall that I was feeling good, while this year I wasn't feeling so good. I wonder if sometimes it's just the change in the season, with higher temperatures, that comes in this period.
2. 40C for the hot tub (this is what the science recommends and what I tried to follow when using a regular bathtub)
3. Open to interpretation but to me that tag is a high level view of my condition, not todays (ie in this period I’m in a good shape). I use it in a more chronic way, not acutely
4. I don't know any that wrote a report but I was with a friend from Amsterdam and the race was really really tough to conclude (as you know, zero hills there). Some people suffer certain difficulties less, but a race that is 95% hilly I think must be prepared in the hills. Hard to give your best otherwise! (which is different from 'just finishing', that is probably always possible with a lot of walking). Elite athletes that come from abroad also train very specifically for the event (heat and hills), normally, but as regular runners we need to find ways to do something similar, when possible.
In my personal experience, I feel that 40gr carbs gels are way harder to deal with w.r.t to 20/25gr. So I think I would rather have 20/25gr gels more often, than fewer 40gr gels. This is of course a very personal matter though.
thanks Lorenzo! I agree with you. I had tried the 40 grams a few times before the race and thought it was sort of okay, but then the race is warmer and longer, and makes it harder. I’ve been thinking about this more in the past few days, and I will go back to 25-30 grams every 6 km, and see if I can handle that better. If I feel like I need more in the last third of the race, I can always increase the frequency as you say. Let’s see how it goes. All the best for your training!
Congratulations on a great race. I get a lot from the detail you share around your training in particular and I'm glad you executed your race as planned.
Hi Marco. Congratulations on your achievement and brilliant result. Your account of your training and the race is a fascinating read. Thanks for sharing this.
Congrats! I know you mentioned cramping problems before. I just listened to some interview with David Roche (winner of Leadville 100) and he mentioned that sodium bicarbonate helped him with cramping. It's nothing something I heard before, but maybe it's worthwhile looking into.
Thanks Ivan! Interesting that you mention it, I took Maurten bicarb for most of my races in these two years and had a similar experience (fewer cramps / problems). For my last race in Winschoten I opted just for sodium loading, as the bicarb / hydrogel started to give me nausea and also too much thirst (there’s lots of sodium in there, a few grams, which maybe are what gives the benefit?). I’ll keep trying just with sodium and see how it goes, but indeed the bicarb might be a useful addition if you can stomach it well.
Well done for your performance and for sharing your preparation and passion for sports science with us. Your article is very interesting.
thank you so much Karoly
Bravo Marco👏👏🙌
Thanks for the tips. Not that I’m planning to ever do an ultra but- you know what they say- never say never. I said that about marathons and I’m 5 weeks out from my 6th 😂
Enjoy a well earned recovery!
Thank you Marco for this detailed report and congrats again for your performance. Your journey is so inspiring. Couple of very specific questions:
1/ Taping: any differences in strategy for the last years? Just in case it could explain your feeling and lower HRV values.
2/ Passive heat acclimatation: beside preparing for a specific race with high temperature I'm also interested on this subject. I searched but don't havec access to a sauna hence the hot bath is something I consider. What temperature would be recommended? From science or your own experience.
3/ HRV4TRAINING: I spotted in the subjective questionnaire the next day of the race you answered close to Great for Physical condition, even with the muscle pain and fatigue? Personaly I'd expected overall physical condition score to be impacted downward in case of pain and overall fatigue or perhaps I don't get the definition properly.
4/ Training in the race environment: I'm reading this makes a big difference for you, so a bit like trailers moving to live in the Alpes when training for the UTMB. I'd be interested about training/race reports for Passatore for runners coming from abroad, if you know anyone?
Overall I'd like to say that when I read you this creates inner motivation and interest to run a 100k one day. Grazie :-) Best regards from Belgium
thanks Max!
1. I did the same as last time, so high volume / intensity until the very end, then easy only on race week. Maximizing volume until 2 weeks before, then still hard workouts the week before the race. Last year I had the same suppression in HRV on race week, somewhat interestingly, but I recall that I was feeling good, while this year I wasn't feeling so good. I wonder if sometimes it's just the change in the season, with higher temperatures, that comes in this period.
2. 40C for the hot tub (this is what the science recommends and what I tried to follow when using a regular bathtub)
3. Open to interpretation but to me that tag is a high level view of my condition, not todays (ie in this period I’m in a good shape). I use it in a more chronic way, not acutely
4. I don't know any that wrote a report but I was with a friend from Amsterdam and the race was really really tough to conclude (as you know, zero hills there). Some people suffer certain difficulties less, but a race that is 95% hilly I think must be prepared in the hills. Hard to give your best otherwise! (which is different from 'just finishing', that is probably always possible with a lot of walking). Elite athletes that come from abroad also train very specifically for the event (heat and hills), normally, but as regular runners we need to find ways to do something similar, when possible.
Thanks again!
Grazie per tutti i contenuti che condividi e la tua ricerca continua, rende questo sport ancora più affascinante ed enigmatico allo stesso tempo.
Complimenti per il risultato, sei la prova che la pazienza e la giusta interpretazione delle cose può portare a risultati prima inimmaginabili!
Grazie Marco!
Great race and great report!
In my personal experience, I feel that 40gr carbs gels are way harder to deal with w.r.t to 20/25gr. So I think I would rather have 20/25gr gels more often, than fewer 40gr gels. This is of course a very personal matter though.
Thanks for sharing this :)
thanks Lorenzo! I agree with you. I had tried the 40 grams a few times before the race and thought it was sort of okay, but then the race is warmer and longer, and makes it harder. I’ve been thinking about this more in the past few days, and I will go back to 25-30 grams every 6 km, and see if I can handle that better. If I feel like I need more in the last third of the race, I can always increase the frequency as you say. Let’s see how it goes. All the best for your training!
Congratulations on a great race. I get a lot from the detail you share around your training in particular and I'm glad you executed your race as planned.
Thanks again for sharing
thanks Euan!
Hi Marco. Congratulations on your achievement and brilliant result. Your account of your training and the race is a fascinating read. Thanks for sharing this.
thank you Sean!