Sweat rate is a critical piece of information for athletes, and it is actually fairly easy to figure out. But this relatively simple data point can have a major impact on your performance. Studies have shown as little as a 0.5% loss of body water can cause increased strain on the heart, and as little as 2-3% of total body weight can cause declines in performance.
A couple weekends ago I raced in the Steelhead 70.3 (Half Ironman) in Benton Harbor, Michigan. This was my 2nd time racing at Steelhead but the last time I raced here was back in 2010 where I set my 70.3 PR with a time of 4:16:06. This is my 3rd year racing a professional triathlete and I have dabbled in a few 70.3's over the last couple of years including Chattanooga (2016 and 2018) and Austin (2016 - canceled swim) and just hadn't put together a good half Ironman race in a long time.
I ran the Chicago Marathon in 2014 as my 2nd marathon and had ran 2:52:45 in what would be considered ideal marathon conditions, but I suffered some serious leg cramps in the final 6 miles that likely cost me several minutes. I was not using INFINIT at this time. Going into the 2017 race, I was excited to be using INFINIT knowing my nutrition was dialed in for me with the hopes that I would not experience the same cramping issues that had slowed me down in 2014.
Caffeine is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world with millions (probably billions) of people around the world drinking coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, and taking various caffeine containing supplements on a daily basis. Why do we love caffeine so much? Whether its the morning cup of Joe or the afternoon energy drink to get over the 3:00 slump, we are obsessed (or should I say addicted) to caffeine! It gets us going, keeps us awake, makes us feel good, and helps us swim/bike/run/paddle/lift/climb faster, further, and heavier than without it!
When it comes to protein, most people think about weight training, big muscles and "bulking-up". Do endurance athletes need protein DURING training and racing? The answer is maybe... Let's take a closer look at the ins and outs of protein for endurance athletes during training and racing.
