Maurten, a Swedish brand specializing in sports nutrition, played a crucial role in preparing Sawe for his remarkable performance at the London Marathon on April 26, achieving a world record time of 1:59:30.
In the year leading up to the marathon, Sawe worked closely with the Maurten team, who made six dedicated trips to Kenya to collaboratively develop an effective fueling strategy.
“Anyone who has witnessed Sabastian run understands he’s an exceptional athlete, truly a once-in-a-generation talent,” remarked Joshua Rowe, head of sports tech at Maurten. “What might not be widely known is that he’s also among the best fuelers the marathon scene has ever seen.”
The team conducted extensive testing and analysis to optimize Sawe’s nutrition and training approach. This included measurements of exogenous carbohydrate uptake, energy expenditure, running economy, VO2 max, lactate levels, and blood samples. They assessed body composition, monitored training load, and analyzed diet logs to ensure Sawe’s energy needs were met.
Additionally, a tailored gut-training plan and a race-day fueling protocol were created to enhance Sawe’s gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance for the high carbohydrate intake required for the marathon.
“He incorporated a Maurten gel before his longer training sessions and used Maurten Drink Mix at set intervals, replicating his exact race-day routine,” Rowe explained. “This was aimed at gradually training his gut to minimize the risk of GI distress while maximizing his capability to utilize exogenous carbohydrates during competition.”
“After months of fine-tuning, a comprehensive fueling plan was established for race day.”
Why is Carb Loading Crucial?
Rowe emphasized that a significant aspect of race preparation involves ensuring Sawe has sufficient glycogen reserves. Athletes prioritize carb-loading beforehand to build up the energy necessary for endurance events.
Muscle glycogen serves as the primary energy source for marathon training, supplying readily available fuel for active muscles. During running, the body breaks down glycogen into glucose, which is then utilized to produce ATP through pathways like glycolysis, fueling muscle contractions.
As exercise intensity escalates, reliance on glycogen grows because it provides energy swiftly, enabling runners to maintain quicker paces during intense workouts such as intervals and long-distance training. Thus, adequate glycogen storage helps to postpone fatigue, sustain pace, and ensure efficient movement.
Sawe’s Race Day Fueling Strategy
In the two days leading to the race, Sawe utilized Maurten’s Drink Mix 320 to enhance his carbohydrate intake, which contains 80 grams of carbohydrates per 500ml of water. This mix transforms into a hydrogel upon contact with stomach acid, encapsulating the carbohydrates to minimize the feeling of liquid sloshing in the stomach during exercise.
On the morning of the race, Sawe started his day with the Maurten Bicarb System. Sodium bicarbonate helps neutralize acid buildup in muscles, allowing them to perform longer and delaying fatigue. To prevent potential stomach upset, this product employs Hydrogel Technology to encapsulate the bicarbonate and facilitate its absorption in the stomach. Additionally, Sawe consumed another Drink Mix 320 while heading to the starting line, and five minutes before the race began, ingested a Gel 100, which contains 25 grams of carbohydrates and also uses Hydrogel Technology.
This technology incorporates alginate, derived from seaweed, and pectin from fruit fibers to form a protective structure. The hydrogel’s semi-solid state is designed to act like a sponge, filled with tiny cavities containing carbohydrates.
During the race, at 5 km, 10 km, and 15 km, Sawe consumed small amounts of the carbohydrate drink. At the 20 km mark, he took a caffeinated energy gel and a bit more drink, and at the 25 km, 30 km, 35 km, and 40 km checkpoints, he continued to hydrate with the carbohydrate mix.
According to Rowe, the result of this meticulous fueling strategy earned Sawe a “place in history.”
