The information contained in this newsletter is the opinion of Ryan Riell and Break Through Multisport on endurance training, racing, and nutrition. These points are suggestions on how to train and not recommendations for athletes. Any article on the Break Through Multisport website may be reprinted into a paper or online newsletter for your NON-PROFIT club or organization, so long as the author and www.BreakThroughMultisport.com are credited.  If you do reprint or link to any Break Through Multisport material, please send a courtesy email to Ryan@BreakThroughMultisport.com. For medical advice, and before starting a strenuous training program, consult with a physician.

May, 2011

Volume 4

Issue 5

In This Issue:

New Assistant Coach-

Gary Geiger

Consistency

Northern Arizona Training Camp

Phoenix Skills Camp

Youth/Junior Triathlon Program

Road Ready

Coaching Mentorship Program

Program Design: Part 1

Sponsor of the Month

UCAN - 10% OFF

Common Infections Diseases in Triathletes

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Impetigo is a skin infection most commonly caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and less commonly by Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus bacteria. Sweating, abrasion, friction on the skin and poor hygiene can predispose to this infection. It is characterized by rapidly spreading redness, pustules, crusting and sometimes blistering of the skin and may be quite painful. It is highly contagious and can become quite extensive in a short period of time if not treated quickly. The good news is that it is highly treatable by your physician with common antibiotics.

Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This is most often contracted by swimming in inadequately chlorinated pools or hot tubs. Individuals who frequently shave their legs and other body parts may also contract folliculitis. Lesions will most often appear as small red dots centered around the hair follicles. Folliculitis is not usually painful but often is very itchy. There may also be a local burning sensation at the site of the lesions.  The condition is usually self limiting and will resolve by keeping skin clean and dry. If the infection progresses or fails to clear in 7-10 days it may require antibiotic treatment and medical attention should be sought. A source pool or hot tub must be cleaned and properly chlorinated to prevent reoccurrence. Athletes who are routinely shaving and develop folliculitis are encouraged to use disposable razors and use them only once then discard them.

Carbunculosis is a deep seated infection that involves a collection of pus beneath the skin and is most often caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. A common term for this sort of infection is an abscess another is “saddle sore” when it occurs on the buttock. Carbuncles tend to occur in areas of skin that are exposed to friction, sweating, abrasion or have poor hygiene. These lesions present as a reddened lump on the skin and are usually very painful. There may be associated fever. They often require drainage by a medical professional and subsequent antibiotic treatment. Left untreated they can lead to serious local tissue damage and potentially to systemic infection. It is essential that cyclists wear clean proper fitting shorts for each ride to prevent this sort of infection.

Tinea pedis is a superficial fungal infection of the feet and is associated with moisture, sweating, abrasion, and locker room facility floors. Lesions appear as reddened areas of skin on the foot often occur between the toes. There may also be associated small water blisters. Typically Tinea pedis is intensely itchy. Treatment with a topical antifungal, either over the counter or prescription, is essential to prevent spread and possible secondary bacterial infection.  Preventative measures include wearing dry cotton socks and nonocclusive (open) shoes when not competing. Wearing shower/deck sandals in the shower at public locker rooms also may help prevent an athlete from contracting Tinea pedis. Athletes who run or cycle without socks may need to discard running/cycling shoes worn during active Tinea pedis infection to prevent chronic re - infection by contaminated footwear.

Otitis Externa is a bacterial infection of the external ear canal and is commonly known as swimmer’s ear. It is caused by  Stphylococcus aureus, streptococcus, or pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria and may be associated with fungal elements also. Swimmers, especially open water swimmers, are at special risk for this condition. It is characterized by itching and/or pain in the affected ear. There may also be discharge from the ear. Often this condition is worsened and infection deepened by athletes attempting to put foreign objects (including Q- tips!) into the ear in an attempt to clean the ear. Treatment should be left to a medical professional and consists of prescription antibiotic and/or antifungal ear drops and possibly cleaning and debridement of the ear by the physician. Preventative measures include wearing ear plugs when swimming or the prophylactic use of an antibacterial/antifungal ear drop after swimming. Such drops can be recommended as a home recipe or a prescription both of which a physician can provide.

Leptospirosis is an infection caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete that is from the leptospirosis species. Swimmers in water contaminated by the urine of infected mammals are at the greatest risk for this disease.  Domesticated and wild mammals as well as humans that urinate in water may  spread the disease. This disease has an incubation period of 2- 20 days ( the period of time between exposure to the bacteria and the beginning of symptoms) and occurs in 2 phases. The first phase is characterized by flulike symptoms with fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and possibly abdominal pain. The first phase may last up to one week. There then follows a few days where symptoms are minimal followed by the second phase that can result in recurrent fever, meningitis and uveitis (an inflammatory condition of the eye. If untreated leptospirosis can proceed to a condition known as Weil’s disease which can involve hepatitis, kidney failure, the development of blood clots throughout the body, and potentially death. The athlete must be suspicious of this illness if he or she develops flu like symptoms after swimming in open water. Another important clue that leptospirosis may be possible is the development of flu like symptoms when it is not flu season. Finally if fellow athletes who have been swimming in the same body of water develop the above described symptoms leptospirosis may be involved. Diagnosis is made by a blood test and clinical signs and symptoms. Antibiotics are required to treat leptospirosis so athletes who think they may have this disease need to present to a physician as soon as possible for evaluation and appropriate treatment.

Giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis are intestinal infections that are caused by the single celled organisms  giardia and cryptosporidia respectively.  These organisms are found in fresh water in lakes and rivers. Athletes swimming in open water who inadvertently ingest water are at risk for these diseases.  In giardiasis there is an incubation period of 1-2 weeks after which infected individuals may develop loss of appetite, abdominal cramping and bloating, diarrhea, and characteristic belching and flatulence that is sulfuric in odor. Diagnosis is made on the basis of symptoms and laboratory examination of a stool sample looking for the giardia organism. Treatment with antibiotics is required for resolution. Cryptosporidiosis causes mostly a watery diarrhea and is not accompanied by the sulfuric smelling belching and flatulence of giardia. This illness is usually self limiting over 2-4 weeks and usually does not require antibiotic treatment. If diarrhea is severe dehydration may become a risk and the athlete should seek medical attention. Interestingly cryptosporidia have been known to develop resistance to chlorine so may be contracted from contaminated swimming pools also. This is not true for giardia. 

The above constitutes a fairly inclusive but by no means comprehensive list of infectious diseases that are known to be common to endurance athletes and triathletes. It is important to note that USAT requires all bodies of water to be tested for human swimmability before they can be sanctioned for use in a race/event. Most municipalities also have requirements for regular testing of bodies of water that are open to the public. As such the risk of developing some of the more serious water borne illnesses described above is generally low but nevertheless athletes should be vigilant for the development of symptoms and seek medical care if they become ill. In general if athletes practice good hygiene and appropriate preventative/prophylactic measures the risk of developing sport related infectious diseases can be kept to a minimum.

References:

1.Bart, B.: Skin Problems in Athletics. Minnesota Med.66: 239-241, 1983

2.Goodman, R.A., Thacker, S.B., and Solomon, S.L.: Infectious Diseases in Competitive Sports. JAMA 271: 862- 867, 1994.

3.Barker, L.R, Burton, J.R., and Zieve, P.D.: Principles of Ambulatory Medicine 6th Ed. Lippincott Williams & Williams, 2003.

4.Beck, C.K.: Infectious Diseases in Sports. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32(7): S431- S438, 2000.

Coach Brian is a USA Triathlon Certified Coach and an Assistant Coach at Break through Multisport. He is the Director of the Break Through Multisport- Tucson Division. For more information on the Tucson branch of Break Through Multisport, please visit http://BreakThroughMultisport.com/Tucson. You can reach Coach Brian at brian@breakthroughmultisport.com  or at (520) 220-1489 with any question, comments, or for all of your coaching needs

By Brian Bechill DO

Triathletes, by virtue of participating in 3 different endurance sports are uniquely at risk for certain infections and injuries. This article will present some of the most common infectious diseases encountered in triathletes. I will not go into detail about treatment but instead it is recommended that if the athlete develops symptoms that they seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Verrucae (warts) are a viral skin infection common in distance runners and will often occur on the plantar (bottom) surface of the feet. These are called plantar  warts because they occur on the bottom or plantar surface of the foot.  A plantar wart may resemble a callus but can be distinguished from a callus by scraping or abrading the surface of the lesion. A callus will have multiple layers of thickened skin underlying the surface. A wart will show pinpoint areas of bleeding when scraped. If you think you have a plantar wart and it is painful you should seek medical treatment and avoid over the counter remedies.

Molluscum contagiousum are lesions caused by a poxvirus and present as skin colored lesions 2-4 mm in size that have a central indentation giving them the appearance of a miniature umbilicus (belly button). Risk factors for developing these lesions include swimming in swimming pools, abrasions of the skin and use of jacuzzi type hot tubs. The lesions can occur on almost any area of the skin. In general they are self limiting but may present a risk of secondary bacterial infection if irritated or abraded and therefore may need to be treated by a physician to promote rapid resolution.

Writing a program for a triathlete or runner can be very challenging for coaches.  Coaches must remember that no athlete is the same. There is a laundry list of factors coaches must take into consideration when designing a run or triathlon program.  For example, chronological age, training age in each sport, sport background, nutrition demands and susceptibility to injury are a few of the common considerations.  In this article, we will discuss the three most important factors- frequency, volume, and intensity - when designing a program for a half marathon.  Each variable will change throughout the periodized plan in a systematic manner.  This article will be the first of three articles.  The second article will cover the variables to monitor in each phase of training for a half Ironman program.  The final article will compare and contrast the two programs and provide the reasoning behind the similarities and differences.

In a competitive season, athletes typically have a couple of main events or “A” races.  The shorter the distance, the more “A” races you can prepare for.  The longer the race, the more recovery and transition time necessary before an athlete can get back into a structured program.  For example a 5k may only require three days while the Ironman may take a whole month or more to physically and mentally recover.  In order to perform at the highest possible level, there must be periods of time where the training is spent on a specific focus or in a particular energy system.  These periods are called phases.  For the sake of this article, we will use base, general, strength, specific, taper and transition to refer to these phases.

During base phase, the focus is on building volume and performing running drills.  Athletes that are new to the sport can spend as much as 8-12 weeks in this phase in order to build sufficient volume.  The volume added during this

Mike Thomson is the Director of Operations and Training for Break Through Multisport in Chicago, IL. Mike is recognized as one of the top triathlon, fitness and nutrition experts in the Chicago area. He holds a bachelors degrees in kinesiology (exercise physiology and biomechanics) from Michigan State. For more information, please contact Mike Thomson at (517) 648-1101 or at Mike@BreakThroughMultisport.com.

By Mike Thomson

Not that I want to scare anyone off from riding his or her bike, but all factors on the ride point to a not-so-perfect. Actually, not even not-so-perfect, far-from-perfect is more like it. You’re complaining of lower back pain, feeling your toes going numb, stretching to reach your aerobars and lacking good bike control, or wondering why you’re struggling to maintain the same speed as your bike buds when you’re set up for an intensity ride on the trainer. Sound familiar? Well, the answer might not be an ill-trained engine pedaling the wheels but rather an ill-fitting bike. I unfortunately learned this the hard way, but lesson learned, it seemed like an important one to share so others don’t make the same mistakes.

What’s the big deal when it comes to fit? Whether you’re on a road bike or a triathlon bike, the proper fit is imperative to your success on those two wheels. And that holds true in both general riding and racing. A bike too large or too small could cause unwanted pain, less control and too much wasted energy on the road, hassles that could deter you from riding or leave you constantly complaining every time you want to exercise or train.

In other words, the bike serves the rider, not the other way around, and it needs to accommodate the person using it.

Having a good fit on your bike will eliminate those issues that make you want to give up on cycling or curse at your bike when you hit a triathlon’s second leg because you’re not going anywhere. Certified bike fitters agree: A fit will yield comfort and efficiency, two key components when riding. And it will also help with injury prevention and your ease with the bike handling.

But one thing bike fit is not is the way you chose your ride when you were 8 years old: straddling the bike and adjusting the seat height until your toes grazed the ground. Depending on the type of fit system the shop employs, you’re likely to spend at least 90 minutes walking through the process. And you could see your fair share of measurement tapes, wires, data profiles and geometric angles. Shops will vary in the exact process that they run through with a cyclist, but the basics are the same. You might find yourself being interviewed, getting a physical assessment the interview, and riding a bike for a motion analysis. In the interview, the fitter will learn about the athlete’s fitness level, cycling or triathlon goals, and injury history. During the physical assessment, the fitter will be checking for the athlete’s tight spots, back and hip flexion, and mobility, to name a few. They’ll also take measurements for your inseam, shoulder width and shoe size. Then it’s onto the spinning. The fitter watches how the client pedals and goes through a spin scan and video analysis that can catch trouble spots not visible to the naked eye.

By the end you’ll leave with your bike perfectly adjusted—if you were getting retrofitted on your current ride--or have a clear picture of what equipment to purchase should you be looking for something new or your first bike. And if it’s not feeling right when you take it out on the road? Just bring it back to your cycling shop and get it readjusted. Communication between you and your fitter is key, otherwise you end up with something you’re not 100 percent satisfied with and the shop could potentially lose you as a customer. But really it’s all about you. If you’re comfortable on the bike from the pedals to the seat to the handlebars, chances are you’re going to be that much more enthusiastic about riding it. And while it may have worn a hole in your wallet, it’s better to know you’re out riding then let the bike sit in the garage because you don’t feel completely right sitting on it. 

Kate Bongiovanni is USA Triathlon certified assistant coach for Break Through Multisport in Chicago, IL.  For more information, please contact Kate Bongiovanni at (312) 643-0422 or at Kate@BreakThroughMultisport.com.

To get 10% off, enter “UCANTRIBTMS” into the discount code box upon checkout!

By Kate Bongiovanni

Break Through Multisport is offering a new Coaching Mentorship Program to all endurance sports coaches. The mentorship program will be conducted by Break Through Multisport’s Head Coach Ryan Riell. The best way to separate yourself from your competition is to understand the science behind the training and then knowing how to implement it! Our Coaching Mentorship Program is designed to assist coaches in furthering their education and coaching skill-set in such topics as:

1.   Exercise physiology
   

2.   Biomechanics
   

3.   Nutrition
   

4.   Programming
   

5.   Testing
   

6.   Strength training
   

7.   Periodization
   

8.   Temperature regulation
   

9.   Video analysis

Ryan Riell MS

Head Coach-

Break Through Multisport

We have two different versions of our Coaching Mentorship Program, either of which can be customized to fit your personal needs as a coach. Our Coaching Mentorship Program meets the USAT requirements for a mentor coach and the subsequent letter of recommendation for entry into the Level II or Level III coaching clinic. For more information, please contact Coach Ryan.

1.   Video analysis
   

2.   Metabolic efficiency
   

3.   Fluid balance
   

4.   Cramping
   

5.   Fatigue
   

6.   Heat Stress
   

7.   Elite athlete testing and tracking
   

8.   High-Performance Team Development
   

9.   Business of coaching

Our new Phoenix area youth and junior triathlon-training program, Break Through Elite Racing is now up and rolling!

Our mission, in conjunction with USA Triathlon, is to play an integral role in the identification, recruitment, development and age-appropriate competitive preparation of emerging youth (≤15 years old), junior (16-19) and elite U23 athletes, while being mentored by professional coaches and experienced elite athletes, with the goal of developing well-rounded athletes capable of success at the highest levels of competition and progression within the USAT Sports Performance Program.

For more information, please visit: www.breakthroughracing.org and download the PDF on the homepage!

If you know a youth or junior athlete that might be interested in joining the Valley’s only youth and junior triathlon training and racing program, please contact Coach Ryan at (931) 220-7050 or by email at ryan@breakthroughmultisport.com

Generation UCAN is a new sports drink that is revolutionizing sports nutrition with a unique one-of-a-kind energy source - SuperStarch.  Generation UCAN products are based on science, and have been field tested. It has become the go-to natural energy source for many of today’s Olympic, professional and collegiate athletes. It also helps the average athlete keep weight and health in balance.

phase is low intensity. Increased volume prepares the body to withstand the increase in intensity later in the training year. The drills are to ensure the proper mechanics and prevent injury. From a physiological standpoint, the body adapts to this training by increasing the number and size of capillaries.  This allows more oxygen and nutrients to be passed distributed throughout the body.  At the same time, the number of mitochondria and enzymes that transport blood and remove waste products also increase.  Intensities for these runs are often 30-90 seconds slower than marathon pace and are called “easy runs”.  In this phase, there can be larger jumps in volume on a week-by-week basis due to the low intensity.  There is less likelihood of injury.  However, if you are training a newbie runner, you must always be cautious.  When adding volume to this phase, don’t add more than one hour or ten miles every third week.  This pertains to beginners as well as elite runners.

The General phase is where intensity begins.  The runs that are added in this phase prepare the body even more for the intensity and the long runs to come in the next two phases.  If intensity is added to the program too quickly, the athlete is more likely to become injured.  Examples of general phase runs include fartlek and strides.  Fartlek runs and strides are an athletes first chance at adding speed the workouts.  Fartlek runs are done by alternating hard efforts with easy/recovery efforts in no systematic manner.  One effort may be two minutes while the next effort is around twenty seconds.  The only rule I have for fartlek runs is that the pace for the hard efforts should be even from start to finish. Strides are more structured.  These runs are typically at the end of an easy or long run.  The hard effort will last anywhere from fifteen to forty seconds.  Strides are also done to increase running economy, form and to stimulate fast twitch muscles.  In this phase, strides should be done after one to two runs a week, accounting for about 3-5% of your weekly runs.

In the strength phase, athletes work on muscular strength and endurance while maintaining the fitness they have built in the previous phases. Some of the runs in this phase are steady state, hills and strides.  Steady state or tempo runs are added to this phase to practice race day paces and nutrition.  Steady state runs in the strength phase account for only about 10% of the weekly volume, while the easy and long runs still dominate the volume each week.  Hill runs are the source of big strength gains in this phase.  When doing hill work outside, make sure the hills are both long and steep enough.  Typically, we are looking for a 3-8% grade.  It is also important to monitor recovery in this phase.  Stretching the hips, calves, hamstrings and quadriceps should be maintained, if not increased, from previous phases.  Skimping on rest and recovery between runs and/or too much intensity too fast can easily lead to injury in this phase.  Lastly, injuries are less likely to occur on way up the uphill.  The large eccentric contractions it takes to decelerate the body on the down hills is usually what causes injuries.

The specific phase is tailored for the athlete’s main event.  In a half marathon, athletes are usually aerobic for the first half and slide anaerobic toward the second half of the race.  Similar to the other phases, 75% of the training is easy and long, while the other 25% is at steady state or tempo pace. The steady state runs in the strength phase are short, starting at twenty minutes and going up to ninety minutes in duration.  Total volume in this phase is higher than any other phase.  The easy and long runs have potentially increased 25-50% from week 1.  In this four to six week block, the main focus should be on the quality runs.  Hitting the appropriate paces and making the training sessions as “race like” as possible is important for training the body as well as the mind.

The taper.  Guess what that means, the race is almost here and volume decreases significantly.  But, don’t think it’s all rest and relaxation!  The intensity actually goes up and the frequency must remain the same.  The fartlek run is used again at this point for its intensity.  Most individuals become scared of the intensity but athletes must keep their fast twitch fibers firing.  Steady state and the easy runs remain, but the volume comes down up to 50% respectively from the previous phase. 

Race!!!

The transition phase seems to be a lost phase.  Athletes either don’t add a transition phase and immediately go back into training, or they take too much time off.  The transition phase for the half marathon should last anywhere from one to two weeks.  During this time, cross training is preferred but not the main focus.  Cycling and swimming become beneficial due to the lack of eccentric contractions.  They increase blood flow and allow for the muscles to recover faster than they would if the athlete remained sedentary.  Running in this phase is 100% easy.  If the athlete was running six days a week in season, then four running sessions for the first week would be appropriate, adding one run every week following.

Running can seem like an easy task to an outsider.  But in order to race well it takes systematic and progressive training.  In Program Design for a Half Marathon and Half Ironman Part 2 I will discuss how we should progress through a half marathon program similar to how I did with the half marathon program.  The distance is the same but the way you train for a triathlon changes when you add in the bike and swim.

Break Through Multisport is proud to announce that triathlon coach Gary Geiger has joined our coaching staff! Gary is a USA Triathlon certified coach with a wealth of experience. Combined with his ongoing study of the latest advances in training methods allow him to customize training for athletes so they achieve the most from their time invested. His passion is in working with motivated individuals in creating an athlete/coach relationship to push through mental and physical boundaries in reaching the highest performance goals while enjoying the process.

Kate said “I am really excited to be joining Break Through Multisport. I really appreciate the scientific approach that is take by the full coaching staff!” Break Through’s Head Coach Ryan Riell said “I’m thrilled to have been able to bring on an experience and knowledgable coach like Gary, he will be able to provide athletes across the country with a level of experience and coaching that is hard to find anywhere else!”

A 30 year veteran of triathlon competitions, Gary is a 4 time All-American and a 4 time member of the USA Team to the ITU  Long Distance World Championships, having raced in France, Spain and Denmark in addition to countless races throughout the US. His 10 Ironman efforts have garnered a number of podium finishes, including 2 qualifications to the prestigious Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

How many times are we “wowed” with tales of incredible workouts done by another athlete and experienced that feeling of falling behind? While these epic workouts make great stories in ensuing years, the proven and reasonable way to improve is very simple and within everyone’s reach......consistency!

The most common theme we would see in the training logs of most of the front running pro and age groupers is the lack of gaps in their schedules. Day in and day out, the building process of doing the work your coach has outlined for you is one “secret” that anyone seeking to maximize results should adapt. According to coach Phil Skiba, “the body responds to averages”. These “averages” he talks of is the consistency of faithfully performing what is prescribed by the coach in the process to maximize race day potential. Of course, one needs to periodize according to the phase they find themselves in, but doing the work lays the groundwork, not only in the process of building the necessary “plumbing” in the body for aerobic efficiency, but also to develop the mental strength to take one through the highs and lows of daily training. Yes, one needs to take recovery days, however there is no shortcut to success, and sticking with the plan is paramount.

The consistency theme extends to other facets of training as well. Consistency in good nutritional practices, both daily and race day need to be included in the routine to provide the working muscle and body the proper high quality nutrients to fuel workouts and provide proper recovery in addition to keeping the fuel needs steady for race day. Nutrition and training go hand in hand to keep the body functioning at it’s best.

Quality workouts also need consistency to achieve the ultimate benefits in a training plan. Speed and endurance are best gained and maintained by a systematic approach that emphasizes staying the course and applying the stresses of hard workouts on a consistent basis as opposed to the above mentioned “epic” sessions, followed by inactivity or haphazard schedules.

Last, but by all means, not least, is the recovery consistency needed to progress through a well designed program that stresses the systems. Recovery is often neglected, while one needs to realize that during recovery is when the “healing” and actual improvement happens. Whether the method is ice baths, compression, sleep, nutritional products, massage or any of the other recovery regimes, these are most effective when a pattern and consistent application is used. As stated before, “the body responds to averages”, and many forsake perhaps the most important aspect of training, which is the proper and effective recovery from the tearing down caused by difficult training.

So the next time you plan that 100 mile ride followed by mile repeats, be sure that you have completely set yourself up for success by building up to it by your consistent work and progression that is well monitored. Keep a log, keep it current, as it is the key tool in realistically seeing that you have maintained your fitness. All of the above are aspects that each and every athlete has in their control to make the training successful. When you find yourself seeking that “magic bullet”, search instead for the will to head out the door and do the daily work. Your results will reflect it!

Gary Geiger is USA Triathlon certified assistant coach for Break Through Multisport.  For more information, please contact Gary at (815) 262-1465 or at Gary@BreakThroughMultisport.com.

August 5-7, 2011 in Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix Skills Camp

$300 USD

Northern Arizona Training Camp

$200 USD

SuperStarch lacks the spike and crash of other carbs. Maltodextrin, on average, spiked glucose by over 60% in the first half hr, followed by a crash to 24% below fasting blood glucose levels, while SuperStarch had a very small spike and maintained fasting glucose levels for about 2 hrs - just 3% below fasting level after 2 hrs.

So Generation UCAN benefits (the red curve)  include:

1. Healthy, steady, on-going energy without sugars or caffeine
   

2. No spike and crash
   

3. No gastrointestinal (GI) distress - so it’s gentle on the stomach
   

4. A unique dual-fuel energy profile that helps burn both carbohydrates and fat

SuperStarch virtually flat-lined insulin while with maltodextrin there was a big insulin spike when it was ingested before exercise, and after exercise before the 90 minute recovery period without exercise. Even though it consistently released glucose into the body, as evidenced by the fact that glucose levels were maintained for 2 hrs, there was almost no insulin reaction - SuperStarch virtually flat-lined insulin during and following exercise. Insulin is a storage hormone that tells the body to shut down fat burning .

The graphs show that athletes mobilized significantly more fat both during exercise and post exercise.  So they became more efficient, burning more fat calories for fuel. This has significant implications for helping athletes (and anyone for that matter) improve their body composition, creating more lean muscle and less body fat.