Leadville Trail 100 MTB

John was disciplined in the 48 hours prior to the race and focused on carb loading effectively to ensure his muscle glycogen stores were at maximal capacity ahead of time. Similar to his previous effort at Leadville 100 MTB 2023, John was able to tolerate over 90g/h of carb, averaging a new high with an ~18% increase of carb per hour! Between his consistent use of carbs in both training and racing, and his commitment to gut training, he suffered no GI discomfort despite this high intake. John relied on several PF 30 Gels, PF Carb & Electrolyte Drink Mix and chews to fuel, plus a few on-course gels to supplement. Given his consistent intake, it’s likely his issues with energy levels were a result of the demanding conditions of racing such a tough course at a high altitude, where the lower pressure in the atmosphere makes it harder for your body to extract oxygen. John may want to consider getting to the venue earlier in the future to give him more time and training to adapt to the demands of altitude.

John pre-loaded on the morning of the race with PH 1500 and drank extra electrolytes in the days leading up to it to help boost his blood plasma volume and toe the start line as hydrated as possible. John’s fluid intake across the race was within the recommendations considering the distance and intensity, likely adequately replacing his sweat losses in the mild conditions. He peed a couple of times, suggesting he was taking on enough fluid to mitigate against the risks of significant dehydration. By using PF Carb & Electrolyte Drink Mix in his fluids and additional electrolytes, he stayed comfortably in line with his high relative sodium concentration needs. This no doubt contributed to preventing cramping and ensuring he stayed hydrated across the demanding race.

John’s intake fell on the upper end of the scientific recommendations for caffeine doses during exercise, but was still appropriate for his tolerance and normal use of the stimulant. To reach these doses, he pre-caffeinated in the morning with a couple of strong cups of coffee with his breakfast, and then relied on PF 30 Caffeine Gels interspersed throughout the race. Despite suffering from some energy-related issues, it’s unlikely that a lack of caffeine was the culprit, and while he could have tried delaying a couple of PF 30 Caffeine Gels until later on during the race where his energy levels diminished significantly, altitude was most likely the factor at play.