If I run out of glycogen on a cycling trip, which I do often at 25-30 miles and yet have to cycle back to the car - sometimes 40 or 50 miles total, I feel for DAYS like an elephant is sitting on my chest - I have trouble breathing, I have no energy, every movement - even of my fingers causes lactic acid and muscle burn, I am too tired to read, everything seems like an incredible amount of work - even carrying my purse (which I admit can be weighty!), and I even lose muscle tone. I have 3 genes that cause high blood pressure, but I have measured and that is not it. I have had an ECG and it shows sinus bradycardia, otherwise normal so I don't think that's it. I had a blood test long time ago that detected KETONES. That was the only thing ever found. So if you are out of glycogen and your body needs more sugar than it can get burning fat (I have those slow twitch muscle fibers for endurance, not fast twitch for speed, I only cycle at 12-15mph), what does it burn? When I did 100 miles marathons when I was younger the normal lactic acid produced did NOT feel like this and COULD BE ph balanced and removed via calcium pills. This - idk how to prevent it nor how to clear it out. I have tried in the past sports drinks and o.j., and more recently, starting right after a cinnamon bun, and drinking a protein packet mixed in water half way out, but nothing worked. Thing is, I believe I only burn up the amount of calories in a slice of bread so it seems like I should not HAVE to do anything much! Any ideas what might work?? I have run out of glycogen in 2 out of the last 4 30-40 miles trips...both times I had to cycle home faster than my muscles felt like it due to fear of lightning, so maybe adrenaline figures in. However it has happened in the past without any adverse weather. Thanks in advance for any advice! (Fyi, I have a lifelong history of hypoglycemia so I know what it feels like and when I say I run out of glycogen I mean I get the shakes which progress to sweats if not fed). When I was younger I used to eat 20g of protein at breakfast (pull it forward in the day...not eating more protein or anything) and that took care of it. As I got older I had to resort to Rhodiola and in my 50's I graduated to DHEA to prevent hypoglycemic attacks. So I have a tendency and yet I used to be able to do 100 miles w/o difficulty and now 30-40 sets me off. I'm not sure what else to try? Well just posting this has made me wonder if I should take another dose of DHEA during a marathon cycle. I wonder if marathon cycling lowers DHEA???
Edited by madanthony, 11 August 2013 - 02:10 AM.
