2 AM Shake before IM

jpriore

What's the recipe? protein powder? fruit,etc.? - just wondering what has worked for those who have done this in the past

dan_forbes

 Sleep!!!  Hopefully you've been building your glycogen stores all year anyway.  Rest if you can, you're body is ready.  Good luck Joe!

Dan

 

k8trigirl

I like the Naked Juice protein smoothies. They are premade so no hassle in the middle of the night. That said, I don't set the alarm to get up in the middle of the night. I just drink it when I wake up to go to the bathroom.

mattsull

I drank 2 Ensure Plus.

Matt Samojeden

I use Odwalla Super Food with Hammer whey protein powder.

Paul Hough

I broke every rule in the book and picked up 2 protein smoothies at the grocery store the night before the race...and had never tried them before. Had one about 2am and the other about 4:30am and they worked great. But then again, I have a cast iron stomach and can eat just about anything without any ill effect. To put it in context, my preferred IM meal the day before is Waffle House or Perkins at about 5pm, and I will put it away!

Deller

Yeah I dig the Odwalla Vanillalmondo shakes. I think the real key though is watching what you eat at dinner the night before and at breakfast. Especially if you have people with you. They want to take you out the night before, stuff you: "You have a big day tomorrow.......eat.....EAT!" It's an especially tough situation, because the one time you want to have really tight control over what you're eating, you're away from home. I'd totally ditch going to a restaurant if possible and have your own picnic. Seriously.

Dave Tallo

Big glass of water before going to sleep, then four vanilla Ensure when I wake up to pee at 2-3am.

They absolutely positively have to be ice cold.

Nemo Brauch

I like the Odwalla's - partially because they are easy to find- just hit up a Starbucks.

Cary Blanco

I was gonna bring my blender and make my own (not at 2AM, before I go to sleep). I'll give this Odwalla stuff a try this week.

seancbegley

I'm a big fan of the Ensure's as well and that is what I plan on doing...also, I don't set the alarm, just get up when nature calls and drink then..

Coach Patrick

I do the Ensure...simple and easy!

Coach Rich

I used to do/recommend Ensure or Boost...then I read the back of the can. Reads like a chemistry experiment and it seems to get most of it's calories from oil.

Regardless what you do, try it before the race and the intent of liquid cals vs solid is you can dump a ton down your throat in 2-3' (700+) and it's easily digested and out of you in a couple hours.

Personally, my digestion has slowed down over the years and I need to be careful what and how much I eat in the hours before a major event, even a long training ride. Riding on a full stomach at the start of a ride can really affect my entire ride so I prefer to fuel on the road. That is, drinking coffee right now before a 3hr ride, won't eat anything before, but will take about 800cals with me to fuel while I ride.

Anyway, point is to try stuff out, pay attention to what works or doesn't work for you, and you buy yourself flexibility on race day by waking up early, at 2am, to do whatever it is you're going to do.

penlynwilson

I like more carbs than protein before a race. Your body uses primarily carbs (and fat), not protein. I don't understand all the loading up on protein.

John, my hubby, likes a full breakfast - pancakes, etc. Yes, at CDA last year he got up at 1 or 2AM and went and got his breakfast. It works for him.

David Flint

@Penny - so why bother having protein in your energy drinks? About to order my Infinit mix which has the same amount of protein as the 'EN custom mix' - the I read elsewhere that its a good idea to race IM with no protein if you can. Protein can't be just to 'stop you feeling hungry' can it?

penlynwilson

@David: The main reason is to help you from being hungry. The EN formula has 4 g of protein which is a grand total of 28 calories. Protein empties out of your stomach slower than carbs, hence adding to the feeling of satiety (not being hungry).

jpriore

Thanks everyone for the input - I like Muscle Milk but that's only around 250 cals (and a good amount of protein, not sure what Ensure's nutritional facts look like) - wanted to see what everyone else does to boost it up (maybe I'll go with 2 Muscle Milks or try ensure this weekend)

jwpicciotto

@David: A few years ago the researcher who did the studies on the 4:1 ratio for recovery drinks published that protein in your race fuel improved performance. As a result everybody started to put protein in their products. However, there has been no real proof that this aids performance. Some studies show it does, some show it doesn't. As my lovely wife states, the biggest thing that people have been able to show with protein taken in during the race is that it helps blunt your hunger in endurance events.

penlynwilson

@Joe: If Muscle Milk works for you, then try it.

I'll look for the research and see what I can turn up on this.

jpriore

Thanks Penny - I use Muscle Milk all the time for a recovery drink ... only issue for the 2AM shake is that there's a lot of protein to carbs (21 to 11), probably need reverse before IM

Chris G

 I used to do ensure and stopped for the same reason mentioned by Rich.  Stuff is just garbage with tons of oil.  Now I just go with pop tarts or bagels or whatever is handy.  They are garbage also but taste way better.  I also won't get up in the middle of the night to eat, just make sure that I am up 3 hours or so before the start.  That is enough time for me.  Oh course if you are doing that pre IM not sleeping anyhow thing it really does not matter.

William Jenks

I'm a chemist by trade, so I can read the label just fine. :-) I used them last year successfully. However, they are VILE to slam as far as I'm concerned. Literally difficult for me to drink. Most of the "chemicals" are fine from a "food science" point of view for one-time consumption; some are a bit gross; none is immediately poisonous. The main (only?) positive is that they are easily available liquid calories. But it's sure not how I'd want to eat in the long run. (I haven't compared them to a McDonalds milkshake, but the latter sure tastes a LOT better....)

For my money, the Naked smoothies are more healthful and a lot more palatable. It pisses me of to drop $3.25 or whatever for each of them, but that's trivial.

mgraffeo

Pretty good discount when you buy naked smoothies at BJ's...

tuckerm

I tend to drink a big bomber of IPA the night before a race. 22oz of sweet carb goodness. Plus about 400-500 calories. What's not to love?

Dave Tallo

Posted By Tucker McKeever on 23 Jul 2010 11:25 PM

I tend to drink a big bomber of IPA the night before a race. 22oz of sweet carb goodness. Plus about 400-500 calories. What's not to love?

Tucker,

I think I must be thinking of a different IPA than you. But now you've got me thinking it might take the pre-race edge off. 

 

tuckerm

Posted By Dave Tallo on 24 Jul 2010 01:58 PM

Posted By Tucker McKeever on 23 Jul 2010 11:25 PM

I tend to drink a big bomber of IPA the night before a race. 22oz of sweet carb goodness. Plus about 400-500 calories. What's not to love?

Tucker,

I think I must be thinking of a different IPA than you. But now you've got me thinking it might take the pre-race edge off. 

 

 

That certainly works Dave!

penlynwilson

@Dave: I think that is a post-race recovery drink. After you've had your other recovery beverage. After John (hubby) finished CDA last year, he really wanted a beer - which is unusual for him. I told him "OK, but you have to have your recovery drink, too." Hence, if you see his picture, he is holding a beer in one hand and a water bottle with his recovery drink in the other.

Scott Alexander

GUINNESS! Just like in my pic. Recovery and it's beer! Two birds with one stone!

penlynwilson

@Scott: Dude! You know I'm biting my tongue.

Scott Alexander

@Penny, let me live in my own little post-race happy world. Thank you for biting your tongue.
But, yes, I usually have some Endurox w/ L-glutamine ALSO. ;-)

penlynwilson

@Scott: Aren't John & I holding your Guiness at Longhorn? :-)