Hi There
I am planning on using the drink mix as my primary nutrition on the bike at my next IM.
I have been training with it and having some good results
After some advice please
I ride around the 4.55/5.00 mark
Are people also using gels as well as the 320 drink mix and if so what sort of time frame are you consuming?
I also sometimes feel towards the end of my long rides that I feel like I need to have some solids, what are people using if they have something small solid.
I plan on using the gels on the run then most likely onto coke at the end.
For my last Ironman, I took in about 85-90% of my body weight in carbs (grams), per hour - this worked out to be around 70/75g of carbs per hour. Considering Maurten 320 is 80g of carbs per serving, I was going through a 500ml bottle just over every hour. On the run, it’s a little trickier to get your pre-mixed drinks, so I was trying to take in a gel (25g carbs) every 20/30 minutes.
I would suggest that good race nutrition has three pillars: 1) Hydration, 2) Electrolytes and 3) Carbs. Relying just on Maurten 320 probably means you’ll fall short on the electrolyte front. So, I would recommend making sure you’re getting in your electrolytes on the bike/run too.
I’ve also always been told that good race nutrition doesn’t start when the starter’s cannon goes off - up your electrolyte intake for the days leading up to the event, and start sipping on a Maurten 320/alike from when you wake up on race day.
There’s a caveat here, that you should train for your nutrition plan too. Most athletes’ guts aren’t happy taking in such high levels of carbs straight out of the gate - make sure you test your race day nutrition on your ‘race simulation’ training days. I (like so many others) have found I can really push the levels of carb intake with Maurten without any adverse GI issues.
I would suggest that good race nutrition has three pillars: 1) Hydration, 2) Electrolytes and 3) Carbs. Yup.
Relying just on Maurten 320 probably means you’ll fall short on the electrolyte front. So, I would recommend making sure you’re getting in your electrolytes on the bike/run too.Yup.
And if adding gels to maurten, make sure you’re not hitting much above 120g carbs per liter of fluid. Need to consume adequate fluid to get the added gels plus high-carb maurten to play nice with your gut.
I’m not using gels on the bike but I do use a 750 ml of Maurten, so that comes in the area of 120 grams od carbs. I have had years of GI distress, was going better when I added sodium to my drinks but only with Maurten I can handle the amount of carbs without any stomach or gut trouble.
And this season I’m going to push it even a little further.
We sell Maurten, but only after I tested it for a couple of months after they stalked me for about 2 years to give it a go because the sales guy here new about my stomach issues.
I know what Blu used more-or-less during his Cozu race so I’m going to see where my boundary is with Maurten during long rude at race speed.
But that it works is without question.
Jeroen
I would suggest that good race nutrition has three pillars: 1) Hydration, 2) Electrolytes and 3) Carbs. Yup.
Relying just on Maurten 320 probably means you’ll fall short on the electrolyte front. So, I would recommend making sure you’re getting in your electrolytes on the bike/run too.Yup.
And if adding gels to maurten, make sure you’re not hitting much above 120g carbs per liter of fluid. Need to consume adequate fluid to get the added gels plus high-carb maurten to play nice with your gut.
I thought the whole point of Maurten gels was you didn’t need fluids to absorb them.
I think what he’s saying is that you still need to stay hydrated when taking gels, not that you need water to digest Maurten gels.
I’ve been using Maurten gels and powder this season and really like it. I’ve mixed in some traditional gels just because I had them leftover, and they taste unbelievable too sweet now that I’m used to the Maurten.
Hi There
I am planning on using the drink mix as my primary nutrition on the bike at my next IM.
I have been training with it and having some good results
After some advice please
I ride around the 4.55/5.00 mark
Are people also using gels as well as the 320 drink mix and if so what sort of time frame are you consuming?
I also sometimes feel towards the end of my long rides that I feel like I need to have some solids, what are people using if they have something small solid.
I plan on using the gels on the run then most likely onto coke at the end.
I’m a similar pace and been thinking about race nutrition myself and Maurten is something I have used for short races, but I can’t work out how to make it work over an IM distance.
I was thinking about 2 x 750ml on the bike, and then pick up another 2 at special needs…a bit risky - and then what do you do about electrolytes???
Another option was to carry bottles of electrolytes and use solid food and gels for calories - but this takes up a lot of space.
I’m starting to err towards using the on course nutrition as it’s just easier - but then you run the risk of unreliable powder/water ratios and poorly fitted lids!
You can carry electrolyte tabs with, just wrap them individually, put them in your top tube storage, or even just in your tri-suit in T1. For fuel I run an aero bottle full of gels and 1 or 2 caffienated ones in the top tube storage. If I recall correctly it will fit 13 Powerbar gell, making for about 340 grams of carbs in the bottle and another 52 from the two separte gels.
For my last Ironman, I took in about 85-90% of my body weight in carbs (grams), per hour - this worked out to be around 70/75g of carbs per hour. Considering Maurten 320 is 80g of carbs per serving, I was going through a 500ml bottle just over every hour. On the run, it’s a little trickier to get your pre-mixed drinks, so I was trying to take in a gel (25g carbs) every 20/30 minutes.
Your body weight in kg, I assume?
I’ve just put a nuun tab in my Maurten bottle. Not sure you’re “supposed†to do that but it has worked for me and it also gives a bit more flavor diversity.
How do you guys stand Maurten gel? The consistency is so repellent to me. I have to choke them down with a conscious effort. I just cannot handle the gelatinous consistency. I’m genuinely interested, not just ripping Maurten.
How do you guys stand Maurten gel? The consistency is so repellent to me. I have to choke them down with a conscious effort. I just cannot handle the gelatinous consistency. I’m genuinely interested, not just ripping Maurten.
Used to even eat lots of raw eggs straight out of the shell
I like any gel BUT
I do agree Maurten gels are uggg
You can carry electrolyte tabs with, just wrap them individually, put them in your top tube storage, or even just in your tri-suit in T1. For fuel I run an aero bottle full of gels and 1 or 2 caffienated ones in the top tube storage. If I recall correctly it will fit 13 Powerbar gell, making for about 340 grams of carbs in the bottle and another 52 from the two separte gels.
That would mean having to use something like an xlab torpedo. I have one, but the roads around here are so bad and bumpy that the liquid just goes everywhere with those…so I’m trying to avoid using one if possible.!
I did the bike leg at Challenge Roth this year.
My main source of energy was Maurten 320.
I had one bottle BTA and one bottle BTS, giving me 3x Maurten 320 that’s 240g of Carbs.
sipped every 10 minutes from it.
I also had two powerbar bars for some solid that I consumed half each every hour, another 110g (had two gels in my backpockets that I didn’t use though).
I calculated that I’d run out of my personal (liquid) nutrition at km130/~4h and planned to load up a bottle of oncourse nutrition drinks (power bar) at the aid station at around 120km
In addition I got a bottle of water at each aid station for additional hydration (took some sips, cooled down and then disposed the bottle right after the aid station).
Nutrition plan came together perfectly. I had some very bad half an hour from 140km but was able to push the last 10 km hard (guess it was a mental low I was in).
So for nearly 5h I consumed around 380g (240 from maurten, 110 solid powerbar bars + half a bottle of powerbar drink) carbs. Would equal around 100% of body weight in kg in g of carbs per hour.
Didn’t have to run, but I felt pretty strong coming of the bike so I think that I could have ran the pace I would have planned to.
Didn’t have any stomach issues during or after the race at all.
I’ve just put a nuun tab in my Maurten bottle. Not sure you’re “supposed†to do that but it has worked for me and it also gives a bit more flavor diversity.
Genius.
Jonboy / Hiphophopper
I’ve been using Maurten in training and just did an OD race and it worked really well for me.
I’m interested if anyone has used the Maurten 320 drink in a concentrate form - for example 2 or more satchels of the 320 mix into one bottle? I only want to carry 2 bottles of nutrition (plus a third for water to top up during the ride) for my next IM race, so I’ll need to shove 5 satchels into two bottles and then dilute by sipping on water. I can have a back up in special needs in case I drop a bottle.
I seem to have a pretty good constitution that can handle a strong mix, and will obviously practice taking in the higher concentration during training.
For my IM in June, I plan to intake roughly 100g carbs per hour on the bike, so for an approx 5 hour bike ride that means one 320 drink mix plus 1 gel every hour which is nice and simple. I’ll grab an on-course Gatorade after one of the nutrition bottles is emptied for some electrolytes during the bike as well. Like others, I’ll use the gels on the run.
Hi
This is what I’ve been trialling
2x1 litre bottles of Maurten 320 with a Koda electrolyte tablet as well.
Will have a bottle on the frame, one behind the seat and an aero bottle on my aero bars (750ml) with the same mix.
After that I’ll get some water on course and use a few gels if needed.
Then I’ll maybe take a small handheld water bottle on the run, when that’s empty get rid of it then use some gels that I’ll carry and then I guess by that stage I’ll be on the cola anyway.
Maurten seems pretty adamant that you aren’t supposed to mix the 320 mix in anything more than 500 mL’s. Do you guys just do two packs in a liter, or just water it down beyond what they recommend?
Serious answer
squeeze whole maurten pouch in mouth
Close nose from inside to taste it less
Swallow in one gulp
Easy 100 cal that settles well and can get it down in under 5 seconds
.
The fact that we all acknowledge they take a conscious act of will to eat, with zero taste or mild enjoyment is indicative of a crummy product. I can eat SIS gel and it doesn’t taste bad and it’s easy to swallow. Maurten is like eating congealed whale boogers.