sports drinks & stomach aches - Triathlon Week

09-08-2004, 04:23 PM

Does anyone else train and run with just plain water? I've tried
several sports drinks full-strength and diluted. I do OK on a long bike
ride with half-Gatorade-half-water but get bad stomach aches sometimes
when I run, and always bad ones during races.

I do much better with just plain water. If I'm using gels and bars is
there really any need for sports drinks? I always felt they were more
advertising than substance... like they're marketed to make obese couch
potatoes feel thin and sporty.

Eric (old, broken, slow... but still goin' at it)

09-08-2004, 05:43 PM

Eric <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].edu> wrote:

> Does anyone else train and run with just plain water? I've tried
> several sports drinks full-strength and diluted. I do OK on a long bike
> ride with half-Gatorade-half-water but get bad stomach aches sometimes
> when I run, and always bad ones during races.
>
> I do much better with just plain water. If I'm using gels and bars is
> there really any need for sports drinks? I always felt they were more
> advertising than substance... like they're marketed to make obese couch
> potatoes feel thin and sporty.

You might try a maltodextrin based drink such as Cytomax. I seem to do
better on a maltodextrin drink for a consistent energy burn and avoid the
stomach aches. Gatorade is fructose, sucrose, cheap sugar, which can upset
your gut. Plain water is OK for a short workout, but you will have trouble
absorbing it in longer runs. The sports drinks have the proper
concentration of carbs (usually around 6%) to maximize absorbtion

Phil M.

--
"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make
them all yourself." *Martin Vanbee

09-09-2004, 05:44 AM

I have had the same issues. I finally cut out all of the simple sugars and I
have yet to have another issue. I use HammerGel, Perpetuem and Heed. I will
also throw in some CarbPro into my Perpetuem mix to make a high
concentration and sip it on the bike.
Heed is quite good in my opnion.
Mark

"Phil M." <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:Xns955ED2AAC6E59seilogramp@216.77.188.18...
> Eric <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].edu> wrote:
>
> > Does anyone else train and run with just plain water? I've tried
> > several sports drinks full-strength and diluted. I do OK on a long bike
> > ride with half-Gatorade-half-water but get bad stomach aches sometimes
> > when I run, and always bad ones during races.
> >
> > I do much better with just plain water. If I'm using gels and bars is
> > there really any need for sports drinks? I always felt they were more
> > advertising than substance... like they're marketed to make obese couch
> > potatoes feel thin and sporty.
>
> You might try a maltodextrin based drink such as Cytomax. I seem to do
> better on a maltodextrin drink for a consistent energy burn and avoid the
> stomach aches. Gatorade is fructose, sucrose, cheap sugar, which can upset
> your gut. Plain water is OK for a short workout, but you will have trouble
> absorbing it in longer runs. The sports drinks have the proper
> concentration of carbs (usually around 6%) to maximize absorbtion
>
> Phil M.
>
> --
> "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make
> them all yourself." *Martin Vanbee

09-10-2004, 10:04 PM

Might want to look at your carb consumption rate on the bike portion. You'll
want to balance your intake with your absorption rate. That can easily
affect run symptoms.

"Eric" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].edu> wrote in message
news:PvM%c.16439$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].. .
> Does anyone else train and run with just plain water? I've tried
> several sports drinks full-strength and diluted. I do OK on a long bike
> ride with half-Gatorade-half-water but get bad stomach aches sometimes
> when I run, and always bad ones during races.
>
> I do much better with just plain water. If I'm using gels and bars is
> there really any need for sports drinks? I always felt they were more
> advertising than substance... like they're marketed to make obese couch
> potatoes feel thin and sporty.
>
> Eric (old, broken, slow... but still goin' at it)
>

09-11-2004, 05:46 AM

In article <ZIv0d.124960$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
"Bob Schroedter" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> Might want to look at your carb consumption rate on the bike portion. You'll
> want to balance your intake with your absorption rate. That can easily
> affect run symptoms.

And runs symptoms.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night,
and party every day.
Then it was every other day. . . ."
-Homer J. Simpson

09-13-2004, 06:29 AM

> You might try a maltodextrin based drink such as Cytomax.
> Phil M.

I don't like to try anything new in a race, but I gambled and was very
happy with the Cytomax... felt great.
I tried it on a few short runs prior to the race and went with a dilute
mixture. I really appreciate the tip. I know my one-time testing isn't
too valid, but no stomach aches and felt a lot better.
Eric

09-13-2004, 09:50 AM

Eric <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].edu> wrote:

>> You might try a maltodextrin based drink such as Cytomax.
>> Phil M.
>
> I don't like to try anything new in a race, but I gambled and was very
> happy with the Cytomax... felt great.
> I tried it on a few short runs prior to the race and went with a dilute
> mixture. I really appreciate the tip. I know my one-time testing isn't
> too valid, but no stomach aches and felt a lot better.
> Eric
>

I'm glad it worked for you. You definately need to experiment on longer
workouts. I'm training for a marathon in which their drink will be
Gatorade. So unfortunately I have to train with it just so I can get used
to that stuff. Bleh!

Phil M.

--
"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make
them all yourself." *Martin Vanbee

09-30-2004, 11:34 AM

You may want to look at eFuel and eGel. They have about the lowest
simple sugar rate of anything and are not near as sweet as Cytomax.
The eFuel is liquid so you can carry the liquid and mix with water. I
can carry almost 10 bottles worth. Might be worth a try. Try
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]