This is the third long Saturday training session (bike-run brick) when I have kept track of my weight before and after. Each time I’ve lost a lot of weight - this time it was 10 lbs (160 to 150).
I drank 5-6 bike bottles of gatorade and one and a half of water, a few gells. I was covered on salt - like a ghost. Really showed up on the black suit I had on.
Anyway, I usually treat myself post-race with water, themotabs, KFC with mash and rice. I could do a shake, too, but it’s hard to stomach.
I was wondering what qualified people for IVs at IMs and if that would be an option. I am an EMT but not a paramedic.
I am the same way…on an 8 mile run i on average lose 3-5 lbs…ive had to stop in the middle of long runs from dehydration where i start to get small migraines from a salt imbalance…do your hands get pruned?? cuz mine do, it signals a lack of salt…a bottle of accelerade and a gel last me 20 min tops before i dehydrate again…
can anyone help us here?? suggestions?? i already know i sweat 2-3 times more than the normal athlete
Several years ago when I was enlisted in the Army I would give myself IV’s fairly frequently. Usually as a hangover cure or preventerer. Then just go to the troop clinic to get a resupply of all the expendable items.
To answer your question I have no idea.
I’m an EMT also and while I haven’t tried this I know some people who sometimes run a small bag to rehydrate. Just normal saline. As you know there are a lot of ways you can f-up an IV so be careful…
Are you remotely serious? Either your hydration/nutrition plan is really screwed up or you have serious medical issues which should cause great pause prior to attempting and Ironman. I have done seven Ironman races, am 6’2, 210, and a MOP/BOP dude and sweat a TON but have never even recieved IV treatment nor planned for it.
I’ve done two IMs already. I bonked badly in the first one (lack of training) and in the second one (nutritionally). I remember someone in the second one pointing out that my entire back was white from salt loss.
I did an HIM recently and as best I can tell, the thermotabs helped. I need to rembmer to use them on the training runs.
But what, exactly, are you speechless about? It was in the 90s today.
What’s problematic is I think this hurts me somewhat because I have to do a somewhat shorter but still very long workout the day after (Sunday). Today I did 4.5 hours on the bike and 45 min run, and tomorrow I have a three hour run.
I’m not sure about the hand pruning. I’ll look for it next time.
When I train i have unlimited food and cold drinks so I don’t need to ration myself. But I wasn’t thirsty - I couldn’t get it down anymore - after those first 5-6 bottles. Maybe just more themotabs is the answer to allow me to drink more.
I would bet that 75% or more finishers would “qualify” for an IV. In the old days of Kona they weighed you pre race during and post race. Probably not a bad idea to check hydration status. The rule of thumb is to check standing, sitting and supine BP and pulse. A hydrated person they are about the same, dehydrated people have changes.
I would not advocate giving yourself an IV as you may be harming your electrolyte balance. In the same breath having coworkers in the medical tent or going to races wih MDs there are more than a few athletes that get IVs after races in the hotel room. The big plus if IV fluids is the recovery time is cut way down. You can get a couple liters of fluid in the bloodstream in about a half an hour if you want to. Most folks cannot drink salt water that fast, let alone get it into the bloodstream.
Either your hydration/nutrition plan is really screwed up or you have serious medical issues which should cause great pause prior to attempting and Ironman.
I lost 5 lbs during a 1-hour run last week, which is normal once the temps get near 90 here. My yearly physical is in a couple of weeks, what do you suggest the dr. test for that isn’t included in the CBC?
I find it odd that one would consider an IV as an alternative to figuring out what they need to do to stay hydrated during a workout. I’m pretty sure you can’t get an IV after the bike leg of an IM and then continue on.
gatorade is very high in sodium already, hence the salt markes on your clothes. If you’re using thrmotabs to maybe you’ve got too much sodium. Try diluting the gatorade with water 50/50. or just drinking more plain water.
Have you seen the movie “The Shooter?” If not, you should. After being shot and presumably losing a lot of blood Mark Wahlberg’s character goes to a store and buys some sugar and water. He then rips a hose out of the engine of a truck and uses it to give himself a home I.V. It seemed to really do the trick; he came back pretty strong. I’d think you could rig something similar up using your camelback reservoir and tube. I’d suggest using a needle for inflating balls as your I.V. needle. They’re dull, of course, but you should be able to get them into a vein with proper pushing. Good luck!
How long was the workout and what was the temperature and humidity like?
Call up the guys at Hammer or any good sport nutrition company and listen to what they suggest. There is something wrong if you are losing that much during a workout and a IV post exercise is not your answer.
“I’m pretty sure you can’t get an IV after the bike leg of an IM and then continue on.”
isn’t it like F1 racing ??
he could just pull up to the special need area and they could hook up a IV
I can see the Ferrari team running out at the special needs area.
it would look very cool.
it would only take a few minutes if the IV bag was dimpled.
I have never put a IV in the special needs bag .
only a dime bag of crack to use with my crack pipe pump.
I am right now adding the IV to my list
I used to do them on myself after hard bouts of drinking. (I’m a paramedic). I then figured out if I didn’t drink so much I wouldn’t feel so damn bad. They never really helped all that much anyway. I have certainly have the stuff at my disposal to do this type of thing but, I think you are better off just learning how to stay hydrated. I think some of the IV thing is placebo effect.
