The 4th Event: Nutrition

When talking to people about triathlons, they immediately start imagining if they can do the distances that I am talking about.  "I can do X, but I don't think I can do Y..."
...I think I have been doing the same thing in my training.  "Ok...Im getting good with X, but I need more work on Y, and need to group X with Z".

Unfortunately, I haven't been focusing much on the fourth element:  Nutrition.  In order to complete the race, I need to ensure that I am not putting my body into a calorie deficit that leaves my muscles with no fuel.  Once my muscles run out of fuel...the race is over.

My body is a horribly efficient machine.  In order to allow my muscles to perform for a long duration requires very careful planning.  I must make sure that there is no moment in the race in which my muscles go without proper nutrition.

I have a strong heart.  I have a strong will.  I have strong muscles.  Now I need a strong carburetor to continuously maintain nutrition intake.  This is going to take time.


An Olympic triathlon consists of the following disciplines:
-.9m Swim
-24.8m bike ride
-6.2m run
-2800 calories being burned.

My body can't store 2800 calories, so I need a plan that will help me complete the race.  Things like glycogen stores, lactic acid build-up and muscle oxygenation are things that I need to be worried about with these distances.  I think I have been so focused on completing the distances in my workouts that I may be hindering myself by not focusing on caloric intake during my workouts.

I am putting together the 'Calorie' recipe.  Just like each event, it is going to be difficult to master, as there is no true way to test it until race day...but I think I am going to focus on the following plan.  Depending on how things go in my training, I may need to update it.

Nutrition Requirements:
-Gels - 2
-PowerBar - 1 (2?)
-Perpetuem solids - 1
-Perpetuem Nutrition drink (20oz) -1
-Gatorade - 1

Steps:
1) Gel 1 will go in my pre-race bag.
2) Attach the PowerBar to your bike
3) Put Perpetuem solids in helmet in Transition
4) Put Perpetuem nutrition drink and Gatorade in Bike Bottles
5) Keep a Gel in transition area

This is the game plan that I am going to try to work with:

Pre-race:
  •      Consume a Gel 5 minutes before race begins.  In the swim, this will have your body working on:
    • 110 calories
    • 200mg sodium
    • 27g of carbs
    • 0 protein
T1:
  •      Place Perpetuem Solids in back pocket on bike shorts prior to leaving transition area
Bike Ride:
  • Continually keep a Solid in my mouth. 
  • Break off small portions and chew like gum. 
  • Replace when completed.  Keep a solid in your mouth the entire ride to provide consistent nutrition intake.
  • Every 4 miles, drink.  Alternate between Nutrition drink and Gatorade
  • At Mile 16, consume the PowerBar.  This is so that your stomach feels like it can work also and doesn't feel empty.  A donut would be great, but I think a power bar will have to do.
  • Continue with the solids and drink plan
  • This will have me working off the following budget:
    • 6 solids
      • 200 calories
      • 40g carbohydrates
      • 6g protein
      • 162mg sodium
    • Perpetuem Nutrition Drink
      • 270 calories
      • 54g carbohydrates
      • 7g protein
      • 220mg Sodium
    • Gatorade
      • 40 calories
      • 5g carbohydrates
      • 220mg Sodium
    • Powerbar
      • 240 calories
      • 45g carbohydrates
      • 10g proteins
    • Totals:
      • 750 calories
      • 179g carbohydrates
      • 23g protein
      • 602mg Sodium
  • I may have to play with this, since I constantly have food in my mouth the entire ride and I am still in a calorie deficit.  How do other people do it?
T2:
  • Remove Solids from shorts
  • Put Gel in shorts
Run
  • Once I find my legs and can determine a pace, I will consume the gel.
  • Stop at 3.1m Aid Station for water and any other nutrition they might have.
  • This will have me working off of:
    • 220 calories
    • 400mg sodium
    • 54g of carbs
    • 0 protein

Anybody have any advice?  I can really use some.

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