The mystery of the aid station – who hasn't been caught yet?
The big day has arrived, and we've prepared for every eventuality. The Athlete's Guide is under our pillows, and we've memorized and visualized the swim, bike, and run routes. We've also checked out the aid stations and are confident in the offerings during the race. Nothing will go wrong.
Then, on the bike, in the second half of the race, the first problems arise. You reach for an ISO bottle. That probably contains energy, too. But somehow you can't shake the uneasy feeling that it's going to be a tough day. Hopefully, some cola will help settle your stomach.
Or you're on a run and don't have your own food with you, relying on the products offered along the route. You may have trained with the gels and other supplements offered, but liquid ISO is somehow better. Then the bloated stomach sets in. From now on, things get tough.
We would like to point out that the products offered can vary greatly between different races, formats and depending on the organizer.
Not all ISOs are created equal. Some products contain only a blend of different minerals and no carbohydrates. Other products are a mix of both. These are important factors when choosing the right nutrition during a race. This is also the reason why more and more athletes are carrying their own nutrition.
If I reach for an ISO drink at a race organized by a major event, it doesn't contain any carbohydrates. So, while I'm getting minerals (not all of them are ideal during exercise), I'm not getting any energy. My performance will drop sooner or later. I definitely need to combine an ISO drink with a gel or something similar.
Please keep this in mind before your race, carefully study the ingredients of the products offered at the aid stations, and then put together your nutrition strategy. Always have a plan B ready. This will give you peace of mind.
RECOMMENDATION: Bring your own food along as much as possible. Only use the products provided if you really know what they contain and combine them carefully.
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.