For: Athletes Looking to Improve & Perform Optimally

I've been running for a long time now and I'm happy to say I'm still learning. Most recently I've been biohacking a lot and am testing a very new controversial method of training. Trust me, I'm not rock solid on anything when it comes to training. I'm willing to test and try about any new technique for running that sounds like a good experiment. i.e. Barefoot Running=awesome. 
 I think it's important to never think you know everything, no matter how long you've been doing something, to be willing to learn new things in anything you do, and most importantly to perform optimally. It keeps us motivated and coming back for more! So...what's this training method you ask?

No more gluten & sugar. Cut back on the running and get faster!

Say what? True. 

Here's what I'm learning....

 So basically, your body naturally produces glycogen. But many of us endurance runners feel the need to constantly carbo-load to fill our glycogen stores for the long runs- even though glycogen pretty much restores naturally. In addition to eating what we feel like, because we're runners. Fact is: that if you barely had any carbs, you'd be alright. (Unless you're tapping those stores daily) In fact you might perform better. This is because many of our bodies have been trained as "sugar burners."

How to Qualify as a sugar burner. You just have to eat (wheat, gluten, sugar, many fruits, pretty much any counter sweets and bars)

What have I been doing to become a fat burner? I eat more fat of course!

I cut bread and all sweets. Other than one cheat day on the weekend.

I feel great. Because instead of burning sugar, I'm burning key tones.(Fat) you're body functions much better when it's burning fat. Also, your stomach has a tough time digesting gluten and sugar as well. So eat more good fat to burn more fat. Usually a ratio of 70% fat to 30% carbs should do it. We're not talking bad fat and bad carbs though... follow me?

When we burn fat, we're not constantly hungry. We can actually function in a compressed eating window, with no issues. (example: 16 hours fasting, 8 hours eating) Because... our brain isn't telling the gut it "need more sugar!" (Equivalent to what morphine addicts go through) ahhh.,.the beauty of being ketogenic.

For those looking to burn weight. This may be a good idea....When you're body is looking for food energy in Ketogenisis, it says. "Hey, maybe I'll burn this excess fat." For those who aren't looking to burn fat, it's about functioning completely;optimally. Mark Sissons of Primal Blueprint says "when elite athletes start experimenting with ketogenisis, I have no doubt we'll start to see some record breaking performances"

What's good fat? 

Avocados, olive oil, grassfed butter, grassfed meat, cocunut oil/milk,Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds, Greek Yogurt.etc.
 
What's good Carbs?
 Sweet Potatoes, rice, vegetables, Some fruit:cranberries,raspberries, etc.

There's been way too many examples in this past 6 month experiment to ever turn back. 

Example 1: Dr. Terry Wahls. Author of the "The Wahls Protocol" and a victim of progressive multiple sclerosis used to be electric wheelchair bound. With a high fat, low carb', vegetable heavy diet, she's now biking 18 miles. Wtf? Is society eating backwards? I'm convinced.(YouTube:"minding your mitochondria")

Look, I'm not the intense version of this eating regimen. I'm the heavy healthy, sometimes eat un-healthy version. I love food, and wine. There are times when you gotta eat, and you gotta drink. But 90% of the time, I want to perform optimally.

When it comes to less training is more method of thinking. There's a theory that 80% of high endurance runners train too much. Leading to chronic cardio and bad internal health. Everyone says knees and joints. I read more about heart and Achilles. When we're constantly training these long long distances, much of the time we're over stressing everything we can't see. (Can Running Shorten Your Life) We train all of this long long distance, but we're just re-enforcing what our bodies are already good at. If we stuck to more speed (twice/week) and some race pace, with a few big runs that are really ez heading into an event. We may just perform better. (See: Chapter 1&2: Ben Greenfield: Mastering Endurance)

Yeah, I didn't believe this bit either. I love training and "Sunday Rundays." Huge proponent of the long run for success.

I used to stress over long runs, and lose it to not get them done. Mind you, after a 16-20 week marathon training program I'm toasted. Usually many of us come into our races with hot spots, or arising issues somewhere.

I ran Boston 2014. I injured my Achilles. What an injury! I was signed up for the Ottawa marathon 5 weeks later, I couldn't train though, because I couldn't run. I managed 4 painful runs in. Though I stayed eating low carb, high fat. I just wanted to feel 60-70% coming into the race.
End Result: I did a lot less training and managed to pull out a 2:56 marathon. My 3rd best time out of 12 marathons. What a statement. Not saying it was easy. But have i bought in? Yup!

Now I'm parroting a lot of what I hear. But I'm also practicing what I preach. It's working. I've spent a lot of time looking into this stuff, and still have a lot to learn. But I'm a changed athlete and now truly truly believe that diet really is the most important part of fitness, with a lot less training.

Here's to you and performing optimally!

D

My teachers: (by order of significance)

Mark Sissons: The Primal Blueprint+podcast

Neil Rosenthal: Solefit Ottawa: Dude is a Beast. 
Ben Greenfield: Ben Greenfield Fitness Poscast+ Beyond Training Book

Dr.Terry Wahls: The Wahl's Protocol+podcast guest+http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc

Joe Rogan: podcast (joe rogan experience)

Dave Asprey: bulletproofexec.com (bulletproof coffee)

Robb Wolf: Podcast

JJ Virgin: the virgin diet

My Training For Next Week's Marathon Just Started

There's something about the Ottawa Marathon that keeps me giddy like a schoolboy about racing. Perhaps it's because it's my main marathon, my longtime bq race, my first marathon, or maybe it's because it's my hometown course. It's certainly the course I feel most comfortable on, I know it like so many of my routine training routes.

I keep pushing and trying to learn how to be the best of me. I ran the Boston Marathon on Easter Weekend, I had one last workout prior to the race. I may have pushed myself right to the edge.

Vibrams, warm day. AND a "Hells Ya, I'm confident for Beantown" workout. 10 minutes 1/2 pace (3:40) 5 minutes 10k pace (3:30) 2.5 minutes 5k pace (3:17-3:20) and 20 minutes marathon pace (3:45-3:55) yeah...I had never finished it before that day. I was proud, confident and hurting good.

Turns out the workout was great for my confidence and bad for my Achilles. I managed Boston and have been off my legs ever since. 3 weeks. That's was until 2 days ago when my treatment on the calf started to work.(straight leg stretch, art, the stick, roller, self massage)

It's like staring at a dripping tap waiting for this thing to loosen up, losing my mind. But I'm finally lacing up, full addict style.

I'm so grateful to be able to run. I missed it. I haven't had an injury in a long time that's forced me to sit it out so long.

Now I take the chance on Ottawa. How can I not? I'm super competitive, I've run it since 06' and how would I feel if I stayed at home and let the race happen without me. I'm about 65-70% right now. I'm hopeful that will get me through.

Mentally once that race starts, I'm Carey Price. (See 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Montreal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins) just hoping I can stay that long for 26.2 miles. Ha ha ha! 

Let ya know how it goes. Wish me luck!

Here's to you and Carey Price.

#beastmode,

D