kaburns1214 Mentor Group 2011 Part 2 - CLOSED (Page 10)

I'm glad you chimed in -- I thought you would have a different opinion.

Do you "practice" with the nutrition that's on the course pre-race?

Finally, it is light out before 6:00 am!!! Sunrise is now 5:55 (today, and getting earlier every day). Although, it was actually light out earlier than that, even with cloudy skies this morning.  So I got out, only for a 50 minute ride, since I had to be back for the wife to leave for work, me to get ready for work, and to get kids off to school.  I can't wait for it to be light at 5:15 am!! 

So I only got in 14 miles and only averaged 16.75 mph today. Good news was my average HR was only 139. My legs felt super tired for some reason.  I think I had over done it yesterday with CANDY.  Damn Easter Bunny.  My diet has been so good all winter, but yesterday, the damn sugar bug attacked me!!!

I felt the same way this morning.  I think I ate 400 calories of jelly beans and malted milk balls yesterday.  Bah!  My kids don't even like jelly beans that much, so I'm picking them out of their candy bins and tossing them in the trash.  Can't have them around

bryancd - 2011-04-25 9:32 AM

kaburns1214 - 2011-04-25 7:14 AM I'm glad you chimed in -- I thought you would have a different opinion.

Do you "practice" with the nutrition that's on the course pre-race?

Whew, I'm glad you take my comments in the spirit in which they are intended which is simply to provide an alternate view. I am a very firm believer in there are many ways to train and with few exceptions, they all are effective. I also am a firm believer in not becoming too dogmatic about a specific training protocol simply because it works for me. I am 100% a "live of the land" nutrition athlete. When I first started in the sport, I made the decision to try and simply use what would be available during the race in all of my training. I tolerated it just fine and have never looked back. It makes my training and racing very easy in so far as I don't use any specialty drinks or nutrition supplements. Gels, course provided sport drink, water, a few Cliff Bars for Ironman on the bike, and that's it. My Mom used to race Kona in the '80's with water and Fig Newtons and set AG world records. It's really not that hard.

kinda hard to argue the point of view of a multiple Kq'ing ironman, and probably one of the nicest people on this site.

It is nice to see the variety of different ways to fuel the body on a long distance race, as their are as many ways to do it as there are racers. I like that gum trick idea, i find i breath through my mouth and somtimes, especially in Crits or bike races where the pace does not ever really let up, i find it difficult to get a swallow in just to wet my mouth. I will have to try that. For me, when i do a sprint or shorter race, all my nutrition/hydration is done prior to that races start, i do not even carry a water bottle in a sprint. Any water i get on the course is to dump on my head/cool me off or rinse out cotton mouth. In my lone Half i premixed my Gu into my fluid bottles, i find it much easier to consume while biking, than trying to rip one open. I have the benefit of an iron stomach, i can pretty much eat/drink anything with no consequences, whick certainly has benefits. I probably over thought my nutrition in the half i did as i carried way to much stuff, but i am sure as you get used to doing the diffrent distances, you find out what works for your body.

BTW, computer at home not working, so no weekend posts.

Well, weekend running did not go well.  I felt good enought to some strength training on Friday.  Fine.  Then I rode my bike 10 miles for a easy brick on Saturday. Ran 4 miles.  Felt pain almost all the way through, but not horrible.  Tried for running again last night and did all I could get to 3.5 miles in.  There was pain, which was bearable, but what most concerning is that it is as though my hip went numb and I couldn't control the communication to my body for my stride, so I felt like I didn't have control over my stride and food placement . . . so stopped.

Time to call the doctor?  I think I should get frequent flyer miles or points for visits . . .

I find the whole nutrition / hydration discussion very interesting.  This is an area I really struggle with.  I always thought I had a stomach of steel, but as I started doing the longer distances my stomach revolted with pretty much everything.  I typically end up with a sloshy stomach.  Hearing that it's ok to wait to drink until you're thirsty is kind of encouraging.  I'm always trying to drink drink drink, so I don't get dehydrated, but I think I need to back off some and let what I do drink actually absorb.  There must be a happy medium in there somewhere.

I'm also a very heavy salty sweater.  I have not done a sweat test (probably should) but that's another reason I'm always drinking.  I hope to do better during training this year.  Last year I had a "nutrition plan" each weekend, but never really stuck to it.  Maybe I'll try to set my watch to remind me...

My nutrition plan is hippo eclair and beer oriented.

There was a great story in Comeptitor Magazine about Bob Babbit racing once of the early 80s Konas (back when doing any ironman meant doing it at Kona), using jelly sandwiches as his "nutrition".  The picture of him was great too: long hippy beard, circa-1965 "english racer"... for most of we over complicate things because that is what we are told to do. 

As kelly has often said, do whatever works in practice. 

Did Cait Snow actually yell at you for drinking water?

I think this is a good point.  Most people have enough CHO and water in their systems to support them without anything else for a sprint.  It gets trickier the longer you go. I think the major take away, especially at the half and full distance is to practice what you plan on using on race day: (1) so you'll have an idea of how much you need of what or what you need to pick up on the course; and (2) for people like me with a history of GI issues, you'll train your gut to take in what you'll need.  Also remember trying new things on race day isn't always the best idea (I'm looking at you Jeff-y).

I gotta say, I really like the idea of fig newtons and water as a fueling plan, but while it might work on the bike, I think I would be paying for it on the run. 

Unfortunately I think a doctor's visit is in order.  I know, its wicked tough to be injured and now be able to fix it.

Let us know how it goes.

Good morning everyone.  Heading out as soon as its light out for a 2 hour bike and a T run.  Then tonight -- massage!

Legs are still pretty shelled from last week hoping everything starts feeling like normal again by the weekend.

HAppy Tuesday.  Started the morning with some intervals on the drainer .  Then some intervals on the dreadmill at lunch.

Kelly- you dont think my hippo eclair and cherry coke fueling plan is the way to go?  Seriously, I just checked the Rev3 site and could not find what sports drink is being served, but you said gatorade endurance and as your mentee I have total and complete trust in you and shall use that as my sports drink on rides and runs.  I'll also have my cherry-lime roctane which is fine as well as a couple power bars for the bike.  I figure a bottle of sports drink and a power bar per hour is about 600 calories on the bike and a GU every 30 minutes on teh run.  Practice practice.

Did Cait Snow actually yell at you for drinking water?

Gatorade endurance -- I promise.

Sorry, been away from my CPU for a few days or at least the one that doesn't  have work filters on it that don't let BT through.  On the hydration debate, I've lived most of my years in very humid climates (Miami and Houston) and have LIVED off sports drinks.  As a youth I cramped very easy, of course I also played select baseball and would catch both ends of a double header in 100 degree plus weather so to be expected.  Anyway sports drinks have been my life blood forever so I train, race, etc with them.  I can race on water alone, but don't prefer to.  I find hydration means a personal preference thing.  I think an athlete in tune with their body can take a hydration plan and tweak it to fit their personal needs. 

Now if that disjointed thought process made any sense, this week is just another in my push to Austin in October.  Today was drainer/dreadmill brick day.  I'm really looking forward to IMTX this year.  One of my few tri friends is racing.  I'm really trying to find a way to get out there and spectate if not volunteer.  She's suffered a separated shoulder mid way through her 16 week plan and will need all the cheerleaders she can get.