Does anyone have experience with Perpeteum and Hammer Gel for IM? I plan to use endurolytes as well. I’ve used Hammer Gel and Endurolytes at Keauhou Half with great result, however that was only 4:45. Sooo, with Ironman I’m a little concerned about the distance. This is my first Ironman CDA and I want to finish with a positive experience in one piece!=)
Feedback would be great! Anyone going to Honolulu for the Olympic Trials?
Stay healthy, happy and safe!!
SRoy…
I’ve been training with Perpetuem for the past 3 months. Using it for my long rides and long runs. Seems to work very well for me. Not sure about how I can use it during IM. I figure two super strength bottles for the bike and then 2 bottles on the run (1 in special needs bag). At 260 cals per serving (2 scoops) it seems to deliver enough energy over a long ride/run. Yesterday I rode 5.5 hours and used 4 bottles of Perpetuem and felt great. However, I also used Extran as Perpertuem is a little heavy for constant hydration*. I tend to sweat a lot so I’m always using products with high sodium/potassium content.* Enduralites work well but are a pain on the bike. I’ve been disolving them in my water bottles the night before races and then mixing with a sports drink.
Im CDA was hot last year, we’ll probably be drinking a lot more than usual. Not sure how Perpetuem holds up to the heat. You may want to experiment with Perpetuem and Gatorade during your rides. Stomach may not like the combo.
Been using hammer gel for 4 years and it is by far my favorite. Primarily due to the thinner texture and its ability to be easily mixed with water. Prior to my IM races I hydrate with hammer gel/water/enduralite mixed water bottle. Used two flasks during IM Fla bike. No problems. 2 more on the run.
One other note: I have found that hammer gel does not mix with coke. I rarely drink coke during races but gave it a try last year. Bad idea.
Best of Luck.
-Andrew
I used Perpetuem exclusively on the bike for 2 1/2IMs last year. This year I will use it at IMUSA. A sip every 20 minutes, 1 bottle an hour works for me.
I used Perpetuem- however you spell it- at IMNZ about six weeks ago.
It was the best high calorie liquid food source I have ever tried. Very, very good. Our store did not sell it before then but based on my experience in racing and training with it, we do now.
I like Hammer Gel (and we sell it) but I use E-Gel which I personally like better because of the nice, high sodium content.
WineTrader, did you try putting the endurolytes in a “change purse”, one of those little plastic oval deals with a slit cut through it? I forget how many endurolytes I can fit in there, I put it in a cycling pocket (or even in my shorts leg) slit side away from the body so sweat doesn’t soak them. When you want one, the endurolyte will stick to your tongue so you can get them one at a time if you like. Just a thought.
I’m a road racer not a Tri guy so you know. I use Hammergel, Sustained Energy and Perpeteum exclusively.
I use HG alone on training rides/races under 2 hours. I use SE & HG for hard training rides and races that are 2 hours plus. I use Perpeteum on longer rides/races that are 3 hours plus or stage races. I include my warmup in these numbers as I’m sipping this stuff while on the trainer or road. I also start with a good meal prior to starting. I also eat very carefully the day before big races/rides. Your nutrition/sleep the two days prior to a big event are extremely important. You should try to get naps and sleep 8+ hours for those two days along with good meals.
I’ve done double centuries on only Perpeteum and HG. No solid food and I feel fine. Great product. I always add Enduralytes powder to all bottles, even plain water. You can buy the bulk powder, which is much easier to use and you never forget to take them. Put it in the mix.
For perspective, the group I ride with regularly completes centuries in under 5 hours and we ride very hard at all times. We are all 40+ Master racers. We race all the local stage races and are competitive.
I use HG (320 cals/hr. - I’m a big boy at 195#) in a water bottle for the first hour on the bike, then either Perpeteum or Sustained Energy mixed double-strength for the remainder of the bike time. I alternate between the double PT or SE and a bottle of plain water. On the run I use HG (250 cals/hr.) mixed in water in a Fuel Belt Flask, and supplement with water on the course to suit the temperature. I keep Endurolytes in the plastic coin purse taped to my bike stem, then put them in my pocked once under way. There’s a coin purse of them in the pouch on my fuel belt.
With the Hammernutrition products I feel better on the bike and run, never feel hungry, and really don’t feel starved in the hours after training or racing. Numbers geek that I am, I did a cost analysis between the Hammer stuff and using Cliff, Gatorade, Gu, and all the other things I used to use. Even with shipping costs – Hammer is cheaper per hour to use. My wife trains and races (and get on the podium a lot more than me) with the Hammer products also and never has a problem with nutrition.
I use the Sustained Energy, it tastes fine in cooler weather or if its been chilled but if it gets warm (like at IMWI when it was in the 90’s) it tastes like some sort of liquid you would get from the bottom of a dumpster. How does Perpetuem compare…no energy drink tastes great hot but at least I can stomach warm cytomax (except in longer races I find it doesn’t digest as well for me). Does perpetuem taste if it gets warm? Is it unpalatable?
I’m using it in IM races and anything longish. It’s good stuff, especially in combination with Hammer Gel and Endurolytes or Succeed tablets. One trick I picked up at IMFL was to freeze the bottles of Perpetuem overnight for the Special needs drop. This way you can launch two big (24oz.) bottles and pick up fresh ones for the remaining distance. Might even dissolve some salt tabs in them too. On the run, Perpetuem might be a little less palatable given it’s “thickish” constituion. There you could hit the water Endurolytes combo. Careful with too much Gatorade on top of Gels, your stomach can get overwhelmed by so much sugar. The Hammer Gel people have an excellent web site www.e-caps.com that has a lot of good info on fueling.