Hi all.
Of course there’s the old adage “train how you race” but looking for input on how many people use their sports nutrition (gels, bars, drinks, etc) during day to day training vs. “regular” food.
I use sports nutrition only during tempo work - and even then only when I’m close to a race. For the most part during rides and runs it’ll be regular food.
What do you do?
I do exactly the same. If I ate gels and sport drinks for every training ride I’d be sick of it after a while. Not to mention that they are a rip-off.
during long workouts, yes. I also will eat a caffeinated gel sometimes in the AM before a workout if I am not hungry / don’t feel like a cliff bar but want some caffeine.
i eat race day nutrition for most of my longer distance training days. Chocolate, mars bars and apple juice that is. No way would I buy all the expensive sport nutrition stuff for every day training. I just take that stuff on course when they don’t hand out chocolate or mars bars.
i eat race day nutrition for most of my longer distance training days. Chocolate, mars bars and apple juice that is. No way would I buy all the expensive sport nutrition stuff for every day training. I just take that stuff on course when they don’t hand out chocolate or mars bars.
x2
.
i never use any sportsnutrition stuff. neither in training nor racing. in training i go with rasperry juice and the cheapest cereal bars i can get in the supermarket. for races i use maltodextrin.
and im not that slow. 2:03-2:08 oly.
maybe ifi would do ironman i would use more of it.
What would you consider “Regular Food” that you would consume for day to day training?
jaretj
.
during long workouts, yes. I also will eat a caffeinated gel sometimes in the AM before a workout if I am not hungry / don’t feel like a cliff bar but want some caffeine.
A question for tigerchik(swinchik?) or other swimmers? Do you have electrolyte drinks handy(by pool) for swim sessions longer that say 1hour? Do you drink or eat anything during swim workouts?
Thanks G.
I use more gels than i should, during training - i probably spend too much on them, and have enough dental work already. for a long run, though, it’s hard to beat the convenience of a gel in your pocket. For biking, I usually have a few gels, but try to include more normal food, esp. bananas.
What would you consider “Regular Food” that you would consume for day to day training?
jaretj
.
Well, depending on where I was riding I’d suppose “Regular Food” to be bagels, muffins, sandwiches, apples, bannanas, coffee and the occasional soda. Maybe a cereral / granola bar for the jersey pocket.
Running is a little lighter, maybe a quick stop for some fruit.
Rarely eat in the water- I’m good for about 90 minutes and my swim doesn’t go longer than that
Long swim sessions see me having some chocolate ensure handy or mini Mars bars at the ready.
.
OK I see…
Personally I use gels and water/sports drink but I have stopped at gas stations for Hostess fruit pies, candy bars, Coke, French Fries, apples, bananas…but not for quite a while…except the fruit pies.
jaretj
training rides = water, gatorade (mixed at home from powder, much cheaper that way), and cliff bars in my jersey pockets
swim practices = water or gatorade (depends on how i’m feeling that day)
i buy cliff bars because i like the taste and they never (knock on wood) upset my stomach. gels are pricey and hard to get down sometimes. my one regular concession to sports nutrition is first endurance ultragen recovery drink in cappucino. even if it wasn’t good for me i’d drink it just because it tastes so damn good.
Single sport cyclist - this year I’ve been using my cheap ass home-made malto/dextro/fructo mix for almost all my training, typically 75-85 g of carb/700ml bidon. By buying the powders plain, this is the least expensive cost/calorie for about any food. For events I’ll use just the same, until the bottles are empty and I have to go on to whatever the event provides, and then probably supplemented with powerbars in my jersey pockets.
i eat race day nutrition for most of my longer distance training days. Chocolate, mars bars and apple juice that is. No way would I buy all the expensive sport nutrition stuff for every day training. I just take that stuff on course when they don’t hand out chocolate or mars bars.
So what’s up with Mars bars? Two people so far…
Am I missing out on something?
Snickers for me, not the Mars. If you look at the calories and content a Snickers is like your standard power or sports bar, without the extra stuff you do not need… I eat real food as much as possible, and don’t even take gatorade during races…fake colours, and crap. I drink water, eat salty foods, and a sugar boost from a snickers here and there. The odd Coke, and feel bad about that with the HFCS but that is like, 4 x a year if that. Ok snickers not the best either but I dont have that every day. Regular long training lots of Lara bars, dates, bananas and single serving PB.
For shorter rides months away from races I eat dates and figs, and make up fuel belt bottle(s) of concentrated energy drink from powder. In one bottle I can fit the 6 scoops of powder dissolved in water and they fit nicely in a bike jersey pocket. In my water bottles I just have water. My dentist advised it was better to swig concentrated energy drink just 2-3 times per hour, and drink water for the rest of the time. Dates are awesome energy food and cheap. I sometimes stop for a milkshake.
Fig Newtons. They got me through Kona 23 years ago, and I will be eating them at FLIM this year. You can line at least 16 up in a snack bag in the Bento box. The reduced fat kind dissolve quickest in your mouth.
How do folks eat Mars bars during a hot bike ride? Squish!
swim - grew up doing 2 hr workouts without anything and can still get away with it sometimes. Other workouts I want a gel.
Always have water.
I tried a snickers while riding once - upset my tummy. It did taste good!
Wouldn’t a Mars or Snickers have a higher fat content than sports bars?
And for those of you who said figs and dates, the fiber doesn’t upset your stomach while running?