What does everybody like best for Ironman drink choices? I am considering using Endurox R4 at half strength for Ironman NZ. I have used Extran, Cytomax (tastes crappy), Accelerade, Gatorade, Pocari Sweat (Korean and taste kinda of like sweat), but have been debating using Endurox or Powerbar Endurance.
Endurance and Accelerade seems very similar in nutritionals, except Accelerade has more sodium. I think Endurox tastes a hell of a lot better than Accelerade though.
For IRONMAN NZ I am considering the Pro4 race drink, but I haven’t used it and am wary to try something new on race day.
I’ll use Hammer gel, Clif bars, bananas also for fuel.
Endurox has branched chain amino acids, I believe. These cause stomach problems for a lot of people. Endurox isn’t really made for consumption during activity - it’s a recovery drink.
I’m amazed at people who even attempt to drink anything than “on course” liquids. Simply too many problems:
Too high of heat - drink gets warm, raised body temp
Drop a water bottle…do you go back and pick it up?
Special needs bag gets lost…do you just quit the race at mile 56?
I’m unsure of the drink at IMNZ, but what’s wrong with working with that and water?
I’ve watched MANY of nutrition sponsored riders use on course nutrition in place of their “preferred” choice. How many names do you want?
On the other hand…I certainly understand that on-course liquids aren’t always the best for many competitors needs, but you have the option to tailor your training NOW rather than gamble on race day.
For me…a bottle of Gatorade at every stop and new H20 at every other stop.
“On-course enrgy drinks are one of the most unpredictable commodities known to man. Sometimes they are 90% water, sometimes 90% concentrated”
Gatorade bottles are unpredictable? I’m not sure I understand your statement. Are you saying that Gatorade’s manufacturing is flawed? IMNA events use pre-packaged Gatorade/beverages, not concentrate. Although sometime do use knock-off colas…
What does everybody like best for Ironman drink choices?
Jack Daniels. Or sterno. At a hundred or so miles into the race, just about all those high speed-low drag drinks taste about like Jack or sterno to me, anyway :-))
I used Gu2o mixed with Carbo-Pro, and Gu (offered on course) for calories. For liquid I used Gatorade and water (it was offered on course). I also trained with all that most of the year to prevent any “surprises”
I chose Gu2o because it tasted good. Eventially everything tastes like ass during an IM so get something you like.
Gatorade - It’s on the course at every North American Ironman - You can pick it up anywhere for training. The product on the courses is ready to drink and not mixed, so you know it is the same as what you have trained on for the race. Lemon-Lime on the bike and Orange on the run. Z