[Nick Voth is currently finishing his degree in Exercise Science from Bowling Green State University, where he competes on the Cross Country team. He is an Applied Sports Science Intern at Athletic Lab.] Developing proper fueling strategies is always a goal for coaches and athletes across all sports. Particularly, the use of carbohydrates (CHO) before and during competition can optimize performance. CHO fueling typically consists of ingestion of a commercially available food, gel, or sports drink. Other fueling strategies have been investigated, and thus, the concept of CHO mouth rinsing has surfaced. CHO mouth rinsing involves rinsing a solution in the oral cavity for a short duration and subsequently spitting it out. The first of this two-part blog will discuss implications for CHO mouth rinsing for endurance sports athletes. There are a couple potential benefits associated with CHO rinsing as opposed to ingestion. The first, and perhaps of most concern to athletes when developing a fueling strategy, is decreased gastrointestinal issues. Many athletes are hesitant to fuel just prior or during competition in fear of gastrointestinal issues that may hinder performance. Consequently, CHO rinsing may allow for an ergogenic enhancement while avoiding gastrointestinal distress. Secondly, albeit very minor, is the additional mass added to the athlete followed by ingestion of food or drink during competition. In sports where fatigue may be dependent upon an athlete's ability to move one's mass, the addition of unnecessary weight may result in earlier onset of fatigue. Therefore, CHO mouth rinsing may be the solution that many athletes have been seeking. Endurance exercise can greatly benefit from CHO mouth rinsing. A systematic review completed by de Ataide e Silva et al. (2014) revealed that CHO mouth rinsing enhances cycling and [...]