Endurance running
In May, I am taking part in a 150 mile continuous running race that must be completed in 46 hours. The longest break allowed is 40 minutes at any one time. Lots of runners get by on highly popular branded caffeinated drinks to cope with the lack of sleep but I find too much caffeine gives me stomach cramps while running and certainly many runners on this race suffer from sickness. This is an extreme challenge! I would like to help my body cope as well as possible with the lack of sleep and the intensity of the physical challenge of running for such a long time. What recommendations could you make?
The supplement you need to start taking at least a month before your endurance race is CoEnzyme Q10 (CoQ10) - known as The Energiser - which will work not only to boost the oxygen supply to the body's tissues but also to aid their recovery following your 46-hour marathon event.
CoQ10 is a vitamin-like compound present in all the body's hardest-working organs, including the heart, the liver, the kidneys and the pancreas. Within individual cells, 25-30% of the total CoQ10 is found in the cell nucleus but more than half the CoQ10 present is in the cell mitochondria; the tiny organelles responsible for energy production. Although the body produces CoQ10 naturally, and it is present in small amounts in both meat and seafoods - for a therapeutic dose, you will need to take a supplement.
You must not mix this agent with prescription drugs including warfarin, hypertensives and insulin medication but since you must be in peak health to be taking part in this race, you can take a maintainenance dose of 100mg for a month before the event and step this dosage up to 300mg for the 46 hours you are running. I recommend you use PharmaNord's CoQ10 which provides 100mg of the active ingredient per capsule. Mail order from Victoria Health (0800 413596) where 60 capsules cost £37.95.
You might also consider taking a good quality multisupplement to replace lost nutrients and minerals after the event and, even more importantly, a glutamine supplement not least because this is the key nutrient to muscle recovery after strenuous exercise. Lifetime's L-glutamine provides 500mg per capsule. 90 capsules cost £12.99. Take up to six a day straight after the event and continue for a week.