The pre-race carb-load is a right of passage in the sport of distance running, but in recent years runners’ obsession with carbohydrates has reached a level of fanaticism that puts other running trends to shame. 

A growing canon of research is rewriting what we thought we knew about the body’s ability to process fuel during hard exercise, and with some recent studies going so far as to advocate for nearly 5 times the carb intake previously deemed effective, we’ve entered into what many are calling a full-blown “carbolution”. 

Add to this an ever-expanding selection of goos, chews, and specially-formulated drink mixes and what used to be the domain of elite athletes has now become the norm for those serious about maximizing their race day performance at every distance, with runners of all abilities chewing, slurping, and guzzling a growing buffet of sugary rocket fuel. 

This week on The Shakeout Podcast we welcome science writer and lifelong runner Alex Hutchinson back to the show to sink his teeth into the research fueling the hype and find out whether the “carbolution” is just another running fad or if that mountain of pasta the day before a marathon truly is just the tip of the carbohydrate iceberg.

Follow Alex on Instagram @Sweat_Science

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