Eating during Olympic

You could certainly bring along some gels and I like to drink cytomax while on the bike to replenish carbs and electrolytes. I would like to find something easier to work with than the gels as I end up sticky and you are sort of stuck with the empty package when you suck the nasty substance out.

For me, I consumed about one full Gatorade and a clif-bar during the ride, then a quick chug of heed each mile during the run.

Nutrition is very personal, but that's all I needed for a 2:45ish event. Try to avoid taking in anything for the first mile or two on the bike, and probably not a good ten minutes before hitting the run, that way you can settle into a rhythm without getting digestive issues.

I think that I aimed at 50 minutes into the race and then at 1:50, I split my bar into those two times, but sipped gatorade throughout the ride. During training I used two full bars, but I think race nerves got to me and I wasn't really feeling like eating, so I didn't push it.

I have only done one Olympic and in the exceptional time of 2:50. I drank a bottle of endura on the bike and had one gel. I was pretty wrecked when I got to the finish!

Yeah, swimming makes you hungry, its just the way of things. I wouldn't sweat it when it comes to racing.

I've been noticing I same hunger as I increase my swimming distance. Not something I've experienced with running or biking and I've done both at the same time too. Either way I have my first triathlon as well at the end of the month and based on my training workout I'll stick to clif bars and water/Gatorade mix for the bike. Good to know about the timeframe of when and when not to eat.

I haven't tried it yet but illbe doing my first brick workout later this week but is it vital to eat during the run in an oly if say you've already eaten something like a clif bar?

For the bike I mix 10 tsp of sugar into each water bottle.

For the run I eat an almond snickers bar. I figure if I'm going to eat junk food it might as well be something I enjoy.

I stopped eating cliff bars because they upset my stomach.

Edited by pnwdan 2014-08-05 12:08 AM

It depends on your speed and your metabolism. I usually have one gel on the bike, and another on the run. For anything longer than an Oly-length bike leg, I'll usually have a solid snack (energy bar) on the bike. I've done a few Olys, and even a race with a 12 km run, where I didn't eat anything on the run. Not sure if it had any negative effect. In both cases it was extremely hot/humid and just the thought of gu made me nauseous. I didn't have a very good run in either case--nothing dramatic like hitting the wall or "bonking", just not the pace I was aiming for. I'm not sure if that was due to under fueling, or if both not feeling like eating and the sub-par run were due to struggling with the heat and (in one case) being ill at the time of the race.

Edited by Hot Runner 2014-08-05 5:33 AM

When I was racing... During the Olympic distance races, I remember not eating anything. I would take my electrolytes and calories thru my gas -infinit.
Eating anything ? Honey stingers or gu gummies.

Whatever you do end up using, practice eating on some of your training rides. It sounds silly but getting the food out of your storage, opening the wrapper and eating it while racing is a lot to handle at first. I keep a sleeve of Cliff Bar Gel Shots in my fuel box on my top tube and have them already cut open so I don't have to mess with it. For me anything more than an hour and I like to have some sports drink or gel or something to mix it up instead of just water.

2 -3 gels on the bike and 1 for the run.

I have only done two Oly races, but I find that a water bottle with half-strength Gatorade and extra salt (I have to be wary of my low BP) and a Payday bar consumed on the bike were plenty.

I do 2 gels on the bike and at least one on the run. If you eat a snack on the bike test it out in training. A full bar may be too much, but everyone is different and it depends on how long you will be out on the course. Gu is my favorite, but you have to use it correctly or its thick and hard to get down. I also always use NUUN tablets or G2 in my water bottle, as well. Good luck!

I'm sort of the same. 1 gel pre-race, 1-2 gels on the bike and 0-1 gels on the run (usually the last couple with caffeine). Plus 1 bottle of Nuun on the bike and a swallow of water here or there on the run as I feel like it.

What you consume sort of depends also on how you race and obviously personal preference. I race Olys right up near the red line so I can't get down bars and things that are more solid. I have to stick to gel.

I finish slightly over 2 hours and I don't eat too much during Olys. One gel with a sip of sports drink in T1 and one gel in the last couple of miles of the bike to get ready for the run. I also drink about 20-24 oz of sports drink on the bike and a cup or two of whatever sports drink they serve on race day during the run.

I did an Oly over the weekend (I got first in my AG for the first time) I woofed down a Gu at the start of the bike, mile 13, and 24. Nothing on the run other than a few sips of water. It worked our pretty well for me.