Perfect nickname for a discussion like this one :) lol

I'm another who often opts for solid foods in long races. Especially savoury foods to complement all the sweet stuff supplied at aid stations and all the sports drink, coke, etc.

Last Sunday's IM cycle was fueled by potatoes. Pan-fired in olive oil with oregano and garlic, add a little salt. Just put them in a couple of zip-lock bags and leave them with the bike on race morning. Slip them into the tri-top pocket in T1. Easy.

Triathletes eat while working out.

Why participate and not race? Solid food probably adds 10% + time to your total finish

I disagree. Solid foods have not slowed me down.

I test strategies all the time. I did 3 half marathons close to each other all fasted from 12-16 hours. My pace was right at my typical race pace of 7:17/minutes per mile. I then ran three more half marathons while eating Zone Bars during the run, because I like to eat. My time for those three races were a couple seconds faster per mile. Regardless, I felt a lot better mentally, eating. And recovery wise, I was recovered right after the races where I ate, and recovered a day or more after the fasted races.

Ive only done one full IM, but ate like I had a buffet on the bike and run. It was like heaven working out and eating. Finished sub-12 hours. Not great by any ST standards, but as my 1st attempt I was super happy.

Maybe your fitness improved, but sabotaged your races by eating solids. Most runners dont eat go fasted into a half either...

Where did you pull that stat from? Care to supply a reference?

Made it up based on looking at peoples finish times and what they ate in race pictures. Imagine eluiid kipchoge eating pork ribs while trying to break 2. Do we really need a study on this?

Can't get much more scientific than that. :-/

You really don't think there's a difference in intensity between running at 4:40/mile and cycling at 20 miles/hr then comparatively waddling through a marathon?

Pity Scott, Allen, et al cost themselves 10% or more.

I frequently run on a belly full of too many tacos....I consider it mental toughness training

I just leave my food with my bike on race morning and slip it into my tri top pocket in T1. I've never bother with special needs bags on the bike and the food is with me when I need it.

I've used a variety of different fueling options in IM and way too many to count in longer tris, ultras and ocean swimming.

When I started racing IM, the aid stations even supplied jam (jelly sandwiches), though I prefer something savoury. Favourites have included cheddar cheese, basil & hummus (plenty of hommos keeps it moist and it slides down easily), Vegemite (hey, it's a national delicacy) and the stinkiest gorganzola I can find.

Needless to say, I have a fairly robust stomach when it comes to taking on nutrition.

Experiment and find out what you can tolerate. For me, running is worse than biking after a meal. For swimming, if I am hungry- a banana and a handful of peanuts or a couple spoonfuls of peanut butter is enough to get me through a swim workout. Then I eat after. I can eat before riding. Friends make fun of me on long rides as I eat combos and beef jerky or anything else for that matter at gas station pit stops if I’m hungry. Others I know can’t stomach that type of food. Running is a different story. I would rather run on an empty stomach and if anything have something easily digestible like a banana or a muffin. Then, just hit a gel on the run if I feel like I need some calories. Then eat after.

Last week while on vacation at lunch... I had a burger and fries and decided to run an hour later. I was fine.

I think everyone is different.

I always like to have SOMETHING in my stomach pretty much immediately before. I hate stomach pangs during exercise. That's counterbalanced occasionally in the pool, probably due to body position where I get some indigestion. I keep Tums in the bag for that reason.

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