Category Archives: Endurance Events
Prolong Helps Riders at Leadville 100 MTB Presented by Herbalife24
Yesterday was the Leadville Race Series Trail 100 MTB Presented by Herbalife24. This 100 mile trail ride that climbs from 9,200 to 12,424 feet is a bike race of “burning lungs, steep descents and wild animals”.
Endurance athletes worldwide now make the pilgrimage to Leadville, Colorado, with the single goal of competing in a “Race Across the Sky.”
Herbalife24 Prolong was in use at the aid stations. During extended or intense exercise, Prolong provides a dual-source carbohydrate blend for immediate and sustained energy. Bioavailable electrolytes help support muscle contraction and maintain a properly functioning cellular environment, while a small amount of protein helps reduce muscle breakdown, speeding recovery time. All with a subtle, easy-to-drink flavour.
Excited for 5th in my first ever endurance MTB race. Thanks to @Herbalife24 for the awesome week. I would have cracked without that Prolong.
— Max Jenkins (@Max_Jenkins) August 10, 2014
12 Marathons in 12 Days
Herbalife 24 Prolong used by the Marathon Men 2103 as they completed “12 Marathons in 12 days” , to raise money for The Mersea Island Festival.
314 Miles Cramp Free!
“During the preparation and completion of this mammoth event we have come to learn so much about our bodies and the science that has kept them running for 26.2 miles over and over again. With the fantastic support of Herbalife 24 products we have been on top of our nutrition throughout the event and have felt hydrated, energised and able to push ourselves to the limits of endurance”
“The Prolong has given us the energy to see out each day and keep our times as consistent as possible.”
24fit’s great range of products has meant that from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed we are in the best position possible to complete 12 consecutive marathons. #marathonmen2103
Sebastian Copeland At The South Pole
Herbalife24 Video Exclusive! Antarctica is one of the harshest environments on Earth. Polar explorer Sebastian Copeland and his partner do what no other humans have done before on their most recent expedition to the South Pole – and they used Herbalife24 Prolong to fuel their adventure.
Polar Explorer Using Herbalife 24 Prolong
Sebastian Copeland is a polar explorer specializing in Arctic expeditions across the ice. Recently he took part in the first east to west expedition across Antartica using skis and kites, covering more than 4000km over 82 days. Here, Sebastian explains how Herbalife 24 Rebuild and Herbalife 24 Prolong were critical to his success.
Endurance Sports Nutrition. How to fuel like a pro?
Endurance Event Planned?
While individuals often have personal preferences, here’s my quick guide to proper fueling during an endurance event like the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race.
Nearly everyone that starts Leadville or any other endurance event has logged the training hours to complete the bike race. Those who don’t finish typically suffer from dehydration and improper sports nutrition during a 10 hour + race. Bloating, nausea, upset stomachs and cramping can potentially be avoided if you fuel yourself correctly throughout a race. Here are my 5 tips to maximize your chances of, not only finishing an endurance event, but racing to your potential.
Eat early and often.
Whatever you eat, be sure to eat early and often during competition. Waiting until you are hungry puts you dangerously close to hitting the wall or ‘bonking’ as we cyclists call it. If you fail to eat often and keep on top of your intake then you’ll struggle throughout your bike race.
Carbs are king.
There is no myth about “carbo-loading.” Carbs account for the vast majority of the energy used by muscles. Most sports drinks contain some form of sugars and, contrary to what you may think, this is a good thing. Recent research indicated a combination of carbohydrates may work best – e.g. maltodextrin (a very rapidly metabolized glucose polymer) and fructose rather than just maltodextrin or just sucrose alone.
Keep the tank full.
For longer events, especially at Leadville, I recommend 200-250 calories per hour. Some people (pro-cyclists, larger men) can accommodate up to 400 calories per hour. The average 10 hour finisher at Leadville does holds about 150W (remember, it’s at 10,000 feet!), which equates to about 550 calories / hour – meaning he or she will burn about 5,500 calories during the race. Hence, it’s essential to keep eating whatever you can to keep the gas tank full.
Electrolytes.
Electrolytes are important for preventing cramps, supporting proper muscle function, regulating pH, enhancing hydration, and facilitating carbohydrate update. Most sports nutrition drinks claim electrolytes – but read the fine print – many sports commissions recommend 500-1000mg of sodium per liter during exercise. Look for easily absorbed electrolytes like sodium citrate.
Protein is good.
Protein is still controversial for inclusion in sports drinks. Most of the studies only look at time-trial simulations between 60-90 minutes, and the researchers don’t see significant differences in performance. But as we all know, true athletes train day-after-day, and need to recovery quickly. It’s quite clear that protein consumption during exercise helps to prevent muscle breakdown and speeds recovery. During an endurance event like Leadville, many bike racers have great success consuming some protein. The key here is some. Look for a drink with a high carb-to-protein ratio; ideally close to 10:1 as too much protein can cause bloating. And, research shows, protein isn’t well metabolized during exercise – so keep the carbs high and the protein low.
Herbalife markets a line of foods and supplements for use in an athletic regimen including Herbalife 24 Prolong
by John Heiss Ph.D