You’re not going to gain much fitness in the last few days before a race but nailing your carb load can give a huge boost in performance.

We’re bringing together registered dietician Travis Wilson and running coach Andie Cozzarelli to help you master the art of the carb load with topics including:

• How long before race day you need to start increasing your carb intake
• How to know how many carbs your body needs
• Whether to focus on whole grains or fast-absorbing simple carbs like pasta and white bread
• Examples of what to eat at each point in the carb load as your race approaches
• How to fix common fueling problems like cramping and GI upset

Making carbs your friend will help you to hit your paces for longer without feeling fatigued and Travis helps us to understand the science behind how this works.

metpro.co

3 Ways to Effectively Carb Loading Before a Race - Runners Connect

Glycogen Calculator - How Many Grams of Crabs you Need to Avoid Hitting the Wall

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• Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month!
• Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community
• RunnersConnect Facebook page
• GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT!

This week’s show brought to you by:

Previnex Joint Health Plus

Joint Health Plus from Previnex is clinically proven to reduce joint pain, joint stiffness,and improve joint flexibility in 7-10 days.

In fact, it is clinically proven to be up to 5 times more beneficial than glucosamine and chondroitin alone or in combination.

I saw immediate results when I started using Joint Health Plus and that’s why I reached out to Previnex to see if we could put together an offer for you guys.

If you’re suffering from joint pain or simply want to get a jump start on protecting your joint health as you get older, head to runnersconnect.net/joint and use the code RTTT15 to save 15% on your first order.

Pique

We’ve done quite a few podcast episodes on the performance benefits of caffeine.

But, if you’re like many runners I know, pre-run coffee often leaves you with jitters or stomach issues.

That’s why I was so excited when I found Nandaka by Pique—the ultimate coffee alternative designed to power your runs, your training, and your recovery.

So, what makes Nandaka different?

Most so-called “coffee alternatives” don’t actually provide functional energy. But Nandaka is built for endurance

Unlike coffee, which spikes your energy and leaves you crashing mid-run, Nandaka fuels you with steady, sustained endurance—no spikes, no crashes, just clean energy that lasts.

Nandaka provides its caffeine from fermented probiotic teas, which provide a slow-release caffeine that prevents jitters and gives you sustained release for those long runs workouts.

It also contains cordyceps mushrooms, which help boost VO2 max, delivering more oxygen to your muscles for better endurance

Plus, the probiotic teas mean no digestive distress like you often get with coffee.

If you’re tired of running on fumes—or worse, running on coffee crashes—it’s time to make the switch.

Right now, Pique is offering 20% off for life AND a free Starter Kit with your first purchase.

Go to Piquelife.com/run and start running on real energy today.

Your legs, your lungs, and your PRs will thank you

Lots of runners fear the DNF (Did Not Finish) but you don’t have to. On today’s show, Cory and Hayley discuss why you should embrace the DNF.

In this episode we talk about:

• When to consider a DNF
• Why pro runners DNF so often in races
• How to get back to the finish or back home if you DNF
• Adjusting your running goals after a DNF
• Overcoming mental challenges like anxiety and disappointment when a run doesn’t go as planned
• Why embracing the DNF can help you to perform better in races

After months of training you may understandably feel disappointed or frustrated with a DNF.

We’re here to tell you that embracing and maybe even planning for the possibility of a DNF will help you to come back stronger. Listen to the show to find out how.

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• Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram
• Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month!
• Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community
• RunnersConnect Facebook page
• GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT!

This week’s show brought to you by:

Lagoon

Lagoon specializes in making pillows designed specifically for runners and athletes to help them optimize their sleep and recovery.

Their sleep quiz pairs you with the perfect pillow for you based on sleep position, body size and more.

And the data on sleep improvement isn’t only from research papers. Using her whoop device, US Olympic Trials marathon qualifier Caitlin Keen saw her deep, restorative sleep increase by 52 minutes when she switched to a Lagoon pillow.

If you want to see the dramatic affect a pillow designed just for you can be, head to lagoonsleep.com/top

Then take their awesome 2 minute sleep quiz that matches you with the Lagoon pillow that’s perfect for you. Plus, if you use the code TOP at checkout, you’ll also save 15% off your purchase.

SlumberCBN

There’s no denying that sleep is one of the most powerful factors to upgrading your overall health and running performance.

We all know it by now, but sometimes no matter how well-intentioned we are; getting good, quality sleep doesn’t come easy.

Sometimes you can’t get your mind to relax, other times you toss and turn all night. One way or another, it all leads to poor quality sleep.

That’s why we’ve partnered with Slumber, the leader in science-backed sleep supplements using CBN.

CBN is a hemp-derived melatonin alternative which promotes rest, relaxation, and sleep. And it works.

In a recent 2024 study, participants who used Slumbers Deep Zzzs CBN Gummies for 30 days reported significant improvements in time to sleep, got 72 minutes of extra deep, and reported waking up 1.5 less times per night on average.

What I love most is that you can mix and match different formulations to specifically address your goals or your own struggles with sleep.

If you want to see the research and learn more about how these amazing CBN gummies can help improve your sleep, head to slumbercbn.com/runnersconnect

Plus, this link will get you 30% off. Again that’s slumbercbn.com/runnersconnect

It can be overwhelming trying to make sense of all the data on your running watch but understanding how to use this data in your training can be a game-changer.

In today’s show, we’ll focus on how you can use this data to your advantage and answer questions like:

• What are the most valuable running metrics to pay attention to?
• What are these metrics calculated and what do they actually mean?
• How accurate is the data from your running watch or other running accessories?
• What is a data-driven approach to training and why you may benefit from this strategy?
• What are some specific examples of ways to adjust your training based on common running metrics?
• Is there such a thing as tracking too much data?

Measuring your progress will let you learn what works for you to maximize your training.

Previous podcast discussing the most important training data: https://runnersconnect.net/running-questions/most-important-data-to-look-at-after-your-run/

Connect, Comment, Community

• Follow RunnersConnect on Instagram
• Join the Elite Treatment where you get first dibs on everything RTTT each month!
• Runners Connect Winner's Circle Facebook Community
• RunnersConnect Facebook page
• GET EXPERT COACHING AT RUNNERSCONNECT!

This week’s show brought to you by:

MAS Iron

Outside of training deficiencies, low iron is one of the most common reasons for poor results during workouts and races.

Recent research indicates that almost 56% of male runners and 86% of female runners suffer from an iron deficiency that severely hampers performance.

The problem with eating iron-rich foods or supplementing with traditional iron supplements is that iron is notoriously difficult for the body to absorb and utilize.

In fact, only about 25% of dietary iron found in animal sources is absorbed while 17% or less of the iron from plant sources is absorbed.

But MAS Iron has found a way to combat these absorption issues to ensure you can get the iron you need for health and performance.

By combining the most efficiently absorbed form of elemental iron with clinically proven ingredients to aid in absorption, MAS Iron performs like no other iron product on the market.

In fact, clinical research has shown the combination of ingredients in MAS Iron can quadruple absorption and increase bioavailability by 30%, all while reducing GI issues by 50%.

Check out the research and the results for yourself at masedge.com/iron. Runnersconnect fans will automatically save 20% on any purchase.

MetPro

Using Metabolic Profiling, MetPro’s team of experts analyzes your metabolism and provides an individualized approach to obtaining your goals.

Your MetPro coach then works with you to consistently make adjustments based on your metabolic data as well as how your plan fits your lifestyle.

MetPro’s coaches are not only educated experts in their field, but they’re empathetic that people have demanding schedules and often stressful lives. They will work one-on-one with you to identify the best nutrition and fitness strategy that is going to work for your personal goals and lifestyle needs.

Get a complimentary Metabolic Profiling assessment and a 30-minute consultation with a MetPro expert at metpro.co/rttt