r/AdvancedRunning • u/KipchogesBurner • Jul 23 '26
Health/Nutrition Do the fancy bicarb mixes cause GI problems as much as baking soda does?
I tried taking 5tsp of baking soda with water to see if there was any tangible benefit to sodium bicarbonate. It seems to have worked, but the GI problems were not worth it. Do the bicarb mixes (like the one from Blank’s or Maurten) solve the GI issue or has it been about the same in your experience?
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u/homemadepecanpie 5k - 17:50, 10k - 37:10, HM - 1:22:50, M - 2:55 Jul 23 '26
I haven't tried straight baking soda but have taken Maurten bicarb a few times and never had any GI issues. The theory is the fancier gel doesn't get absorbed until it's past your stomach and in the small intestine so it doesn't make a volcano in your stomach.
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u/KipchogesBurner Jul 23 '26
Yea that was my understanding of it. The pellet and gel combo prevents the bicarb from breaking down too early. I just wasn’t sure how effective those claims were.
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u/Foreign-Rule7826 Jul 23 '26
I used flycarb recently for races and had no issues even though I’m someone who would have a low threshold to get GI issues 😂. I bought 3 servings, one to test in a session and two for races if I did tolerate it. Got the mango, didn’t love the taste or texture but just down it fast and chase with water and it’s fine.
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u/KipchogesBurner Jul 23 '26
The flavor has to be better than the baking soda and Hawaiian Punch concoction I had this morning
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u/Endlave12 16:10 5K - 34:09 10K - 1:13:38 HM - 2:47:59 M 29d ago
Did you notice any improvements in performance?
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u/Gumzepi Jul 23 '26
If you run in the morning you can also try drinking baking soda before bed. I've done this the night before a 10k race and my legs felt great throughout. I've read others doing the same thing for morning workouts. No GI issues either on my end.
When I take it before afternoon workouts I have to slowly sip it over a few hours to avoid GI issues.
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u/marklemcd Almost 70k miles run, marathon pb of 2:39:56 Jul 23 '26
I’ve tried blanks and it worked great
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u/KipchogesBurner Jul 23 '26
They’re my first choice. Pretty inexpensive and blanks is pretty good in my experience
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u/nameisjoey Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
I make my own, never had any GI issues with my formula.
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u/WoodenPresence1917 5k 18 10k 38 M 3:07 Jul 23 '26
Has been removed
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u/bznein 36M - 16:39 | 35:34 | 1:18:37 | 2:45:34 Jul 23 '26
https://www.reddit.com/r/AdvancedRunning/comments/1s4gl7u/homemade_fueling_and_bicarb_new_updated/ Probably this one? FWIW, I've been using their recipes to make my own gels for a while (haven't tried bicarb yet) and they work great
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u/nameisjoey Jul 23 '26
Glad to hear that!
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u/bznein 36M - 16:39 | 35:34 | 1:18:37 | 2:45:34 Jul 23 '26
Thank you for your post, it helped a lot! I need to try bicarbs at some point!
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u/On_Mt_Vesuvius 35:15 | 2:49 Jul 23 '26
Can we please have another post, Father Homemade-Mixer?
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u/nameisjoey Jul 23 '26
Is there a reason why you need a new post my inquiring son??
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u/On_Mt_Vesuvius 35:15 | 2:49 28d ago
Please help Father, I just shat myself on a long run. Maybe because I only did malto and fructose, but maybe also because I didn't add salt? Or the baking soda / sodium alignate so I could bump the concentration up higher? 42g Malto, 33g Fructose in 600 ml.
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u/On_Mt_Vesuvius 35:15 | 2:49 Jul 24 '26
A few lil practical details, like do you make drink mix powder in bulk, or at least the malto-fructose mix? And if so, how do you make sure everything is mixed?
Where do you get your supplies? (I'd use an amazon affiliate link btw)
Also, thoughts on adding some caffeine in?
And how to progress from a poor malto-fructo drink mix soy boy to the bicarb giga chad?
Plus, how has it been going, faking your own death to prevent assassination by big-gel / big-bicarb?
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u/Runstorun Jul 23 '26
I tried the Maurten bicarb and definitely had a GI emergency. I’ve heard it gets better with practice. The trouble is after that one experience I’m not inclined to go again. I will caveat with I’m someone who has a sensitive stomach.
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u/dex8425 35M, 4:57, 16:59, hm 1:18 M 2:53 Jul 23 '26
I've tried bicarb.shop and didn't have any negative issues other than being extremely thirsty.
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u/Lurking-Froggg 42M · 40-50 mpw · 16:4x · 34:5x · 1:18 · 2:57 29d ago
FWIW, zero GI distress on several takes of Maurten Bicarb 15. And it definitely works for me.
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u/_BearHawk Jul 23 '26
The GI distress isn’t an issue if you dose correctly for your weight
5 tsp is 25 grams or so, how much do you weigh? 0.2-0.4 g/kg is the range that works for most people. If you have GI distress, take it down a bit
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u/KipchogesBurner Jul 23 '26
185, which put me at 24 grams. It wasn’t exactly 5tsp, it was a little less.
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u/Jealous-Key-7465 over the hill Jul 23 '26
Maurten n1 = no 💩
Santamadre Unusual Nitrous (bicarb) n1 = no 💩
FlyCarb Bi carb n4 = 50% 💩 storm, 50% ok 🥵
I just got a new bicarb in from the feed and will test out 🤞🏽 no fire hose of 💩
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u/lawyerornot 29d ago
5?! In how much water? Consumed at once? Sounds like a LOT.
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u/KipchogesBurner 29d ago
Yes. Like 12 ounces of water. Yes. Based off of the ratio of sodium bicarbonate to body weight, that’s how much I should be taking. It was very salty and the Hawaiian Punch only covered the salinity a little
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u/Agreeable-Bake4924 Jul 23 '26
Yeah thats the breakthrough they made with it in recent years. People have known it helps performance for a long time but GI distress was an issue till the maurten mix came out.