For my build up into IMLP this past weekend, i tried to simplify my hydration/calorie strategy on the bike, and go with Gatorade Endurance and water from the course.
History:
Previously i had used Infinit during all of my previous IM races… I had a couple of good races early on (IMFL, Challenge Atlantic City, Kona) But starting 2 years ago, i was starting to have constant GI issues on the bike which would cause my stomach to shut down and i would get dehydrated and start throwing up on the run (if i made it there)
Also the logistics of premixing 6 bottles of infinit on the bike was a PITA, and in hotter races, the bottles woudl get so hot they would become undrinkable so for this attempt at IMLP i trained all winter/spring on Gatorade endurance powder… Everything was fine… got tons of long climbing rides done without issues, and felt really confident going into the bike…
Results.
Total meltdown.
First bottle of Gatorade endurance on the bike tasted WAY too strong, almost like it was mixed up twice as strong as the powder mixed according to the instructions. My stomach immediately revolted and i was only able to get down about 1.5 bottles during the first loop, this obviously resulted in severe dehydration and on the 2nd loop i was getting kind of dizzy before Aid station 1 and had to DNF as i rolled my bike into the grass before the descent into Keene. I tried to get in some GU and water from teh aid station, but it was too late and my BP was wonky and the medics said no more…
So now what?
Should i switch to trying Osmo or another non caloric electrolyte drink( nuun, sis hydration tabs etc) , and try to fuel via “real food” on the bike? cliff/bonk breaker bars etc?
I’m kind of at a loss as to what do do here, and why i have no issues in training no matter WHAT i train with, but any race lately seems to just turn my stomach inside out
I’ve also noticed a huge difference between the Pre mixed Gatorade endurance and the powder (which I order off of Amazon). The pre-mixed is WAY stronger, despite my following the recommended scoops for the powder also. Whenever I am on a course and am given a pre-mixed bottle I’ have to dump out half and replace it with water.
Have you tried using a gram scale? I noticed this with regular gatorade as well - the mix tasted a bit weak, but then I was just eyeballing the measuring cup. I’m assuming the listed nutrition on the mix vs bottles is accurate - if so, then correct measurement & mixing should result in the same thing…
For my build up into IMLP this past weekend, i tried to simplify my hydration/calorie strategy on the bike, and go with Gatorade Endurance and water from the course.
History:
Previously i had used Infinit during all of my previous IM races… I had a couple of good races early on (IMFL, Challenge Atlantic City, Kona) But starting 2 years ago, i was starting to have constant GI issues on the bike which would cause my stomach to shut down and i would get dehydrated and start throwing up on the run (if i made it there)
Also the logistics of premixing 6 bottles of infinit on the bike was a PITA, and in hotter races, the bottles woudl get so hot they would become undrinkable so for this attempt at IMLP i trained all winter/spring on Gatorade endurance powder… Everything was fine… got tons of long climbing rides done without issues, and felt really confident going into the bike…
Results.
Total meltdown.
First bottle of Gatorade endurance on the bike tasted WAY too strong, almost like it was mixed up twice as strong as the powder mixed according to the instructions. My stomach immediately revolted and i was only able to get down about 1.5 bottles during the first loop, this obviously resulted in severe dehydration and on the 2nd loop i was getting kind of dizzy before Aid station 1 and had to DNF as i rolled my bike into the grass before the descent into Keene. I tried to get in some GU and water from teh aid station, but it was too late and my BP was wonky and the medics said no more…
So now what?
Should i switch to trying Osmo or another non caloric electrolyte drink( nuun, sis hydration tabs etc) , and try to fuel via “real food” on the bike? cliff/bonk breaker bars etc?
I’m kind of at a loss as to what do do here, and why i have no issues in training no matter WHAT i train with, but any race lately seems to just turn my stomach inside out
I’m an Infinit user as well. I do use Gatorade sometimes in training, as it is a lot cheaper to get the powder than always use Infinit.
In races I go with around an 800 calorie bottle for both 70.3 and 140.6. In the 70.3 races Infinit is pretty much all the calories I take in on the bike. For a 140.6 I also use Cliff Bloks - 3-4 packages. I have found that I cannot stomach Infinit for an entire IM ride.
Here’s a question about your IMLP race - did you take in any water on the bike or only Gatorade? I always have a bottle of water and a bottle of nutrition so I can dilute the Infinit or Gatorade in my stomach - generally a swig of each every 15 min or so.
yes, i tried to dilute with water after i noticed how much stronger it tasted… but i think it was just too late… and i ended up getting way out of sync from my plan of 1 bottle an hour…
im smaller, and i dont have a lot of stomach capacity, so ~ 1.25-1.5 bottles of liquid is all i can take generally before my body just stops, even with water…
Have you looked into making your own mix? If you search the forum for CarboPro or maltodextrin there is some good stuff, at least from a few years back. I’ve forgotten more than I currently remember but when I was racing more a few years ago, that was my plan. I still have the CarboPro, which I believe is just maltodextrin, so I’m planning to experiment with this so I can rely mostly on liquids for IM St. George 2020. I have also toyed with concentrated EFS, which is better than EFS Pro in my view, as it’s less salty - I found that with EFS Pro, if I super concentrated it, I could cut the saltiness of it by adding pure lemon juice, but that’s honestly a pain on a daily basis let alone on race day.
Also, do you know how many calories you need on the bike for example?
i tried switching back/forth… with water and endurance, i just couldnt get it right while climbing and dealing with thr headwinds
by the time i tried gels i just threw up instantly, i know its a race management issue, but i had trained on orange endurance powder, and the bottles on course were so different…