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The Pre-Fueling Protocol and the Glycogen Vault 7:56 Miles: It really is. Let’s do the math for a 70 kilo athlete. At 10 grams per kilo—that’s 700 grams of carbohydrates in 24 hours. That is not a "normal" way of eating. That’s a job. And if you don't hit those numbers—you aren't starting with a full tank.
8:13 Lena: And the research is clear—starting with full glycogen stores can extend your endurance capacity by 20 percent and improve actual performance by about 2 to 3 percent. In a high level race—3 percent is the difference between the podium and the back of the pack.
8:27 Miles: Absolutely. And it’s not just muscle glycogen—it’s liver glycogen too. Your liver is the "glucose dispatcher" for your brain. If your liver glycogen is low—your blood glucose drops—and your brain starts sending "fatigue" signals long before your muscles are actually spent. That’s why that pre-event meal—3 to 4 hours before the start—is so critical. You want 1 to 3 grams of high glycemic index carbs per kilo to top off that liver.
8:55 Lena: I noticed something interesting in the guidelines—it says to avoid red meat in that pre-competition meal because it’s slow to digest—and to stick to things like chicken—seafood—or tofu. Plus—keeping fiber and fat low to speed up gastric emptying. It’s all about getting the nutrients across the gut wall as fast as possible.
9:12 Miles: Right—and for the women listening—this is even more critical. There’s data showing that female athletes often underestimate their energy expenditure and significantly under-consume carbs compared to men in the same disciplines. If you’re a woman competing at a high level—you have to be even more intentional about hitting those 6 to 10 gram targets.
9:32 Lena: And then there’s the "start of the event" top off. Some pros are taking in another 30 grams of carbs right before the whistle blows. It’s like they’re trying to keep the blood glucose elevated so the body doesn't have to touch the "vaulted" muscle glycogen for as long as possible.
1:52 Miles: Exactly. It’s about "glycogen sparing." If you can use the sugar floating in your blood—you’re saving the high octane stuff in your muscles for the finale. But here’s the expert secret—you can't just show up and eat 90 grams of carbs an hour if you haven't "trained your gut."
10:02 Lena: Oh—I’ve heard of this. It’s literally physiological adaptation of the intestines—right? Like—your body actually gets better at absorbing sugar if you practice it?
3:54 Miles: Precisely. You actually increase the number of SGLT1 and GLUT5 transporters in your gut. If you haven't practiced high carb intake in training—you’re going to end up with a "brick" in your stomach and a quick trip to the porta potty. Experts spend weeks "training the gut" to handle those 90 to 120 gram per hour loads.
10:31 Lena: It’s so interesting that the gut is basically another muscle we have to train. And that leads us to the fourth P—Prepare. This is the "on the day" execution—the ergogenic supplements—the hydration—the things that keep you from fading when the heat is on.
10:47 Miles: And "Prepare" is where we move from the foundation into the "one percenters." The caffeine—the nitrates—the sodium bicarbonate. These aren't magic pills—but when they’re layered on top of a perfect pre-fuel—they’re devastatingly effective.