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Fueling

Edwin CroucherEdwin Croucher
in Racing Forum 🏎

Patrick, I am aware that this question has been asked before. I have been following the fueling protocols. (1 gel 15 minutes before the workout, 1 gel 15 minutes into it, 1 gel every 30 minutes during the workout and bottle of sports drink per hour.) My current Infinit bike blend has 319 calories, 650mg sodium & 185mg potassium. One e-gel has 150 calories, 230mg sodium & 85mg potassium.  I just watched a video from Infinit's  Michael Folan. I have also read information on the "e-Gel" ( http://www.cranksports.com/ePower/gel-vs-fuel.asp ) website. Both sources emphatically state that you should not take any brand of gel with any brand of sports drink. On the e-Gel site, it states  "If you are using e-Gel and e-Fuel (or any energy gel with any sports energy drink) and no water then you may end up with a solution in your gut that is too concentrated which will slow the absorption rate, delay the benefits of the product and possibly start to cause sloshing in your stomach and/or gastrointestinal discomfort." 

     So, if we follow the EN fueling protocols, are we just waiting for disaster? Can you really train you gut to process solutions that are Hypertonic?

Comments

  • Coach RichCoach Rich
    Edwin,

    I'm moving this thread to the Race Execution Forum and will bring it to Patrick's attention. However, he is conducting a camp on the IMTX course so please expect a delay.
  • Edwin CroucherEdwin Croucher

    Thanks. I will be patient.

  • thaimaithaimai
    @Edwin, I had the same question. Seems to be OK to mix gels and energy drink but the only way to find out for sure if that works for you is to practice:

    http://members.endurancenation.us/Forums/tabid/57/aft/14854/Default.aspx
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    @Edwin, you got me. I made a nutrition protocol designed to undermine the months of training and hard work that you have done with us! I also let air out of your tires and shoot you with water cannons on the run.. image

    Your question is one of information, and I get the confusion.

    Consuming sports drink and sports gel together is totally okay IF the resulting combination of carbohydrates isn't so strong as to upset your gut. In the case of the protocol we references for this approach -- combining Ironman Perform drink with PowerBar Gels, this yield's a 7% carbohydrate solution and that's okay.

    This does NOT apply to other companies products which are custom (infinIT) or that we haven't reviewed (Cranksports).

    I guess the short answer is if you are going to use products other than what we have recommended, you will have to follow their guidance? I am pretty sure that infinIT doesn't want you using different gels with it...and quite possibly it doesn't want any gels at all. A bottle of perform has 175 calories and 475mg of sodium per 20oz, whereas your infinIT has 319 calories and 650mg sodium per bottle. That's significantly more calories than the perform.

    My issue with infinIT is that most folks use it as an approach to solve a calorie problem,when really fueling on race day is equal parts hydration and calories. Not to mention that the alchemy of infinIT + water is very different on a training day vs a race situation (usually much harder to digest on race day).

    I get in 350 calories per hour (via 2 bottles of perform) and that's 40oz of fluid. You are getting in 319 calories, assuming you are drinking a full bottle of water and a full bottle of infinIT per hour (most folks don't do that)...

    The long answer is that everyone's nutrition is different. What works for me won't work for you...but the basic guidance we offer, that I have clarified above, is meant to be a starting point.

    Happy to dig deeper with you on this, let me know!

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