I am getting geared up for IM Lake Placid 2008. (yes, I know its a year away…)This will be my second IM, I did IM Canada in 2005. I would like to have a different Nutrition plan. I would like to do it without “energybars” and “gels”. BUT I know I need to fuel up!!! Does anyone have any links, advise, recommendations to how it can be done with “Normal Foods”? I am NOT vegetarian or vegan, I just would like to stay away from food that “does not grow” or “does not have parents” (i.e. processed foods)
I just found that bars and gels are not good for ME. They were great for energy, but not the “healthiest” choice for me.
how about PB & honey on white bread (wheat bread might have a little too much fiber)? just have them in a zip lock bag and pick at them as you want…plus a couple in your special needs bag. they get a little smashed but still taste the same. this is what i do for many of my long rides.
a girlfriend of mine uses pretzels, carmel candies, peanut butter between wheat thins, and stuff like this. i swear i don’t know how she does it. it seems hard to get enough calories like that. but to each their own!
i tried a powerbar once; that was like chewing on a vitamin. ick, never again unless i’m in dire straights!
Fake fig newtons(strawberry and blueberry flavored). They also have apple and fig, but neither appealed to me.
90 calories per cookie(fruit and cake)
I planned to eat 2 every half hour at Placid with gatorade endurance to wash it down.
Unfortunately math is hard and I brought 12 where I needed 24 so I had to supplement with bananas and one gel via the aid stations.
12 was the most I could have fit in my large bento andway, which is the problem with any food special for yourself. You either have to stuff your pockets in transition to supplement your bento or use what they provide on the course. Gels are the exception because it is possible to tape a lot of gels to your bike.
It worked out well and I had a good run off the bike, which for most people is due to nutrition plus not going too hard on the bike.
Nugget potatoes! I haven’t done Ironman yet (IMC in 32 days!) but a couple of people in my club who have swear by them and I’ve loved them on long rides. I get sick of the sweetness and fake flavours of gels, bars and gatorade so the potatoes are a great way to cleanse my palate and keep the food intake interesting.
Nuke 'em, steam 'em or boil 'em then throw on some salt and they’re perfect.
I train with sandwiches from home and/or anything from a convenience store on the road - honey buns, pop tarts, hostess pies, cookies, 24oz Miller Lite, snickers, pretzels, etc. So that’s the kind of stuff I ate during my first IM (had no problems), and will eat during the next one and any subsequent ones.