By no means a careful experiment, the difference between my 20k (12.4 miles) and half marathon (13.1 miles) was striking. I ate two bananas before the 20k. I think the run started at 8 AM. I ate normally the day before. There were four aid stations, and I ate a Gu at the second and fourth stations. Around mile 10 I felt like crap and walked for a bit. I finished ok but really didn't feel great. The half marathon started at 7:00. I got up around 4 AM and ate a Pro Bar Meal (390 calories), drank a bottle of Gatorade (160 calories) and had some instant coffee (150 calories). I took with me to the start a Stinger caramel wafer cookie (a knockoff stroopwafel and 160 calories) and ate it about 6:30. During the run I ate three Gus at miles 4, 6 and 9. I felt strong the entire run. At the end I felt like I could have kept going for another half. Three days after finishing I couldn't wait to do another and signed up for two more halfs and a full (November 2017). Everyone is different and how we train and how our bodies react will vary significantly. But I'll definitely be eating a lot before my next half (August 20).
I did a leisurely bike ride in 110 degree weather. I do this ride - 15 miles - twice a day, 4-5 times a week, usually in about an hour and usually with about 12 oz of water. In the heat I drank 60oz of water and could have used more. I took it easy and took an hour and a half. And then I needed to drink another 60oz of water and 32 oz of Gatorade before I felt even vaguely normal. This whole "let's do something bad to my body to see if it's actually bad and then call it an 'experiment'" thing is tedious. Guess what? Physical deprivation will push you off your equilibrium, often in bad ways. I gave myself rhabdomyelosis by accident once; doing dumb shit like this on purpose is Outside Magazine bullshit.
Physical deprivation will push you off your equilibrium, often in bad ways.
tell that to nowaypablo. smokes cigarettes before running :c