Reta break during long run training?

A

AntAF

Active member
I started Reta three weeks ago at 0.5mg/week. I've been ramping up my half marathon training, increasing my run distances each week. Last week, I ran about 9 miles and completely ran out of steam in the last mile. I trained for a half marathon back in March with no issues whatsoever. I'm using a hydration pack, drinking electrolytes before the run, eating a PB&J sandwich with a banana an hour before, and even taking gels during the run. Nothing seems to help. I'm wondering if my glucagon levels are too low to sustain the 1-2 hour runs, and I'm thinking of pausing Reta until after the race in mid-November. Any thoughts?

for running and fasting around shots, the reta and extended fasting thread is useful
 
Stopping Reta sounds like a smart move. That dose should clear out of your system pretty quickly. It's worth testing out, in my humble opinion.
 
I had almost the same experience training for a marathon at the beginning of the year while on Mounjaro. I would peter out on longer runs, and my heart rate was elevated. It took roughly a month to get back to normal. I'm contemplating trying Reta soon since I'll be training for Tokyo starting in December. Just want to be able to complete the course, not quickly as my knee is not great right now.
 
It's probably a good idea to stop taking it for the time being. It takes about a month to fully saturate your system at the dose you're at. You could wait it out and see if the side effects disappear, considering it's a small dose. Just my two cents.
 
I've already decided to stop taking it. It's been more than four weeks, and I feel better on my long runs. I ran 12.5 miles a couple of weeks ago. My race is this weekend. I'm excited and feel much better about my energy levels now. I'll post an update after the race.
 
Update: I finished the half marathon and ran the whole thing! I was about 10 minutes slower than I was at a half marathon earlier this year, but the weather was warmer, and this was a tough course with a bridge incline. I ran another 5k on Thanksgiving and set a new personal record. I resumed taking Reta last week at a very low dose to ease my body back into it. I'm going to hold back on long-distance and endurance running for now.
 
One gel wouldn't be enough for me during a half marathon, but I run slow. It could be a blood sugar issue, and you might need to increase your gel intake.
 
I used three gels during the half marathon, and it was sufficient. I think I took one gel after running for 30 minutes, then another at 60 minutes, and the last one around 90 minutes, finishing a little after 120 minutes.
 
Congrats on finishing the half! Women need different fueling strategies, particularly depending on where they are in their cycle. Sometimes you need a single gel, sometimes more. I've paced races at 2 hours 10 minutes, and my PB is just under 1 hour 52 minutes. Usually, I'll preload a bit in the three days leading up to the race and then only use one gel during the race. You learn what your body can handle. Marathon fueling is a whole different beast. I'm currently on 0.5mg of Reta and seeing how it goes with training for Tokyo. Did a 10-mile run on Sunday, so I'll know soon if I need to quit Reta for the next few months since Mounjaro crippled me on runs of 8 miles or more, giving me no energy and a high heart rate.
 
I do endurance cycling and have been impressed with Reta so far! I'm currently on 2mg/week and have increased my distance without the need to fuel. I think that the up-regulation of fat oxidation is helping with energy for zone 2 endurance. Keep in mind that I am not a fantastic cyclist (220w FTP), but I'm still impressed. I did notice that eating more carbs than usual the day before my long ride was helpful. In my marathon days, my fueling needs were far higher than they are now while cycling, so it could be different.
 
Have you guys seen any change in your perception of heart rate, and how it might be affecting your race times while on Reta? It seems like my heart rate is slightly higher while on Reta, but I'm not sure if that's resting or during exercise. Also, I'm curious how it affects VO2 max.
 
I haven't observed any changes in heart rate. I usually stay in zone 2 while training. My resting heart rate seems consistent with or without Reta.
 
I started Mounjaro earlier this year, and it has been amazing. I have lost about 70lbs, going from a size 14/16 to a size 4/6. I feel so much better, and I'm doing strength training, Zumba, and Pilates. Keep up the great work!
 
FoodStrong153 said:
I started Mounjaro earlier this year, and it has been amazing. I have lost about 70lbs, going from a size 14/16 to a size 4/6. I feel so much better, and I'm doing strength training, Zumba, and Pilates. Keep up the great work!
Click to expand...
Congrats to you! I'm a bit older, but this is encouraging. I need to incorporate more strength training myself. I lost about 80 on MJ and need to build some muscle in my thighs and stomach.
 
Just a reminder everyone, please remember that we can't give medical advice on here. If you have questions about specific medical conditions like diabetes or thyroid issues, please talk to your doctor!
 
Just trusting process. Different dosing works - 10mg/day times 20 days, only two cycles yearly. Some do 5mg/day times 10 days instead.
 
Not at maintenance yet just wondering though, how much longer are you planning to stay at 5mg before taking another break? And when you dropped back to 5mg did you get any rough symptoms coming back in? Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top