Has anyone tried drinking a 5 hour energy or similar type drink during a HIM or IM distance tri?
If you have did it make any difference at all, good or bad?
Thanks
I take one pre-care during a 70.3, and placed one in my special needs bag at IMFL. It’s pretty hard to tell if I really felt it kick in, or if I had a pick me up from passing mile 60 on the bike, and/or having my ‘solid food treat’ from my SN bag.
it is just caffeine
I know there are other things in it, but, it is just caffeine.
Which works, of course, but also is a diuretic so may not be a good idea till near the end of your ironman
Caffeine is a very mild diuertic at doses <456mg and does not reduce heat tolerance.
it is just caffeine
I know there are other things in it, but, it is just caffeine.
Which works, of course, but also is a diuretic so may not be a good idea till near the end of your ironman
No. It contains high amounts of vitamins B6 and B12. Those work by accelerating glycogen breakdown.
If you look at the label, it’s what, 80 days worth of Vitamin B12 in there? B6 for glycogen breakdown, B12 for an increase in metabolism and formation of red blood cells.
But the caffeine does help.
I have used them. But I prefer a monster shot. I just pour it into one of my bottles or stick it in my jersey pocket and slam it BEFORE I need it.
it is just caffeine
I know there are other things in it, but, it is just caffeine.
Which works, of course, but also is a diuretic so may not be a good idea till near the end of your ironman
No. It contains high amounts of vitamins B6 and B12. Those work by accelerating glycogen breakdown.
If you look at the label, it’s what, 80 days worth of Vitamin B12 in there? B6 for glycogen breakdown, B12 for an increase in metabolism and formation of red blood cells.
But the caffeine does help.
Its almost certainly just the caffeine. Vitamins won’t give an immediate boost like that.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/04/can-5-hour-energy-kick-your-afternoon-slump/index.htm
I took one before a bike race a couple weeks back. I don’t ever consume caffeine outside of big races. Things that happened: my HR was abnormally high and I set a 20 min power record (15w higher), after racing for 2 hrs.
When I say abnormally high I mean I can usually susatain 180-183bpm for 20 minute efforts and for my 20 minute effort at that race I held 189bpm. I’m not sure whether it was the race, or the caffeine that did it… but I’ll stay off the caffeine and use them before my big races from now on. (I hate coffee with a passion so this isn’t difficult for me) I could be mistaken, but I believe our bodies grow ‘tolerant’ of caffeine and as such if your body is used to caffeine intake it would take more to create an affect.
Here is a very good chart showing mg of caffeine in various drinks:
I usually have 1 on the first 66 miles of the bike and another in my special needs, I already have it mixed in my bottles. It helps me, it’s caffeine
I used it in a 70.3 and liked it.