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Getting enough salt? Or?
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 2009-07-13 9:38 AM |
Master 1963    |  Subject: Getting enough salt? Or?In my HIM last weekend, I really felt pretty mediocre coming off the bike. I was running much slower than I had trained and planned for. Eventually I found out that one of the aid stations had pretzels. I had 5 pretzels and it almost literally changed everything. I felt "pumped back up" and while I was still slow, I felt way better. I lived off the course for the most part and took in plenty of fluids on the bike as well ate my nutrition (shot blocks) as planned. The course offered gatorade endurance formula and I started the race with regular gatorade in my aerodrink and back on the wing. I honestly didnt' give salt a lot of though given that gatorade has sodium in it. My questions are 1) Was it the salt in the pretzels that made me feel better? I only had like 5 pretzels (all I could stomach) but it really made a huge difference 2) Do you guys do anything special to make sure you get enough salt? Salt stick, infinit? Other comments and/or helps? As always, I appreciate all the feedback I can get. Edited by merlin2375 2009-07-13 9:39 AM |
| 2009-07-13 10:09 AM in reply to: #2280750 |
Not a Coach 11473  Media, PA | Subject: RE: Getting enough salt? Or? It is HIGHLY unlikely that the salt was they key. The fact that you had a small amount of solid food may have helped you feel better. Odds are you went too hard on the bike which caused you to be slower on the run than expected. But congrats on finishing the HIM!  |
| 2009-07-13 10:24 AM in reply to: #2280750 |
Expert 2547 The Woodlands, TX | Subject: RE: Getting enough salt? Or? I've had the same experience, except instead of pretzals, it was salt packets that I grab before the race at the local fast food joint. There are a number of people around here that feel salt is a complete waste of time and will site various (although sometimes shakey) scientific tests. Here's what I know... People like farmers have been using salt and salt tablets in heat/high sweat environments since practically the beginning of time. Consuming sodium is the only way to replace sodium whether you're racing or not. Ironman Champions like Stadler, McCormack and Alexander use salt. I use salt and have experienced what you are talking about, as have adventure racing teammates I have raced with. So I guess I'm a believer. It won't effect you adversely to take salt during a race, you just pee it out. So even if I'm way off base, it doesn't do any harm. The reverse however, cannot be said. Edited by tjfry 2009-07-13 10:37 AM |
| 2009-07-13 11:18 AM in reply to: #2280910 |
Not a Coach 11473 Media, PA | Subject: RE: Getting enough salt? Or? tjfry - 2009-07-13 11:24 AM I've had the same experience, except instead of pretzals, it was salt packets that I grab before the race at the local fast food joint. There are a number of people around here that feel salt is a complete waste of time and will site various (although sometimes shakey) scientific tests. Here's what I know... People like farmers have been using salt and salt tablets in heat/high sweat environments since practically the beginning of time. Consuming sodium is the only way to replace sodium whether you're racing or not. Ironman Champions like Stadler, McCormack and Alexander use salt. I use salt and have experienced what you are talking about, as have adventure racing teammates I have raced with. So I guess I'm a believer. It won't effect you adversely to take salt during a race, you just pee it out. So even if I'm way off base, it doesn't do any harm. The reverse however, cannot be said. That all may be true, but the OP ate 5 mini pretzels which had a small fraction of the sodium they were getting in the GE (and likely less than even the regular Gatorade). So it still seems pretty unlikely to me that salt was the trigger in this case. But long odds doesn't equal no chance, I suppose. |
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