Friday, August 10, 2012

Ironman Mont-Tremblant Nutrition and Predicted Times

A much needed vacation with an Ironman thrown in...
The above picture is Mont-Tremblant, where we will be staying for 7 glorious nights and racing on Sunday the 19th. This is the inaugural year for Ironman Mont-Tremblant, which is located about 90 minutes North of Montreal and is one of the premier Ski Resorts in North America.

I get asked quite often about nutrition for Ironman and racing in general. If you have been a follower of this blog you know that I have been a guinea pig for just about every darn nutritional product in the market. Some work, some do not. Over the years I have found that First Endurance products work the best due to the higher amounts of both calories and electrolytes available in the Liquid Shots and EFS Drink

Notice I didn't say they, "works the best FOR ME"? First Endurance products are made specifically for Endurance Athletes and are tailored to our nutritional needs. Other products have been designed to provide calories or electrolytes and then as the endurance athlete segment of the market has grown so has the marketing efforts of these other products. Yes, I am looking at you Hammer and GU Energy!

And when I use the term "Best" it does not mean "awesome" or "epic" or even "#awesomeblossom". It means that it keeps you from bonking on raceday and is both field tested and clinically proven to get you across the finish line. 

**Stepping down from soapbox**

Okay here is the nutrition breakdown:

Breakfast: Two bagels with nutella, 2 cups of black coffe, and a 24 ounce bottle of Grape EFS Drink (200calories). This will happen around 430am.

PreRace: Some water and a swig of Liquid Shots (100cals). Also, 3 PreRace Caps - this is a kick to the ass caffeine boost.

Swim: A bunch of lake water due to poor swim mechanics (calories vary depending on number of minnows ingested).

Bike: This is the leg of the race that is most important for nutrition. Under-nourishment will lead to a bonk and a death march of a marathon. Over-nourishment will lead to a bloated belly and a death march of a marathon. Got to get this part right folks!

I will be carrying only two-24oz bottles, one in a torpedo mount and the other on the downtube. To start the downtube bottle will have 300cals of EFS Drink and the torpedo will have 200cals of EFS Drink. I will drink the torpedo bottle of EFS Drink within the first 10mins on the bike. This will help replenish the calories lost during the swim. After that bottle is gone it will be tossed and water will be grabbed at the bottle hand-ups. 

This is my eating plan over the course of the bike ride:

Every :20mins on each hour - Big Swig of EFS Drink from Downtube bottle - Total 300 cals.
Every :40mins on each hour - Big Swig of Mocha Liquid Shots - 2 flasks (400cals ea) @ 800cals.
Every :60mins on each hour - Entire Honey Stinger Waffle - 5 Waffles (160cals ea) @ 800cals.

* My Garmin 310 is set to beep every 20mins to remind me to eat.
** Water is used to wash down the above food - which will be carried on the torpedo mount.

Additional Calories, if needed (will be based on heat/temp and level of exertion used climbing) - PowerBar Perform (on course drink) @ 200cals per bottle. Will carry on down tube once EFS Drink is gone. 

If you add up all the calories on the bike my base calories will be 1900 or 316/hr. When adding in the Perform and initial EFS Drink the total is 2500cals or 416/hr.  During training I have needed over 400cals per hour but the majority of my training has been on 100* days and my sweat rate will be much less in the 50-60* day in Quebec. This means I am expecting to be closer to the 316 number than the 416 number, but am still prepared if more is needed (ie: if it is freezing and I am shivering on the bike - this burns some cals).

Run: I will live off the course for the run. No water belts or hand helds. At each station I will take a swig of Perform and grab a Honey Stinger (on course gel) every half our or so. Once I hit the wall around mile 17-18 I will look for the elixir of life known as flat coca-cola and chase it with the oh-so-glorious chicken broth. With as much heat training as I have been doing my body is not going to know how to react to the cooler weather so decisions will have to be made on course, which is awesome since a buffet is offered ever 1600 or so meters during an Ironman marathon.

Time Goals 

Swim: My swim training has been rather erratic over the course of my 24-week plan. Between the flu, lightening storms shutting down the pool, work, the joy of sleeping past 4am, heat exhaustion, and my overall general apathy towards swimming - I'd rate my swim fitness as average. But it is a wetsuit swim ...

Predicted time - 1:15 to 1:20 (If I can hang on Kevin's feet for the first 1000m then sub-1:10).

T1 - 5:00 (This is a guess, I have no idea how long a run it is from the water to the tent?)

Bike: This course is a two-loop monster. I am expecting to blow up around mile 80 or so as we hit the big climbs for the second time. Here is the profile:

Yes, you're reading it right, it says 12%
The good news is I have been riding a TON of hills on my Computrainer, at Cold Springs, and even in Austin. But I have never been on a course like this before. I hope the fitness I have built holds up but the truth of the matter is I just do not know? My Tri Bike is equipped with a 50/34 Compact Crank and an 11-28 Cassette that will help save the legs as I can spin up the hills. The real time gains are going to be made on the downhills and I hope I have the guts to stay aero and bomb these suckers. Ever since my crash last February I have been a little gun shy bombing hills.

Predicted Time - 5:45 to 6:00

T2 - 5:00

Run: The course is a 2-loop out and back that appears to take you past some beautiful scenery with tons of cheering spectators. I ran a 3:06 stand-alone marathon a mere 5 months ago. The last 3 months have been spent running in the oppressive Houston humidity and because of this I have been having trouble gauging my run fitness as they all feel extremely labored. I've done some shorter runs indoors on the treadmill and have felt extremely strong but then the next run is outside and it feels like I am running with a hippo sitting on my chest. 

Best guess - really beats the shit out of me??? The answer probably depends on how badly I crush myself on the bike.

Predicted Time - 4:00 

Overall Time - 11:30-11:45


Stalking Information:

Ironmanlive.com (click Ironman Mont-Tremblant link)

My Individual Tracking Link

Jeffrey Irvin - #507

Twitter: @JeffIrvin


Thanks for Reading,

Jeff








28 comments:

  1. I believe the correct adjective for First Endurance is "Totes Amazeballs" (isn't that what the kids are saying these days)

    Stay off my feet or you might end up with a black eye. ;)

    My guess for you: 11:00-11:30.

    Remember how painful Woodlands was? That pain prepped you for this marathon. Sure, it will be slower, but you are still going to be knocking out 8-8:30's and be able to just deal with the pain.

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    Replies
    1. You will be unable to kick since I will be holding your left leg and Jon will be on your right - hope you have been swimming with paddles to get a strong upper body!

      I remember how difficult the Woodlands was and that is exactly why I will not be running on the edge like that again. That shit hurt. Pissing blood and blurred vision is not a good time!

      Yeah, that is all BS above. I am going to run like hell next Sunday. I told Dave today none off that "pacing myself" shit I pulled at IMTX. I am either going to drop a badass marathon time or blow the hell up and finish in 6hrs crawling. No in between.

      Delete
  2. Thanks for not trashing my Infinit, but even they don't get the electrolytes right. I even talked to one of them on the phone once and said the 600mg max (per hour) that they put in isnt enough. I am putting 2 saltstick broken open in each bottle to get my hourly up to 800mg.

    I plan on getting my water intake in the swim also, with the added bonus of some calories I hope.... not sure what form, though..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really like Infint. It just makes me shit - which is not good midway through the bike. I wish EFS Drink had the calories of Infinit. If we could mix them together and get the calories of Infinit and the electrolytes of EFS Drink we would have the perfect mix.

      Delete
  3. Funny you mention water handhelds and belts for the run b/c after watching Kona last night I was thinking of getting the belt tomcarrynthe water and training the next three months with one. I got so tired of carrying that handheld that I gave it to Karen after the third time seeing her and not having to carry it anymore was glorious.

    Ifnimgomyourmroutemimwill have to start training with the perform and more expense. Maybe I will just test out the belt. IMAZ is a 3 looper again some can just toss my bottle holder to her again.

    I think your time will be better than you expect b/c of the heat training. On the bike and on the run it will feel like you are in heaven. On Thursday it was below 80* when I ran and I put down some decent times without trying.

    Have a safe trip up to Canada and al always Race Hard, Race Fast, Race Safe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dude - it is time to dump the blackberry and jump into the world of the iphone. It is a place where people can type legibly on blogs - this world does not exist in blackberry land!! (-:

      I hope faster is possible but I just have not been able to gauge my fitness at all in this heat. You know what I mean after last weekend.

      Annie will text you and let you know how it is going. I got an unlimited text plan for Canada through Sprint - this was the most exciting news of my week so far.

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. I forgot the post race nutrition:

      Sunday night - Poutine
      Monday morning - Poutine
      Monday Lunch - Poutine
      Monday Dinner - Poutine
      Tuesday - repeat monday

      Delete
    2. When i quickly skimmed this comment, i thought he said puntang. Cant stop laughing.

      Delete
  5. Good Luck. I laughed at some of the earlier comments-too funny!
    The lower temps will help you in the run

    I don't know what time the sun sets but it might be chilly if you end up with a 6 hour marathon time-in case of the death march you might want to pack a sweater or head lamp in special needs.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The most important meal you left out - the celebration! That poutine plan above is sufficient for an appetizer.

    With respect to the race: Release your inner bad ass. Forget about the carrot, time to hit 'em with the stick. :)

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  7. I hope that Annie will text me too throughout the day. Please???

    I love that you are predicting blowing up at mile 80 of the bike. Um... me thinks that isn't gonna happen. And you'll be so effing happy that it's not a bajillion degrees that I bet you bust out some crazy ass marathon.

    I'm thinking you'll be close to 11. :)

    Kick ass dude!

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  8. Good luck! Great post.

    Drew
    http://www.fullcontacttriathlete.blogspot.com

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  9. Solid nutrition plan. Thanks, I now plan to use a scaled down version of it for my first HIM (not until next year). I like the idea of hitting your first 200 cals within 10 minutes to replenish the swim and replacing your torpedo mount with H20.

    Hey, good luck with your race. Looking forward to your race report... as always!

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  10. Good luck! Can't wait to hear all about it. I'm totally guessing on my run nutrition as well. I'm also thinking about just eating something in T1 because I get so hungry from swimming.

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  11. Jeff, you're going to do great! Even if the race sucks, you're going to have a blast with Jon and Kevin and everyone else up there. Have fun, buddy!

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  12. Good Luck at IRONMAN !!!
    enjoy the glorious trip it sounds fantastic
    especially after your weather

    will be a trackin you guys
    hit those goals!

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  13. I am so pathetically behind in reading blogs this summer that I didn't even realize Mt. T. was next weekend already! Wow. I'm really psyched for you! So I think an easy sub 1:10 IF you take in extra minnows.

    Best of luck to you--have a ball and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings once the hard work is done.

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  14. Enjoy your reward for all your hard work

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  15. Hello Jeff,
    Just a quick message to ask if you would be interested in a 'mutual' following on twitter. I am currently following you now and am awaiting for your follow-back. (#FYI I do RT's for all #Triathletes #Cyclists #UltraRunners & #Marathoners who follow me on Twitter and have something important they want mentioned...)

    All the very best to you and yours for the rest of 2012 and beyond Jeff. Look forward to hearing from you...

    Darin
    twitter.com/DarinArmstrong
    #TeamLIVESTRONG

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello & good luck! Came across your blog & enjoyed reading it. Hope everything goes your way for IM. I'd like to know how your nutrition plan works out. cheers & happy trails, Robyn.

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  17. Enjoy the time up there and have a good race!

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  18. So how was the race, did you manage to stay aero on the downhills?!

    If you fancy writing a race report you could enter our competition to win a Blueseventy wetsuit or Endurance Shield sunblock - you can find out more here: http://www.intelligent-triathlon-training.com/triathlon-events.html

    P.S Bagels and nutella for breakfast = :-)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I heard through Bob, that you are planning on getting the Biggest Loser?

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete