Can a runner be competitive on a Low Carb Diet?

I had a bad stretch of running during October. I'm having a harder time keeping up with my running partners. There's also just a general tiredness my legs.

I've spent some time going through my running journal trying to find any clue to help me turn this around. So far the only thing that seems to make sense is my weight.

I lost 23 lbs. since the beginning of the year training for Grandmas in June. But since then I gained back 9 lbs. Sure, I'm not putting in the mileage that I did back in the spring, but if I've gained wait while still running 30 miles a week, I've got to change something. It's not like I haven't noticed it before, but cutting back on total calories hasn't worked, so maybe something new will.

So I'm going to see if I can't get back to losing some weight while maintaining 30 miles or less a week. I'm going to go after this with a three-fold attack.

Weight training (because muscle mass burns calories), a new running program (FIRST - a 3 day a week running program) and a low carb diet.

I know the low carb diet is controversial for runners. After researching it on the net, there is a small but becoming more vocal running community that claim there is no loss in running speed or endurance. I'm a skeptic, but what I've tried so far isn't working, so I'm giving this a whirl.

I'll keep everyone up to date as I try this. I'm dedicating my next 9 weeks of training, so it will be interesting to see how this works for the Disney Half Marathon. Wish me luck.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Hamilton Dr,Eagan,United States