My race nutrition - the evolution to wild!

I think back to when I first started training for triathlons - I started reading everything I could find on the net, and the biggest topic that was talked about was race nutrition.  At the time, I had no real clue how important nutrition was.  I had it in my head that I needed to "carbo load" the night before, eat a "goo packet" before the race, then eat a big meal after the finish.  I followed this concept through my first few seasons.  The only thing that really changed was finding what gel flavor and brand tasted the best.

When I started training for my first ironman in 2009, I decided I needed to really buckle down on my nutrition as a whole.  I worked with a professional nutritionist - she helped me with my daily nutrition, but also had some interesting insight on the food I would consume during my race.  This is when my perspective on race nutrition really changed.  As my training hours increased, I began to see (and feel) the flaws in my current nutrition plan.  It was hidden ingredients in those products - building up over 4...5....6 hours - that was taking a toll on my gut. Eventually we found a combination of products that worked ok.  But really, I wasn't satisfied with that, and had pledged that I would continue my quest with hopes of finding a better solution.

Last year, with the addition of the Trakkers team to my life, also came my introduction to First Endurance. They have the full range of products - sport drink, "gel", bars, recovery drinks...even vitamins.  I was a bit overwhelmed, trying to use the products and finding what I liked.  The sport drinks taste fantastic - not sugary and syrupy like other stuff out there.  If I needed some calories, I would add in the Vanilla Liquid Shot and the drink would taste like one of those dreamsicle popsicles. Most of last season, I used some variation of the EFS sport drink and liquid shot.

I think it was at Rev3 Knoxville when I got to sample a new flavor of Liquid Shot that was under development - Wild Berry.  OMG......I was in love, and I sort of obsessed about when it would be available to purchase.  Finally, when the announcement came out, I orders 3 or 4 big refill containers of it.  At first I was using it as my calorie source - as-is from the bottle.  But then I started playing around with the concentration, mixing it with water. Even diluted, the flavor was great.  I eventually found that it was my answer for everything and was using it exclusively.

I think one of the biggest factors that makes this work for me is that the product is very natural and has no gumming agents.  Back in 2009, I had to eliminate gels from my bike nutrition plan because the effect on my stomach over the course of 112 miles really messed me up.....if you know what I mean.

Supplement Facts Serving Size: Each flask 5oz (130ml)
	Amount Per Serving	%DV
Calories-400 Calories from fat-0
Total Carbohydrate (Complex carbohydrates, Dextrose, Sucrose)	100g	33%
Sugars	50g	**
Calcium (as Calci-K™ calcium complex)	150mg	15%
Magnesium (as Magnachel™ magnesium glycine amino acid chelate)	120mg	30%
Chloride	600mg	*
Sodium	400mg	25%
Potassium	290mg	8%
Amino Acid Blend (L-Glutamine, Leucine, Iso-Leucine, Valine)	1,000mg	*
*Daily Value Not Established **Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Other Ingredients: Purified water, natural flavors, citric acid, sorbic acid and sodium benzoate (to preserve freshness).

Calci-K™ and Magnachel™ are registered trademarks of Albion Laboratories Inc, covered by US Patents 6599544, 6248376, 5516925 
*Natural flavors, sweeteners and colors 
**No Gums

As of right now, the Wild Berry Liquid Shot will be the main component of my nutrition at IMTX.  I'll have concentrated bottles on the bike, then have a few flasks (in a different concentration) ready for the run.  I've already tested it WARM - I've made up my concentrated bottles with hot water to see how it tastes unchilled - like it will be on the back of my bike after hours in the Texas sun.  Amazingly, the taste is still pleasant.  It doesn't go sour like some other products do.

It's settling to feel that my race nutrition for the season is pretty secure - one less thing to worry about.