Dominion's Sprint/Oly/70.3 Group--Closed (Page 18)

Originally posted by rjchilds8 Calm, 71 degrees, it would be a really nice, comfortable night for a run. Hmmm, but I'm sitting on the couch having a beer! Pre-Cinco de Mayo Corona for me! I might just have another.

Me too!  Except mines an apricot wheat ale, not very Cinco de Mayo, lol.

Wish I could help. Don't know enough to make an informed decision.

I wanted to comment yesterday but I was just too busy.  In your original post I noted you mentioned pre-race nutrition.  I didn't know if you were considering these in that category or not.  My first thought was, "This is nothing like my pre-race nutrition for a race over 3 hours."  I might use one of these during the race and maybe suck one down 10-15 prior to start.  I consume 200-300 calories per hour while racing so one having 100 cal over the other at 80 would be something I would look at.  I never like the added sugars in the one on the right, as someone already mentioned, although the little 1g of protein caught my eye.  But what kind of protein?  My final comment would be to get the brand names and hit their website for any other info you can find on the contents.

Because I was late in the posting and you let the cat out of the bag  I know what you're looking at.  So, I went the Gerber site and check it out.  Although these are a healthy little snack, like you mentioned for keeping in your desk, I wouldn't race or train with them.  The ingredients and description of these are WAY different then that of GU or Hammer gels.  The latter is designed to sustain an athlete while expending a heavy work load.

Gerber Graduates web site:

details: Gerber Graduates Grabbers squeezable fruit or fruit/veggie pouches are made with 100% natural fruits and vegetables to make snacking on the go super fun. Make it easy for your toddler to self-feed on-the-go.

GU Energy Gel web site:

Created for daily training and competition, GU Energy Gel packs energy-dense calories in a portable packet to help sustain energy demands of any duration or activity. The 100-calorie packet contains carbohydrates (maltodextrin and fructose) that use non-competing pathways to help maximize carbohydrate absorption and utilization while diminishing stomach distress. Sodium, the primary electrolyte lost in sweat, aids in hydration by maintaining water balance. The branched-chain amino acids (leucine, valine, isoleucine) may reduce mental fatigue and decrease muscle damage.

There's a reason these pouches cost $1 - $1.50 each.  Lastly, nutrition is a very personal matter.  What works for one person could be detrimental to another during an endurance race.  Try some different products and see how your body reacts.  Just do it in time to settle in and train consistently before your race.

Edit: Don't forget your recovery drink for anything over an hour!!

Rain, rain, rain, and more rain!  I have training to get in!!  

Looks like I'll be on the trainer for a few hours tonight when I get home from work.  Blah!  

Right!  I had a two hour ride scheduled yesterday so I got home from work and rode the trainer for 60 minutes and stopped, it was painful!  This morning I got up at 3am and rushed to work (yes, I run at work sometimes) so I could get in my two hour run between storm cells.  It worked out great!  The lightning started about 90 minutes in but at the 110 minute mark I chickened out and came inside.  It's been raining like a cow peeing on a flat rock!  More flood and tornado warnings all day.  *sigh*

Keep going back whenever you can. You'll learn a lot and most likely get a better workout than you would on your own. If you want to be faster, train with people who are faster.

The trainer is boring, no way around it. I consider it a necessary evil of winter training, but can't wait to get outside when spring finally arrives. The 50 minutes you mentioned is really all you need if you are racing sprint and Olympic distances. I used to force myself to do longer trainer rides but found that I could get away with just an hour if I made it count. Keep the intensity high and try to make a game out of it. Anything to keep the mind engaged and make it bearable. The trainer works, it will pay off!

I've used GU for a long time now but I just ordered Hammers gel in the bulk bottle with a flask.  It's cheaper (I'm pretty frugal!) and lots of comments saying these are less messy.  I can't seem to eat a GU pouch w/o getting it all over my hands unless I'm standing still in the kitchen.  I saw a race where they announced NO gel pouches on the run route, only bulk jars that would require you to have your own flask.  Seems too many people were tossing the empties on the road the year before and the residence complained.

Also, I ordered their Perpetuem.  Hammer claims this can be your sole calorie source for training/racing over three hours and if you choose to add gels, electrolyte tabs, etc. you can.  Which I will.  My race is on June 28th in a very hot area of Texas so I'm planning the nutrition carefully.