? 4 people that used camelbaks during full IM distances

I used a Camelbak for a half and was planning on using it for IMLP, but decided against it. I was going to refill it at special needs. My coach suggested actually buying another bladder and having that at special needs. It might take a second longer to switch out, but you could also freeze it over night so it'll still be cold and may help bring your core temp down.

In the end, I changed my mind because 1) I didn't want to carry the extra weight around and 2) I decided to use Gatorade Endurance instead of Perpetuem. I lived off the course for IMLP. In fact, when I left T1, I didn't have any bottles on my bike since the first aid station was only about 4 miles in and I wasn't planning on drinking anything for the first 20 minutes anyway.

Thanks for the reply/experience.

how fast are you relative to the pack? can BOPers and BOMOPers depend on having fully stocked aid stations to "live" off of? signed up for IMLP 2007 and curious about nutrition plan.

thanks

I'm very interested as well to hear about someone using one.  I have a friend that DNF'd at LP due to not being able to drink when riding hills and my own experience so far indicates that an aerobottle and maybe a camelback for the hills (I would still grab bottles at the aid stations and put them in my cages for the non-hills) might be the best way to go, as grabbing the bottle and drinking on hills isn't going so well so far. 

Well, I can give you my camelbak experiences from a BOPER who has only completed an 1/2 IM so far. I had a successful time there regarding nuitrition but not sure about the full one coming up in Nov.

In the 1/2 IM, I used a 70oz camelbak pre-filled with gatorade. (That's approximately equivalent roughly to 2 big water bottles and 1 small). I had one seat tube cage with a bottle of water.

I'm slow so I did the distance in approximately 3.5 hours or 16mph. I drank about 90% of the camelbak and 1/2 bottle of water on the seat tube. I did not have to stop for anything at the aid station but I did grab 2 gels and 1 power bar glob.

I want to use the same plan for the full IM but the only kink in my plan is, I will run out the camelbak around 60 miles. That's why I wanted any opinions. I think I'm probably going to have an extra clear pack in my special needs bag at 56m like what Dennis recommended a couple posts above.

Edited by auto208562 2006-09-08 10:39 PM

You know they have plenty of water bottle exchanges and water at every mile on the run. You really don't need a camelback.... it'll just cause your back to be hotter and sweat more...

It appears you have aero bars... get a aero water bottle. You can drink without moving around and you can fill it at the water bottle exchanges by squeezing the bottle into your aero bottle and then can just toss the bottle.

...just my 2 cents.

Edited by chile7473 2006-09-09 1:30 AM

Gordo Byrn (elite IM triathlete and co-author of Going Long) used a Camelback at Ironman Canada a couple weeks ago (finished 3rd overall) and he had a replacement bladder at special needs. So, even the elites use 'em. He mentioned the use of it on his website blog.

http://www.neverreach.com/page/page/276159.htm

64 oz. bottle mount behind the seat, then has a tube up to an aero-drink-like straw.

One friend loves it, one friend hates it.