I have been training with Accelerade (pre/post swim, pre/during/post bike) for the past 5 months but had not raced with it … until yesterday— now I see why a lot of people don’t love it. Got off the bike during a sprint yesterday and felt like I was going to puke for the first 1/2 - 1 mi of the run. Lots of bloating - just felt like I had a few bricks in my stomach. I guess I chalk it up to the protein?
In any event, I am going to continue to use Accelerade during non-running training but need to find an alternative to run & race with. Any suggestions? Gatorade is too sweet and I’d like to find something with increased sodium and potassium.
You can start out with their Go Far formula, and if you have any issues with that, you can go with a custom formula. It gives you control over the sodium/potassium, the protein, and the sweetness, among other things.
I like protein in my sports drink for shorter sessions. But on long bike-rides and runs Gel, Water and sportdrink seem optimal.
I narrowed down my sport-nutrition to sport drinks, gels and whey protein. I use a natural whey and just mix it into regular sports drink. And for an Ironman I skip the whey, just gel + sports drinks + water …
I have been training with Accelerade (pre/post swim, pre/during/post bike) for the past 5 months but had not raced with it … until yesterday— now I see why a lot of people don’t love it. Got off the bike during a sprint yesterday and felt like I was going to puke for the first 1/2 - 1 mi of the run. Lots of bloating - just felt like I had a few bricks in my stomach. I guess I chalk it up to the protein?
In any event, I am going to continue to use Accelerade during non-running training but need to find an alternative to run & race with. Any suggestions? Gatorade is too sweet and I’d like to find something with increased sodium and potassium.
Appreciate any help / guidance …
If you are racing short stuff, you don’t need a lot of sugar to get you through. Personally I use half strength Gatorade, goes down easy, has just enough sugar to keep me mentally alert and going strong to the end. If I feel I need extra, I will add some dextrose / corn sugar to the mix for calories without taste. Cheap and effective.
Just water for a sprint, if anything (depends on temperature). For the longer stuff, maybe try maltodextrin with just a little of your powdered sports drink of choice for flavor. Combining the malto with a simple sugar should allow you to take in more calories/hour. The malto has very little flavor/sweetness. Protein is for after exercising for me.
I have been training with Accelerade (pre/post swim, pre/during/post bike) for the past 5 months but had not raced with it … until yesterday— now I see why a lot of people don’t love it. Got off the bike during a sprint yesterday and felt like I was going to puke for the first 1/2 - 1 mi of the run. Lots of bloating - just felt like I had a few bricks in my stomach. I guess I chalk it up to the protein?
In any event, I am going to continue to use Accelerade during non-running training but need to find an alternative to run & race with. Any suggestions? Gatorade is too sweet and I’d like to find something with increased sodium and potassium.
Appreciate any help / guidance …
Roctane is GU’s higher electrolyte drink. It is lightly flavored and does not seem to cause me any GI distress.
Were you racing at a higher intensity than your training? That might also be a factor in your stomach bloating. For me, bloating = too fast for conditions (stomach contents, temperature, humidity, etc).
agree with this post. Matlodextrin 60g + Fructose 30g per bottle. Touch of sodium, and crystal light for flavor is what I roll with these days. Depending on bottle size, might need to make it up the night before with some warmer water to aid in getting it all into solution. 1 bottle per hour.
agree with this post. Matlodextrin 60g + Fructose 30g per bottle. Touch of sodium, and crystal light for flavor is what I roll with these days. Depending on bottle size, might need to make it up the night before with some warmer water to aid in getting it all into solution. 1 bottle per hour.
Crystal Light has aspartame.
I prefer to flavor malto with real juice… you get your fructose and no crappy chemical sweeteners.
Sounds like you are really looking for InfinIT then …
Can train with protein in your drink for longer sessions and race without (and/or add caffeine as well) another formula, or any combination that you desire. Perfect.
I have a pretty sensitive digestive system due to a stomach and intestine surgery and tried a bunch without any success until I tried cytomax and its working for me. Everyone is different so the best way to find out is to try a bunch.
I use Powerbar Isoactive + plain Whey Protein in Training, but prefer no protein in races. A really cheap alternative I use for long training rides which helps with logistics: “Malto + Sodiumcitrate + Whey + fruit sirup + water” made into a concentrate. One bottle and two bottles of plain water. I refill the water and have enough calories for 5 hours.
I think that making my own sport drink with Fruit Sirup, Malto, Whey and either sodiumcitrate or table salt will replace bought products in the future, it is not much work to throw that stuff into a shaker and it is much cheaper and free of nasty chemical stuff.
Anyway, plain whey gives you the freedom to add protein at a fraction of the cost to any sport drink.