Race Weight and Carb Cycling: Losing Weight to Get Faster Without Sacrificing Key Workouts

Welcome back to another short, sharp sub 15-minute episode. Today, I discuss the relationship between race weight and endurance performance, using examples including Josh Kerr, the new mile world record holder, Comrades Marathon winner George Kusche, and Olympic triathlon champion Kristian Blummenfelt.

I explain how losing weight has helped me improve my own marathon time from 2:35 to 2:18, while also addressing the risks of aggressive dieting and underfueling. This episode is not intended for anyone with a history of eating disorders, and I am sharing my personal experience rather than professional nutritional advice.

I break down how I use a moderate calorie deficit on most days while carb cycling around important workouts. The goal is to fuel heavily with carbohydrates for approximately 12 hours before and three hours after key sessions, then return to lower-calorie, filling foods during easier periods.

Matt's Links

Coaching: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/

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Email: matt@sweatelite.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/

Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Elite Weight Clues
02:05 Podcast Setup and Warning
03:55 My Race Weight Journey
06:04 Critics and Risk
08:14 Calorie Deficit Basics
10:21 Carb Cycling for Workouts
12:52 Foods That Keep You Full
14:11 Resources and Wrap Up

kristian blummenfelt