What do race triathletes eat?

During Olympic distance and sprint distance triathlon racing, athletes should aim to consume between 30-60g of carbohydrate each hour. This can be achieved through a combination of sports drinks, carbohydrate gels and through solid forms of carbohydrate e.g. Sports bars or muesli bars.
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What do triathletes eat during a race?

Sip a light electrolyte drink every 5-7 mins. Your target is approximately 16 ounces of fluid (one big bottle) every hour! Every 20 - 30 mins eat a 70-90 calorie snack. Small snacks like dried fruits, energy bars or energy gels will be both nutritious and easy to carry!
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What do elite triathletes eat?

Here are six “racing weight staples” representing each of the half-dozen high-quality food types.
  • Tomatoes (Vegetable*) ...
  • Bananas (Fruit) ...
  • Peanut butter (Nuts and seeds**) ...
  • Turkey (Lean meat) ...
  • Whole wheat (Whole grain) ...
  • Yogurt (Dairy) ...
  • Pre-workout. ...
  • Workout 1.
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What do triathletes eat in a day?

Aim to get your carbohydrates from natural sources rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your body. Fruit, whole grains, beans and vegetables have a better nutritional spectrum than processed white pasta, rice or relying on mass-produced convenience energy foods.
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What do triathletes eat after a race?

Meals will generally include good quality protein such as chicken, fish or lean beef, some carbs from rice, pasta or potato and plenty of salad and veg – chicken fajitas with peppers, guacamole and dirty rice (cooked with meat and spices) are a favourite.
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What Do Pro Triathletes Eat On Race Day? | Ironman Fuelling Plans



What foods should be avoided before a triathlon?

Also steer clear of high fiber foods, particularly on the morning of the race. High-fiber foods do not contain the carbohydrates that your body needs for the race. In addition, high fiber foods will increase the frequency of bowel movements, as well as make you feel bloated (source).
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What do Ironman athletes eat?

Most of the vitamins and nutrients you need for optimal performance can be achieved through your daily intake, so a good Ironman training diet should be well-balanced and include fruit, veg, slow-release carbs and lean protein at least 80% of the time.
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Do triathletes have good bodies?

Triathletes are legendary for having some of the best physiques in the fitness world. That is because cross-training shapes the body in complementary ways: running develops long, lean muscles; cycling builds strength and tones your lower body; and swimming increases your flexibility and sculpts your upper body.
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How much should triathletes eat?

A general rule of thumb is that you should aim to consume 16-30 calories per pound of lean body weight—men and endurance athletes generally require the upper end of that scale. Conversely, some triathletes may eat too much, especially after heavy workouts.
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Is pizza good before a triathlon?

Fatty foods

High-fat foods like cheese, pizza, burgers, and fried food are undeniably hard for your body to digest, and no one wants to nurse a food baby when they run, even if the fatty food was ingested more than 12 hours before a race.
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Do triathletes eat a lot?

Alyssa Godesky, a professional triathlete who specializes in the Ironman distance, eats two breakfasts every day, then lunch, snacks, dinner, and sometimes a dessert.
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How do you fuel a triathlon?

Once you start fueling, do so once per hour with 75-150 calories. Electrolytes: Electrolytes with calories are fine here, too. Choose natural sports drinks (Skratch Labs), or replenish with tablets such as SaltStick, e21 or Hammer Endurolytes. Shoot for 600-800 mg of sodium per hour during an ultra-distance event.
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What should you eat on a triathlon bike?

It's often easier to eat on the bike so it's a good time to refuel with solid foods, such as sandwiches, flapjacks and energy bars that you can store on the bike thanks to specially designed zip-up food bags that attach to the bike frame.
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How do you get lean in a triathlon?

Within a quick start, your diet and training should be different than they are within the race-focused training cycle in four key ways.
  1. Moderate caloric deficit. Aim to consume 300–500 fewer calories per day than your body burns. ...
  2. Higher protein intake. ...
  3. Gym work. ...
  4. Power intervals.
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How do triathletes eat?

During Olympic distance and sprint distance triathlon racing, athletes should aim to consume between 30-60g of carbohydrate each hour. This can be achieved through a combination of sports drinks, carbohydrate gels and through solid forms of carbohydrate e.g. Sports bars or muesli bars.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on triathlon.org.au


What do you drink during a triathlon?

Drink a stronger electrolyte drink (like PH 1500) with 500ml/16oz of water the evening before the race. Drink another strong electrolyte drink (like PH 1500) with 500ml/16oz of water a few hours before the swim start.
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How many calories do triathletes eat a day?

An average 160-pound triathlete needs between 3,000 and 4,000 calories per day [source: TNO]. For triathletes, eating too little doesn't just mean losing weight; it means a poor finish. If they don't eat enough, it affects performance. A car can't drive without fuel.
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Why are triathletes so skinny?

This is not too surprising when you consider that gravity affects running more than it affects swimming and cycling, which is why elite runners are typically smaller than elite swimmers and cyclists. In a nutshell, this study demonstrated that it pays to be lean and light in triathlon.
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What is the ideal weight for a triathlete?

Competitive male triathletes are generally about 2.1 to 2.3 pounds per inch. High-performance women triathletes are usually in the range of 1.8 to 2.0. Men who exceed 2.5 pounds per inch and women above 2.3 are best advised to find flat race courses if the goal is to be competitive.
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What should I eat the week of an Ironman?

Complex carbohydrates, like whole-grain breads, pasta, tortillas, and quinoa will help you build up your glycogen stores throughout the week. Finally, heart-healthy fats like avocados, olive oil, and nuts are perfect for salad additions or snacks.
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What should I eat the morning of a race?

Typical pre-race meal foods include white bread and honey, eggs, oatmeal or low-fiber cereals, bananas, yogurt, and juice. Remember to drink if you feel thirsty or even a little bit more than usual. If the day is hot, add a little salt to your meal.
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What do cyclist drink while riding?

Bring a water bottle or an electrolyte-rich drink along for the ride. While on medium-length rides ranging between 1 and 3 hours, cyclists should focus on carb replacement. Instead of drinking water during the ride, grab a few bottles of a carb-rich sports drink like 1st Endurance's EFS Electrolyte Drink.
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What does an Ironman do to your body?

Among the greatest physiological challenges encountered in an Ironman are core body temperature regulation, dehydration, energy depletion, muscle damage, nutrient absorption, and brain fatigue.
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What should I eat and drink during an Ironman?

As a general rule of thumb, endurance athletes should aim to eat 60-90 grams of carbohydrate per hour during IRONMAN events, with athletes typically able to consume more calories and fluids during the bike leg and fewer calories during the run portion of the event.
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