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=Body fat and glycogen storage=
One limiting factor in running marathon distance races is our ability to store [[Glycogen]]. Because glycogen [[Glycogen]] is only stored in the muscles and liver, excess body fat reduces the percentage of muscle and therefore percentage of glycogen [[Glycogen]] that can be stored.
= The flaws in this idea - losing fat =
= Body fat as fuel =
You might think that more body fat would help provide fuel on very long runs. However, one pound of fat provides about 3,500 calories, enough to fuel a runner for 35 miles, assuming no other fuel is used (eaten, glycogen[[Glycogen]], etc).