Currently planning my nutrition strategy for Ironman NZ …now only 5 and half weeks away!!
Its got me considering about doing something I never really would of considered before, using a camelbak on the run.
My thinking is, I don’t really like the provided drink, it just dosen’t work well for me. If I used the smallest camelbak (hydrobak) I could start with 1.5 litres then two hours later swap/fill the camelbak at the special needs (or ditch it and switch to coke/water for the last couple of hours).
It seems on my long runs when I use my camelbak i’m not really much slower if at all (ironman running isn’t really a speed event at the pace i’ll be going anyway), but my endurnace is really good with sipping little and often (every couple of minutes).
My thoughts are:
Pros
-Can drink what I want
-Can drink whenever I want (not just ever 10-15mins at aid stations when I might not feel good)
-Should have much better control of how much I drink (how much drink in an aid station cup makes it to your mouth?)
-dosn’t seem to hurt my pace/gait much if at all
-seems to work really well in training for me
-Anything which helps keep me moving is worth it!
Cons
-bit of weight to carry (average about 2lbs) (I weigh 180 lbs so not a big issue)
-less choice (if I don’t like my drink by that stage of the day…)
-running without a camelbak always feels a bit better
-sweaty back syndrome!
-bad fashion statement!
So what do you people think about this?
Note: I’ve considered fuel belts etc but don’t much like how they feel, and don’t want to start experimenting with new gear this close to the big day.I’m pretty used to using a camelbak, its no big deal.
Any feedback suggestions gratefully accepted.
Thanks
I couldn’t handle something like a camel on my back for that long. I have one of these hybrid packs that sits on your hips but has a hose like a CB. It works well and holds a fair amount of water. My only complaint is that I don’t care for the long straw.
On the other hand, the goal of picking race gear is to get yourself around the course as best you can. If you’ve run with it in training, and you don’t like Fuel Belts, and you need your own special magic calorie drink…do what you gotta do. Screw the fashion police and go have a good race.
I think if it is something you have trained with and it works well for you, then go for it. I’m considering doing the same thing when I move up to that distance. I was very intrigued by what Matt Carpenter wrote about wearing a Camelbak during his record smashing run in the Leadville Trail 100 race. He used it as a source of continuous nutrition so he wouldn’t experience spikes. He even had it down to how many sips to take per mile based on what he learned during his training.
If you do it, write up a report about how it went.
Thats very interesting. I think its one of the reasons a camelbak works well for me in training, I drink about 750mls per hour, but at any one time I only drink about 50ml so my stomach etc never gets any fluctations. To do that with aid stations I would need one about every 800m and even then it wont be my drink of choice.
I was going to use that plan, but having tried the supplied drink I’ve found it dosen’t seem to work well for me, other people seem to love it though so each to there own.
Its only when I decided I want to use my own stuff that I started looking at other options. The other option I’m still consdering is gels and water, gels being a lot lighter to carry.
I don’t know about a full-blown camelbak, but I usually carry a small water bottle on long runs (and did at my last IM). I just used a cheapo bike bottle and tossed it at about mile 20. I did it for all the “pros” reasons you listed and when I needed a refill, I stopped at an aid station and dumped a couple of cups in. I do much better sipping a little at a time when I want than guzzling a cup the only chance I get.
If you’re used to the Camelback… run with it. I carry an amphipod bottle for all the reasons you mentioned in “Pros”. But the biggest reason is that I want to drink when I want to drink and not when I cross an aid station.
One strategy that many use for the IM run, especially in the last half of it is to run from “aid station to aid station”. Since they are situated about every mile, it works out to a “mile to mile” type strategy. Personally, my self talk during some of the darker portions of the IM run are based on just grabbing what I need from the aid station, using that “stuff” to get me to the next station and the next and so on. So, it can really break up the run.
Hell yes. If you train with it and it works for you, then race with it! Personally, I like what’s given on the course at IM races, but in your case, since you don’t like the course-provided drinks, bring it and prove the naysayers wrong!
Like some said - if you are used to it for training, go for it. If you want to carry your own drink and not use the pack, something like Plecostomus showed (camelback makes a similar thing) - or look at the fuel belt bidon carriers. For half marathon or longer distance I use one with two bidon and a gel flask. One with drink, one with water, and the gel flask with thinned gel. I hate the crowds at aid stations (not usually a problem with triathlon, but really bad in large marathons) - and I train with first endurance - which no course provides. I am about the same weight as you, so I agree, the extra two pounds doesn’t make that much difference.
I use a hydroback for cycling, I really couldn’t take the bounding on the run. Check into waist systems - you can get one from camelback that will carry the 1.5 l level.
Why is that insane? He can’t stomach the drink provided on course. How else is he going to get the nutrition he needs? I wouldn’t want to carry anything either, but if it’s the only way to get your nutrition then there’s no other option. Plus, it’s not 20 lbs, more like 2 and he’s trained well with it before. I say go for it.
A full camelback is a hell of a lot more than 2 pounds. If he needs the nutritional drink of his choice, use a fuel belt with concentrated “gel” strength fluids. I have done most of my ironman races taking only water on the run, so I know it’s possible, if one has their calories. Also, the reason we know the fluids on the course in advance is to train with it…just cut it with a lot of water to make it more palatable. The obvious heat insulation issues of running with a neoprene camelback on one’s back are another very valid reason to dump it.
I think you missed what would be the biggest con for me – LUKE-WARM beverages
I like the aid stations because I can take the moderately cool gatorade/coke/water and dump it into a cup of ice.
I tend to drink less when the beverage is room temperature.
As somebody else mentioned I like to break the run up into twenty-six 1 mile runs. I figure even if I am really dragging I am only 10 minutes-ish from an aid station. I don’t tend to eat a lot on the run so if I had a camelback there would be no positive-anticipation in the aid-station-approach.
