Hey guys, I was forwarded the recent article from Triathlon Magazine Canada on Infinit that I have pasted below, but I wanted to share my experience to date using Infinit:

I started using Infinit last December before my XC ski race season and have been using it for triathlon too. Now please keep in mind that these guys sponsor me in Canada and I have known Folan since 1999 when we were both training for the first Ironman LP, so I am by no means impartial.

I did not want to just post stuff right away when I started using it. I wanted to try it out under all conditions mixing it up with a variety of solid foods, salt intake and extremes of temperature from minus 20 C up to plus 35C (over 100F) at intensities ranging from lame training all day aerobic pace to full throttle short course. I also use it in conjunction with Gatorade in both training and racing. Why? Because if I lose my "nutrition" in racing, I want my stomach to be able to handle whatever they serve on course, so that usually means Gatorade.

Unlike the article, I won't make any claims about Infinit boosting my energy levels. A good barbeque chicken, large salad and pasta (or better yet, some Indian food) the nite before a long ride or race will do that for me. However, the Infinit is super easy to digest at high intensity...that is the biggest benefit.

I'll share some of my experiences:

Likes

1. For XC skiing, over a 50K race, one bottle with 800 calories and sodium and I am done...no messing around with multiple sources of nutrition at minus 20 in a 25 kph paceline with poles in my hands hoping that I don't get dropped by the train as I try to fiddle with gels etc
2. For triathlon, everything up to Half Ironman and I just go with Infinit on the bike and also out of T2 and then supplement with off course gels during the run...it is all really clean
3. I am yet to do a full Ironman with Infinit, but I will at LP. I plan to have 4 bottles totalling 2000 calories (2 at start, 2 at special needs). If it gets really hot, I will supplement with Gatorade.
4. Sodium is dialed up to full blast, so hopefully no need to for salt tablets till the run in an Ironman. For half or less, no salt tabs
5. Pre Race, I take in 500 calories from a 500 mL bottle 30 min before swim start. This would be like taking in 5 gels which I'd be burping through the entire swim....the Infinit goes down well pre race
6. You can vary the protein content in the "Ironnman formula" I have it on "minimum (2g per serving) and it seems to make me feel "full" when on a liquid nutrition only racing plan.
7. As mentioned above, easy to digest and get lots of calories on the fly at high intensity.

Dislikes

1. I can't get it at my local corner store....I need to order it and pay $$$$$$ to the UPS guys!!!
2. I'd like a bit more flavour, but I can live without it
3. Folan is not the beverage sponsor of IMNA events, so I still have to stay accustomed to consuming Gatorade to supplement my Infinit in case I lose my custom nutrition on course
4. Trying to take in 3600 calories durinig a 6 hour ride with 2000 from infinit, 1000 from bars, gels and peanut butter sandwiches was fun experiment in 90 degree heat during a 9 hour training day...but 3 stops in the woods to clear the stomach was the outcome....OK, it was not the fault of infinit...more my fault...but that is what training is for
5. Price....I am sure everyone wished that it was as cheap as Gatorade Powder from your corner store...but as in any market, there is a price for service.

That's it. Feel free to share your thoughts on how you have found this.

Dev



"INFINIT Nutrition
INFINIT Ironman Distance Formulation $39.95
Available in Canada since November 2006, INFINIT Nutrition offers customizable powdered sport drinks for racing and recovery. Available through their web-site (www.infinitnutrition.ca), INFINIT offers suggested drink formulas for all race distances. I added extra electrolytes and reduced the flavour intensity of the suggested Iron-Distance formula. Other variables that I could have changed included caffeine content, carbohydrate blend, protein content and Amino Acid blend.
For long course-racing INFINIT allows you to use a single nutrition source on the bike. During an Ironman you could take three bottles of your customized INFINIT drink and swap them for three more at the special needs area. By mixing its products with quality ingredients, INFINIT has been able to create more soluable powders. This allows users to choose between the drink's normal concentration, a multi-hour super-concentrated bottle, or a make shift gel.

The suggested pre-race hydration formula had a crisp flavour and plenty of electrolytes, while the recovery formula had a similar texture and taste to other high end recovery drinks. I was excited to sample INFINIT's still unreleased coffee-flavoured meal replacement drink dubbed the FrapPROccino. When mixed with skim milk it provides 300 calories of energy making it an excellent pre-exercise fuel before morning work-outs.

I used INFINIT for two months and found my energy levels on the bike had increased and I felt much fresher leading into my post-bike runs. At press time I will have already placed an order for my second tub and plan to incorporate it into my future racing and training.

by Scott Loong"