I noticed at our triathlon club that most athletes are drinking energy drinks during any s/b/r session. Is this the norm as I normally only have an energy drink on race days or on long bike rides. I was trying to think of the benefits of this and wondering if it made sense. Most of my workouts are around 2 hrs. If you took an energy drink during these workouts would you be able to sustain a higher/longer output which would transfer into muscle memory which in the end would benefit you?
The amount of money that triathletes waste on unnecessary nutrition is just staggering…
Stick to what you are already doing,just make sure you are hydrated and have a healthy diet.Keep the sports nutrition for longer sessions or for emergencies when you forget to eat before a workout.
Red Bull makes me mean. I always get yellow cards when I drink that stuff, but it’s great for duathlons!
I don’t drink energy drinks when I’m training. But I do if I’m really suffering, and I call it coke.
I also have an occasional energy drink for post-roady-ride-preening, and that one is called a latte, sometimes espresso.
I never see people drinking Nos, Red Bull, Monster, or other such BS. Well, maybe the dirt jumpers at the bike park.
I don’t drink energy drinks when I’m training.** But I do if I’m really suffering, and I call it coke**.
I also have my post-ride energy drink for post-roady-ride-preening, and that one is called a latte, sometimes espresso.
I never see people drinking Nos, Red Bull, Monster, or other such BS. Well, maybe the dirt jumpers at the bike park.
We are on the same plan…
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I don’t drink energy drinks when I’m training. But I do if I’m really suffering, and I call it coke.
I also have an occasional energy drink for post-roady-ride-preening, and that one is a double espresso.
I never see people drinking Nos, Red Bull, Monster, or other such BS. Well, maybe the dirt jumpers at the bike park.
One of the great posts, but fixed it for you
http://youtu.be/qLt6aszyz0E?t=1m27s
Hehe.
I drink energy drinks before some high-quality bike workouts and during longer hard-isch rides. Especially if there is some tough efforts thrown in.
Never for running or swimming though. It just doesnt sit well then.
I noticed at our triathlon club that most athletes are drinking energy drinks during any s/b/r session. Is this the norm as I normally only have an energy drink on race days or on long bike rides. I was trying to think of the benefits of this and wondering if it made sense. Most of my workouts are around 2 hrs. If you took an energy drink during these workouts would you be able to sustain a higher/longer output which would transfer into muscle memory which in the end would benefit you?
Most people are using caffeine and other stimulants in a counter productive way. A little in the morning is OK. Otherwise people end up screwing up their night’s sleep with too much caffeine during the day, then they have to compensate with more caffeine to maintain alertness the next day, an unproductive cycle for sure.
I noticed at our triathlon club that most athletes are drinking energy drinks during any s/b/r session. Is this the norm as I normally only have an energy drink on race days or on long bike rides. I was trying to think of the benefits of this and wondering if it made sense. Most of my workouts are around 2 hrs. If you took an energy drink during these workouts would you be able to sustain a higher/longer output which would transfer into muscle memory which in the end would benefit you?
What do you mean by energy drink though? Like a RedBull or a Cytomax?
I would suspect the latter because if its is a Triathlon “club” i would be surprised to see a case of redbull on the pool deck, but would not be suprised to see a case of Perform, etc…
Personally, I have been simplifying everything about my nutrition. I’m not sure what is meant by “energy drink” here but frankly I think all the red bull, NOS, etc. are a bunch of nutritional junk. I wouldn’t bother with it if you haven’t been using it until now.
I started making my own energy drinks for the morning and long sessions with this stuff:
So far so good…you can basically make anything you want into a caffeinated beverage. I haven’t tried it but I would imagine you could cook with it too. Just be careful about your storage and measurements because accidentally taking a big heap of the stuff could kill you.
I guess I consider anything with calories an “energy drink”. I only drink water for all my workouts, including rides up to 2.5-3 hours. When longer, then I throw in a packet of GU Brew into my water for some calories.
I’m all about simplifying, be it equipment or nutrition.
Workouts <about 75-90 min no need for any extra CHO if you’re properly fueled. Exceptions may be for interval workouts. Some people are fine waking up and busting these out, some people need a little extra CHO. Sleep tends to help depleted liver glycogen
Workouts from 75-90 min and > You need to think about some extraneous CHO supplementation. The longer the duration, especially if it’s high intensity, the more you need to think about ingesting some sort of CHO during your workout.
A lot of triathletes wonder why they can’t lose weight. It’s because they eat a buffet worth of stuff during every workout.
YMMV but my personal rule is for L2 rides < 2hrs or so H2O only. For rides 90-2 hours or so that include intervals 1 bottle of CHO 1 bottle H2O. 2h -2.5+ hr and includes intervals, climbing 2 bottles of CHO drink. I always bring 1-2 gels with me just in case, more if riding longer and higher intensity.
If I’m running in the morning, anything under ~65-75 min I have a cup of tea with a bit of sugar. Anything over ~75min or if I forgot to eat dinner the nightt before I have a cup of tea + Infinit or a Clif bar or sleeve of Clif Blok
A lot of triathletes wonder why they can’t lose weight. It’s because they eat a buffet worth of stuff during every workout.
Just wanted to quote this.
A lot of triathletes wonder why they can’t lose weight. It’s because they eat a buffet worth of stuff during every workout.
Just wanted to quote this.
Don’t forget recovery and pre-gaming! Pretty soon you’ve eaten 1000 calories for a 30 minute light jog.
I noticed at our triathlon club that most athletes are drinking energy drinks during any s/b/r session. Is this the norm as I normally only have an energy drink on race days or on long bike rides. I was trying to think of the benefits of this and wondering if it made sense. Most of my workouts are around 2 hrs. If you took an energy drink during these workouts would you be able to sustain a higher/longer output which would transfer into muscle memory which in the end would benefit you?
What do you mean by energy drink though? Like a RedBull or a Cytomax?
I would suspect the latter because if its is a Triathlon “club” i would be surprised to see a case of redbull on the pool deck, but would not be suprised to see a case of Perform, etc…
Pretty much anything but water. Any drink that provides calories/electrolytes/caffeine
IIRC, I once read a report that stated Crowie used Red Bull in his Fuel Belt during 140.6 races.
I noticed at our triathlon club that most athletes are drinking energy drinks during any s/b/r session. Is this the norm as I normally only have an energy drink on race days or on long bike rides. I was trying to think of the benefits of this and wondering if it made sense. Most of my workouts are around 2 hrs. If you took an energy drink during these workouts would you be able to sustain a higher/longer output which would transfer into muscle memory which in the end would benefit you?
What do you mean by energy drink though? Like a RedBull or a Cytomax?
I would suspect the latter because if its is a Triathlon “club” i would be surprised to see a case of redbull on the pool deck, but would not be suprised to see a case of Perform, etc…
Pretty much anything but water. Any drink that provides calories/electrolytes/caffeine
In that case, YES it makes sense. Your glycogen stores will only last so long…At 2hours of swimming, you are definitely in need of nutrition to maintain endurance without losing form. Its easier to stomach a liquid calorie(energy) dense drink, than to stop, eat a PBJ and go back to swimming.
IIRC, I once read a report that stated Crowie used Red Bull in his Fuel Belt during 140.6 races.
And I bet he made more money for those two endorsements than all of his Kona prize purses combined. Something tells me he’d be using neither of them during races (or training) if he weren’t paid to do so.
Depends on goals I guess.
For training 60 to 90 minutes I have 1 flask of cliff energy powder crap (100ih calories). At 90 to 120 minutes I take a second.
Do I need 200 calories to finish a 2 house workout? No
Does it help me train taking nutrition during races? Yes
Does 200 calories really ruin a 2 hour workout? I don’t think so.
I agree its silly on the 15 minute jog. But I do like nutrition on longer stuff. Never crap energy drinks, but GU or cliff water works for me