HIM Nutrition Plan feedback

To me that sounds like a lot of gels on the run--it sounds like you'll be having 4 to 6-- but if you have tested in it training it may be okay. I find that by the latter stages of a half marathon or marathon, or by the run of an Oly or longer tri, my GI system has pretty much shut down; at most I can tolerate one gel (at maybe halfway) and water and/or some sports drink. In my HIM I supplemented this with a few orange slices and pretzels that I grabbed from aid stations in the first few miles as I was just tired of gel after two of them (plus an energy bar) on the bike. This is probably pretty minimal compared to many but I had a strong finish and didn't "bonk". I simply couldn't have gotten anything else down; in fact couldn't until more than an hour after the race. I've also found that training and racing here in tropical heat/humidity, I need/desire less food on a long ride than when I'm training or racing in a milder climate. Heat can definitely impact your appetite and ability to get down food, maybe because it forces you to drink more liquids and that takes up room in your stomach.

It's good to have a tested plan, but be prepared to modify it if your body reacts to the fatigue levels or heat differently than you'd anticipated.