http://riddleruns.blogspot.com/2013/05/ice-age-race-report.html

Why do you continue to run these stupid races?  This isn't fun. You don't have to do this to yourself.  I battled my own demons from miles 32 to 36.  I had been running too fast.  I had been neglecting my nutrition.  My quads were on the verge of cramping.  I had been listening to those scientists who say salt doesn't help cramps and had not been concerned about my salt intake.  Luckily, I had put a few S-Caps in my Salomon fuel belt as an afterthought.  That probably saved my race.  If my own experience wasn't enough, Meghan Arbogast and Jeff Browning set me straight at dinner that evening...we don't know why salt works, it just does.

The salt and a steady stream of Coke pulled me out of my funk eventually.

Going into Ice Age I was planning on trying the no salt strategy as well.  I didn't bring any heed in my hand held and did not pop any s-caps.  Well at least until I started to get a headache around mile 23.  For what ever reason I've always found if I get a headache after a long run salt pretty much makes it go away ahead of time.  For me it comes down to, salt doesn't hurt your performance and even if it is placebo, if it helps do it.

I'm still fixated on his comment about Ice Age being flat.  In his response to someone's comments he calls strolling Jim a hilly race - but I looked up the elevation gain on it and it is 1300 feet elevation gain over 40 miles.  I don't get it.

Going into Ice Age I was planning on trying the no salt strategy as well.  I didn't bring any heed in my hand held and did not pop any s-caps.  Well at least until I started to get a headache around mile 23.  For what ever reason I've always found if I get a headache after a long run salt pretty much makes it go away ahead of time.  For me it comes down to, salt doesn't hurt your performance and even if it is placebo, if it helps do it.

 

I'm still fixated on his comment about Ice Age being flat.  In his response to someone's comments he calls strolling Jim a hilly race - but I looked up the elevation gain on it and it is 1300 feet elevation gain over 40 miles.  I don't get it.

I had a good laugh about the Ice Age being flat comment as well.  It may be a fairly fast course, but I wouldn't call it flat.

How did you end up doing, flatfooter?

I've been doing no salt for a while now. I may rethink.

I've been doing no salt for a while now. I may rethink.

I've added S! Caps back in to my training.

One thing I've noticed is that I am drinking the same but urinating more often.  I feel better, too.  Wondering if I was not getting enough salt before and somehow the salt helps to get the fluid out of the intestines and into bloodstream versus having bowel issues later on in races.  Haven't done more than 6-7 hours with salt but certainly feels better so far.