Ultra training for beginners

170 watchers

DavidAP Jul 2018 4:55pm, 8 Jul 2018 555 posts	0 DavidAP Agree DT. Outside of running Ultra's I never touch full strength coke (always have the diet version) but for Ultra running full strength coke is awesome.
Bintmcskint Jul 2018 5:16pm, 8 Jul 2018 40,552 posts	0 Bintmcskint Yep, I have one bottle of water and the other with either SiS electrolyte or Tailwind (depending on where I am in the race - I tend to save the Tailwind for when I start to find real food harder to stomach and need the calories) And coke at aid stations
Velociraptor Jul 2018 5:29pm, 8 Jul 2018 38,573 posts	0 Velociraptor My ultra experience is limited, but I've always preferred to keep my fluid and calories separate. Fortunately, I've never got to the point of being unable to eat. I have red Coke on long bike rides sometimes, but even then I prefer to have calorie-free fluids and eat food even though I know it would make practical and economic sense to have red Coke.
NDWDave Jul 2018 5:36pm, 8 Jul 2018 7,213 posts	0 NDWDave I estimated that during my 2016 race season, I drank 4 gallons of coke.
jacdaw Jul 2018 5:43pm, 8 Jul 2018 2,010 posts	0 jacdaw I'm concerned that when I have plain water, sometimes I get gluggy, and assume my stomach isn't emptying fast enough. But if I have high carb drink, I seem to get a similar effect. I haven't seen any convincing evidence suggesting electrolyte drinks without carbs are useful, despite having had a fondness for nuuns in the past. I can't resist proper coke during an ultra, especially cold and fizzy. Full sugar. And not own brand. I think I've rejected tailwind. I might look at mountain fuel, shame there are so few details on the web site.
Derby Tup Jul 2018 5:47pm, 8 Jul 2018 26,286 posts	0 Derby Tup My anecdotal evidence is I don’t get cramp when I take Nuuns
zp Jul 2018 5:57pm, 8 Jul 2018 374 posts	0 zp I’ve given up on Mountain Fuel, found it far too sickly - felt nauseous very quickly on my last ultra. Switched to water and aid station Coke for the next 24 hours and did fine. Solid calories were just salty snacks and a couple of bananas. Guess it’s very individual, I find Tailwind slightly better than MF. Do like electrolyte tablets for the heat too.
DavidAP Jul 2018 6:01pm, 8 Jul 2018 558 posts	0 DavidAP Yep. I'm also anecdotally suggesting that if I fail to take on electrolytes I get cramp, take electrolytes, no cramp. It can't be placebo effect as when I forget or think I don't need electrolytes it all goes pear shaped.
jacdaw Jul 2018 6:02pm, 8 Jul 2018 2,011 posts	0 jacdaw That's why I started drinking nuuns, DT, but was never quite convinced it helped.
DavidAP Jul 2018 6:05pm, 8 Jul 2018 560 posts	0 DavidAP I was an idiot and couldn't work out why I was getting cramp when I thought I was taking electrolytes. Foolishly I'd picked up the carb only version of powder, when I switched to carb+electrolyte the cramp went away. Doh!