Ironman Race Nutrition (Page 3)

I have tried a variety of foods while training, mostly to see if any of them cause me any GI issues. I go into a race knowing what I plan to use, but if I need it, it's nice to know I can grab just about anything else and down it for the calories. I'm luckyt hat my stomach can handle a lot and is not very finicky.

I think the approach of trying to carry all your nutrition is tough for an IM. You can do it on the bike with a concentrated bottle of mix and the special needs stop, but for the run you have to be able to handle what they have. It personally seems odd to me to wear a 6- or 8-bottle fuel belt on the run at an IM when they have so many aid stations with so much stuff. THat's a lot of weight to be lugging around.

tom 

Thanks I'll look into buying one unless you want to unload one!

I'm not sure why a sports drink would do this.  Essentially, they are diluted versions of water and gels.  I'd try training with it a bit more and see what happens.  But if it really does impact you negatively, then just go with what works.  There are some very GENERAL rules about nutrition, but the details seem highly individual.

Nope, my experience has been more that when I use a sports drink of any kind (Stopping, walking, whatever), it results in a side stitch (better word than cramp for this, I now realize) when I resume running. So it makes me wonder if that a thing you can acclimate too, or to just let it go all together. (This does not happen while biking, although if I drink sports drink too late into the bike and then start the run I will get a side stitch)

I've recently figured out that sports drinks make me queasy during long distance runs.  Water is fine.  Gels are fine.  Sports drinks for some reason, not so much.   I used to think  it was GE, but now all sport drinks don't sit quite right on me.  Oh well - my current plan is water, E-caps, and gels. 

Oh yeah, water is fine, and actually I tend to drink a lot of it when I run. This is interesting to me that this seems weird, as I thought it was actually a pretty common issue.

Oh well. EGels work awesomely for me on the run, so I suppose there's not a huge reason to change something that isn't broken. Too bad though -- living off the course would be WAY easier! (and while I can do, say, a HIM with all eGels [for both bike and run], I'm anticipating being majorly sick of them during a full. It would be nice to switch it up)

Huh. Thanks for the input, all. I'll give a whirl...

I am an Infinit user myself, but bryan's posts have certainly made me think about the what ifs..... what if SN doesn't show up for whatever reason?  I appreciate the posts from that perspective.  Sure, it's whatever works for me, but I also have to make sure that I am covering the angles.

Arizona, being flat flattish, I am considering carrying 4 bottles, 3 infinit, one water.  Or perhaps 2 bottles and one baggie of powder... Or 2 bottles and rely on SN....  I am thinking a 6 hour ride, maybe a little over, I believe I can carry 2 3hour bottles and pick up water.  But then I need to make sure I can handle a 3 hour mix and get the right water chaser.  I did a 3 hour bottle once and didn't take in enough water, it wasn't that great.  See?  I also have a tendency to overthink and analyze things.  IMs are perfect for me

dunno, still haven't figured it out, but I am glad I am thinking about it now rather than March.

Will 4 bottles make my bike ridiculously heavy?  Heavier, for sure, but: (1) at 229, it's not like 2 bottles is going to make or break my IM bike split; (2) it gets lighter as I go along (3) I am not shooting for a podium spot, so.......

Two IMs...

Infinit on the first one

GE on the second

I liked the second much more than the first and it is so nice to live off the course. Also, I got rid of the special needs bag for the second race. I also ate almond M&Ms. A little protein, a little sugar, a lot of yummy.  

I hate knocking a product, especially one that gets raves for customer service and the product itself.  But one thing that has bugged me is that I can't figure out the advantage of having a "customizable" nutrition product if I'm forced to use it in concentrate form in order to carry enough of it.  Isn't it just like a gel then?  And those are far easier to carry.  Less expensive too.

Maybe I'm missing something and should try it out myslef.

I'm sort of in the same boat with Chippy.  I transitioned away from HFCS sport drinks, not because they gave me cramps or side stiches, just sort of reflux/pukage in the mouth thing when intensity got high.  I switched to Gu and water OR Hammergel, Enduralytes and water with really good results for my HIM in August and marathon in October.

Plus, gels are easy to carry (flask on HIM, packets in racebelt for marathon).  And there's always water on the course - except for Chicago in October.

A "side stitch" maybe not, but GI distress that masquerades as a side stitch absolutely. The problem with most sports drinks (GE and Gatorade especially) is that the carbs in the drink are solely sugar, which at a high HR some people have a hard time tolerating. I love Gatorade as a rehydration drink after a workout or to sip on a bottle during the day to stay hydrated , but I cannot train my gut to tolerate it during a race. That isn't just aimed at the GE or Gatorade procducts, its any sports drink that are composed primarily of sugar.

I am obviously spastic with the submit button.