So, I’m reading an interview with Lisa Bentley and she’s saying she brings RB with her on race day. Maybe I’m behind the times and everyone’s doing this already, but I would have thought that RB would make a mess of your heart rate, etc, and also cause a wicked crash. Also, it’s generally not recommended for use during highly physical situations, so…?
Anyone have any first-hand experience using this and how it effected your body hours into a race? I’m guessing it’s likely best used as a firestarter in the last miles of a long day - yes/no?
it takes about 30 min for the caffeine to come into effect, and after about 90 min it reaches its highest concentration in the blood. so if you take it for the last 20 min you’ll only have the benefits of sugar, so you could also drink any other kind of soda. in an IM i enjoy drinking a can of RB (usually with some extra salt; in a bottle so it becomes flat) while heading out of T2; when warming up for a TT i drink RB mixed 1:1 with water
i love RB before or during important races - caffeine, sugar and several vit. Bs to help the energ metabolism. and beside national socialism and Trapp-family films it’s one of the few successful austrian export goods
probably not much different than flat coke late in the marathon as the only additions are vitamin b and some taurine over cola, as with anything, best to try it in training first, to me it might be good in run special needs for a boost if you are having a tough day…as for my personal red bull use, i love a sugar free red bull in the afternoon after a long morning of training to keep the energy level up for playing with the kids in the yard!!!
It also got me through the last 15 miles of AmZof last year…1 RB per 5 mile run loop! Could have used 2 for the last one!
AmZof 1.0 was my experience w/ Red Bull. On the 2nd run, naturally. Stuff is pretty much awesome in that application.
That’s the only event where I’ve ever had a RB during the event itself.
I’ll also pop a Red Bull about 1.5 hrs prior to our monthly evening club races, to give me a little pick-me-up after having been at work all day.
(notice I didn’t say “having been working all day” - big difference
Thanks all. Useful comments. Looks like I’m going to incorporate into my fuel belt for my next IM. Will experiment with it at the marathon distance first…
I use red bull in half IMs and IMs. In IMs I drink one before the start, have one in my bike specials needs (that I dump into my aero bottle), have one in T2 (that I drink as I’m running out), and have one at run special needs that I down as I’m running. In half IMs I drink one before the start and have one in T2. I only drink caffeine on race days and figure if I miss it at special needs I can find some cola or caffeine gels later. But Red Bull is something different than I have on my bike and when running, so it breaks up the monotony of perpetuem, and I like the carbonation…
Made the mistake once while training, won’t do it again.
Don’t know if it was from the sugar overload or the carbonation (I assume the carbonation), but it ruined my stomach on the run.
My riding partners hate it when I drink a RB or a Monster at a rest stop half way into a long ride. They make me into an entirely different rider for about an hour. Placebo or not, I friggin’ ride like the wind a short while after downing one of them. Doesn’t work if I’m not well into a long ride when I partake… but holy cow I do admit to loving it.
Made the mistake once while training, won’t do it again.
Don’t know if it was from the sugar overload or the carbonation (I assume the carbonation), but it ruined my stomach on the run.
X2 it messes up my stomach, I would never touch one on race day.
I actually used 6 hour power during the bike leg at IM-WI. It was in the special needs bag at the halfway point and it worked for me. I was not overpowering and I did not experience the “crash” during the run. I will use it again next year.
I actually used 6 hour power during the bike leg at IM-WI. It was in the special needs bag at the halfway point and it worked for me. I was not overpowering and I did not experience the “crash” during the run. I will use it again next year.
I use to swear by that stuff but it seems to be really hit an miss with me. I used it at the TTT this past year with great success and then used it at Placid with virtually no benefit. And I can usually tell when it is doing its job.
Generally though, I really like them.
RB, Coca Cola, Snickers or whatever made of sugar (not maltodextrine) affects too much your insuline effect in the blood.
As a result, may have a big “down” effect after 30 minutes. The insuline is “sending” the glucogene to your reserves.
Besides the marketing, and that you like the flavour (i love RB), you won’t find any nutritionist who will recommend you to use RB or energy drink during a race.
so they would also advise against coca cola, bananas, powergels and powerbar shots during a race? lol
at high intensity insuline is barely active/your blood sugar level will be pretty stable. of course that’s not the case for easy endurance rides, but we’re talking about racing, don’t we? plus you should keep eating and drinking anyway, so your sugar level is constantly elevated
I had a RedBull 2 hrs into a hard 5 hr ride yesterday. First time I’ve tried it in training. No issues whatsoever and I definitely felt a little pop from it about 20 min after drinking it. No stomach issues.
so they would also advise against coca cola, bananas, powergels and powerbar shots during a race? lol
at high intensity insuline is barely active/your blood sugar level will be pretty stable. of course that’s not the case for easy endurance rides, but we’re talking about racing, don’t we? plus you should keep eating and drinking anyway, so your sugar level is constantly elevated
If you want the caffeine, then just pop a pill. I believe studies have shown that you’ll utilize more of it in pill form than you will from drinks. Pop a Vivarin or NoDoz beforehand. If you want to read about the beneficial effects of caffeine then give (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/health/nutrition/26best.html?pagewanted=all) One of the doctors mentioned is a Dr Tarnopolsky who hapeens to be a triathlete.
And don’t rely on coffee or tea as they contain chlorogenic acid which dampens the effects.
