Hammer Nutrition: Race Day Boost

Race Day Boost contains an effectiveergogenic for competition. In the most extensive study to date on Race Day Boost's key ingredient, fit cyclists, in a 40K time trial, netted a whopping 8% improvement in performance time!* The simple formula belies its profound effectiveness, aiding in increased cellular energy production and buffering performance-robbing lactic acid.* A four-day loading dose of Race Day Boost prior to a key race can make a noticeable improvement in your performance.* This is a special product for special events, but if you intend to win, we think you better have Race Day Boost on board.

What Do These Nutrients Do?

Research strongly suggests that oral doses of Sodium Phosphate significantly contribute to raising extracellular phosphate levels.* In doing so, Race Day Boost may enhance the functions and performance of all three of your body's sources of energy production as well as effectively buffering lactic acid during your races.* Our muscles have three different energy systems, the ATP-CP system, the lactic acid system, and the oxygen system. Every muscle fiber possesses all three of these systems but only one form of energy can be utilized, ATP. The purpose of the three energy systems is to supply additional ATP, which is in limited supply in the muscle. The rate at which they can supply it varies.

The first energy system is the ATP-CP (Adenosine triphosphate and creatine phosphate) system. ATP is the immediate source of energy for muscle contraction. It releases energy very rapidly but again, it is in a very limited supply. This energy system does not need oxygen to produce energy and is capable of producing energy rapidly for short periods of time. The sodium phosphate in Race Day Boost donates its molecular structure in the re-synthesis of Creatine Phosphate (CP) and Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and supports the performance of this short-term energy system.*

The pH of the blood is around 7.3 to 7.4, which is slightly alkaline. The enzymes that produce energy via the lactic acid energy system appear to function optimally in this range. The lactic acid energy system uses carbohydrates as fuel, primarily in the form of glycogen stored in the muscles. When the body breaks down muscle glycogen (known as glycogenolysis) it leads to a process called glycolysis, in which ATP can be produced. Glycolysis occurs with or without the presence of oxygen. Because the muscles don't require as much ATP during rest, glycolysis happens at a slower rate and can be sustained by the oxygen you take in (aerobic glycolysis).

As exercise begins, the rate of aerobic glycolysis increases. At a certain point, as speed increases, aerobic glycolysis becomes inadequate to support energy production. Now, more ATP is produced through anaerobic glycolysis, and through a series of chemical reactions in the cells of the muscle, the formation of lactic acid allows anaerobic glycolysis to continue. However, excess lactic acid can accumulate during high intensity efforts, increasing the concentration of hydrogen ions within the muscle cell (causing it to be too acidic) and disrupt the optimal pH of the muscle cell. Race Day Boost's phosphate salt, with its alkaline nature, will promote buffering excess acid in the blood and help balance and maintain this acid-alkaline base by removing excess hydrogen ions within the muscle cell.* By effectively buffering lactic acid, it supports lactic acid energy production system efficiency.*

Finally, phosphates can aid in improving the oxygen energy system. This energy system uses primarily carbohydrates and fats to produce ATP. Although this system can't produce oxygen as rapidly as the other two systems, it does produce greater quantities of ATP and is the primary energy system of aerobic athletes. Phosphates are part of a compound found in red blood cells known as 2,3-DPG. This is an enzyme that releases oxygen from hemoglobin into the muscle cells. An increase in this compound improves the availability of oxygen to working muscles for the process of creating ATP. In addition to the powerhouse effects of sodium phosphate, 500 mg of glutamine per serving has been added to support the ability of the body to store more glycogen in the muscles, a must during the pre-event taper prior to those important races.*