Let’s be blunt about this: If you don’t consume carbohydrates, and lots of them, while you are racing you will not go as fast as you could, period. Don’t give me your anecdotal evidence of how you went fast in a recent 5k fun run. I am talking about events lasting more than 90 minutes and up to 100 milers. There is study after study showing this to be true, it’s not a deniable fact, yet getting athletes to eat enough during their races is a daunting task. Why?? Mostly athletes worry about gastro intestinal distress and it seems they would rather try and to suffer through a race instead of getting an upset tummy. Let’s explore what’s really happening.