Liquids vs. Solids

harrast

I have a history of struggling with digestion or a lack thereof during Ironman events.  At Ironman Florida I tried the Core Diet methods (mostly--not the official plan but based on the webinar).  I drank about 32oz. of perform every hour and ate solids, either a a powerbar or Cliff Bloks for a total of about 450 calories per hour.  Off the bike I felt too full as in bloated.  I could run well enough to keep the Z1 +30 pace, but I had heaves multiple times and could not take in anything but coke on the course.  I will say that I was much better off than I was in other IM distance races I have done, but part of this is due to proper pacing on the bike.  

It was suggested (by my friend Al T.) that I might try easing off the solids in the last 2 hours of the bike giving my gut a chance to clear.  Which leads me to the question: Has anyone resolved digestive issues by going to pure liquids (like perform) on the bike and/or the run?  If pure liquids are the solution, that would be a simple fix for the problem.  Presumably gels could/would still be taken during the run.  Thanks.

tim cronk

Steve, I tried liquid breakfast (naked smoothies) and didnt like it.... Then I tried liquid nutrition (infinit) while racing and didnt like it... Keep in mind the calories were the same but in the form of liquids only.... I always felt hungry and less energetic..... Not an applesauce athlete but I eat solids for breakfast 3hrs pre IM... Then perform/gel pre-swim.... On the bike I start out with the more solid food (clif bars) for 2hrs and progress to less solid easier to digest food (blocks) from 2-4hrs , then progress to a gel at 4-4.5hrs on the bike and stick with gels thru the run.......So as the day gets longer and harder I am eating easier to digest calories..... works for me YMMV

cgres123

My only nutrition issue I ever had was with Hammer products. Since I switched up to Perform and its products gel with shot blocks added I have been fine. My two IM I have done the most solid food I had was a .5 sandwich at 56 miles on the bike the rest being liquid. During the run if I get some banana I will have a bite or two then just move on down the road.

lancelsu

I can't do liquids only either.  I try and rotate between cliff bars and also peanut butter and jelly sandwiches worked well too (just cut off edges of bread for easier swallowing).  Scattered into the one solid food per hour is some infinit and gels.  And lots of water.

rlh2000

I found in a race rehearsal that powerbars sit in my stomach like a brick. I definitely wasn't able to have a half bar every hour. I think I ended up eating 1.5 powerbars on the IM bike and early in the ride, then all Perform, gels, and some banana. I think if I did ONLY liquid I would feel sloshy and be even more sick of perform than I already was. I definitely think there is a mental aspect to a more solid (including gel) food- I found myself looking forward to the 30 min mark or whatnot to have a "treat" of a chocolate gu, rather than just another big sip of Perform.

david ware

I have done my last 3 IMs with on the course Perform and Gels, nothing solid. I start out with Ensure for breakfast, so no solids till I am done. I may need to increase my calories for energy but no issues with no solids. However, as a wise person onde said "We are all an experiment of 1."

harrast

I appreciate everyone's responses. I'm piecing together my next nutritional plan. I like to think of myself as durable, but I have a very sensitive stomach. I've had a number of issues with esophageal spasms that have landed me in the ER. In most races, my pace is literally determined by how my stomach feels. Maybe others feel that way too; I only have my sample of 1.

At Florida, I road a steady 70% of FTP, the grey zone, and still felt bloated off the bike. Maybe it was the lasagna I ate for dinner. It sure tasted good.