Hey Marine Corps, New York and Atlanta runners -- are you carbo loading yet?

Everything that is ever learned about dieting and nutrition teaches the young eater that indulgence of any food is a bad thing. Indulgence makes us nauseous; it gives us cramps while swimming; and, most importantly, it causes us to be fat.

However, as a dashing marathoner, the runner – young and old – will need saddlebags of energy to sustain the 26.2 miles of marathon famine and want. It is then necessary for an eater to prepare for feats of endurance by storing lots of energy: energy in the form of glycogen, which is begat from glucose, which is begat from complex carbohydrates, which is begat from the stuffing of thine face with bagels, cereal, bananas, pasta, and others of the “White” food group (Have you noticed that most everything you eat that is white is a carbohydrate? OK, minus the bacon fat. But you get the point.)

Carb loading throws everything you know about dieting on its ear. It is the process of consuming large amounts of carbs before intense exercise. In our case, it is preparation for the long runs and the race itself.

Carb load 2 to 3 days before a long run and two weeks before the big race consume complex carbs 2 hours before, and again within 30 minutes of a long race.

Carbs – Going Without

Carbohydrates are the easiest, most accessible form of energy for the body. The other forms – fats and proteins – require more hydration to process, robbing the body necessary fluids for other body functions. Stated simply, if you chose to ignore carbohydrates, you will be protein and fat overloaded, dehydrated, constipated, and annoyingly dyspeptic. Not to mention, you will have less energy to burn.

Because the body craves carbohydrates for intense exercise, going without carbs before a race will cause the runner to move less efficiently and perhaps a little sluggishly. Even a moderate race like a 10-K will cause a carb-depleted body to be tired, lethargic, and irritable.

So, Atlanta, Marine Corps and New York Marathoners -- or even if you're still training and preparing for the weekend long run -- if you're not seriously storing energy now for the big miles, you're journey will begin with a 1/4 tank of fuel. So carbo up!