Train to eat

For some time I've known that one of the keys to successful endurance events was nutrition.  While day to day nutrition has always been important to me, game day is super critical.  First off, everybody is unique.  It takes experimentation to determine what works.  Case in point, I've learned the manufacturer recommended  Gu interval of every 45 minutes is too long for me. I do best when I take in calories every 35 minutes.  I still have tests to perform, specifically with how much can I eat.  The recommendation I keep hearing is 300 calories an hour.  For an ultra, finding other sources of calories beyond gel packs is important.  I've never heard of somebody having no stomach/bowel issues when the went exclusively with gel and water.  The other two areas I am educationally weak on is water and salt.  How much do I sweat an hour, still unknown.  I am aware of the method to determine your burn rate (weigh yourself naked before and after a 60 min run - then do some very simple math).  I'll save that drill for another day, probably for my naked run.

Today I experimented with training my stomach on how to digest food during a run.  The squirrel book suggested eating a large meal right before the run, then eating every hour (start at 100 calories and work myself to 300 an hour). The idea is very simple...if you don't train your tummy, you simple can't stomach a large caloric meal while running. Sometimes all you need on these runs is a massive influx of fuel (calories).   It reminded me of the ultra runner who ordered a large pizza to go during his training run, and ate it while running, ALL OF IT.  Training the stomach will allow me to eventually down large dosages of food without worrying about slowing my pace for an hour or two for digestion.  Today's pre-run meal was cinnamon-apple buttermilk pancakes (8), with blueberry jam and agava.  Yes I felt it a little in the first mile, but wasn't intolerable.  I might do this again tomorrow, before my 3hour run.