Adding Caffiene to race day

zipburn

What is the best way to add caffiene to your race day plan if your fuel doesnt provide such?  I was too late to order Infinit and went with perpeteum, I tried those jelly beans with caffiene last year at eagleman, is there a better alternative?  Im guessing a caffiene pill would be a no/no for my gi, just on my own experience.

Peter Greagg

Hi Jason

I have used pills in HIMs and olys to good effect.  I had no GI issues at all.

I did practice in training before using them in a race.

Cheers

Peter

mattsull

I've used these before http://sportquestdirect.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=14. More than caffeine. I like them. Not s super jittery buzz.

I also like Gu Roctane gels. They conatin a small amount of caffeine (35mg).

Another option is PreRace. https://www.firstendurance.com/nutrition/prerace.html . It comes in powder form so it can be added to any sports drink. Doesn't have to be taken "Pre" race only.

As mentioned, try it in training first!!!

TDeBoo

The use of caffeine has been an important tool I've used for all endurance race days over recent years. On the bike my current preference is HIGH5 EneryGel + caffeine. On the run I use the flat coke, depending on the circumstances such hot or cold weather. If its cold I'll just take in the coke but on hot days I'll also take on water as well. One year I experimented by going cold turkey on caffeine a month out but using it on the day to very good effect. My marathon just got stronger the longer it went but I was well spent the following day.

mgraffeo

Two terrific pre-race options are FRS and Zipfizz. My last two sprints I've used both.

mattsull

Don't forget Red Bull!

JeremyBehler

I'm a big fan of Tropical flavored Hammer Gel. Has a bit of caffeine. I usually pop one 20-30 mins before the swim start and then on the bike/run as needed.

Coach Patrick

I go with the gels or the caffeine pill (about hour 4 on the bike); you can try either in your workouts...

Michael Byerts

Depends on the race distance. The research I have read says that caffeine aids performance, but you have to take A LOT to get the performance bump. For sprint/olypmic distance races, I pop 1-2 No Doze tablets about 60 minutes before the gun. For HIM races, I have one about 30 minutes before the gun, and have another coming into T2 on the bike (my Infinit Bike mix has some caffeine too). I haven't had GI issues doing this.
The other question is tapering off the caffeine prior to race day. Most research suggests that caffeine provides the most benefit if you abstain for 7-10 days before hand. Depending on your daily habits, it could take another 1-3 weeks to reduce your caffeine intake to zero.
The key, as others have said, is experimenting in training. Caffeine may act as a diuretic, especially if you are not used to it, or it may stimulate a bowel movement (it does both for me on race day). Knowing that before hand gives you the ability to take a trip to the bathroom before you get into your wetsuit. Use your race rehearsal workouts to try out caffeine.

John Stark

For IM I have Starbucks Awake Black Tea in both my bike and run special needs bags.  They are in 24 oz. bottles, unsweetened and I get a nice little bump from them.  Plus they are unsweetened so a nice change from Inifinit or whatever else is on the course.  Plus it is fine warm.

This is also a favorite on hot training days for bike or run.  I hit a Starbucks for a couple of minutes, order it as iced tea and fill a bottle with it.  Refreshing.

For shorter distance event I just have one bittle of the tea on the bike.

 

bkcomiskey

I need my afternoon caffeine fix everyday. I like the starbucks via packs as they are light and most importantly taste like coffee. Can mix into water bottle pretty easily.

Bwalker

I use NoDoz for long rides and races. I keep it with salt pills in my bento box and pop one prior to the race and as needed (usually every 3 hours). I used to use energy drinks, zipfizz and other sources, but have found the NoDoz pill to be the simplest method. Once I started using it I even re-edited my Infinit to remove the caffeine so my lone source is the pill. I have a training partner that also gets GI issues but has found that by taking the NoDoz with some calories, he eliminates the issues. Not sure why that works for him, but it does.

As stated by several responses, but still warrants a restatement, DO NOT TRIAL IT DURING A RACE! Experiment during RRs and long rides to guage tolerance.

Coach Rich

On training rides I'm all about heavy coffeenation before the ride and a quick stop at a Starbucks for a triple or quad espresso. I've had some great early afternoon training sessions after a light lunch and chai tea. It's this five spice tea that I found when I was in Jordan in '98 and we found something similar at a farmer's market in LA.

During races I've done Vivarin, works for me.

Good idea on via stuff. I bet I could just mix that right in with a sportsdrink...

zipburn

Any one try dropping a caffeine pill into your race fuel?

ri133ck

What about these 5 Hour Energy shots, anyone tried them?

Paul Hough

I use First Endurance Pre-Race...a scoop in a bottle of gatorade that I drink on the way to the race. About 30 mins before the race I switch to water and take 1 Gel with caffeine.

JeremyBehler

@Richard - I've never used 5 Hour Energy for a race, but did notice quite a few people popping them before races at American Triple T this weekend.