I'm completing my first 1/2 iron and am unsure how to handle my nutrition during the event. I usually start out with something solid after the swim (i.e. peanutbutter & jelly sandwich) then take a gel about every 45 to 60 minutes. I also drink G2, until I run out then whatever they have on the course plus water.

Having started the zone, which I'm liking....how do I handle nutrition during the event. I'm a "slow, fat triathlete" so I'm not out to win but to finish....this will tell you how slow I am, the event is in Clermont, Florida (all hills) and I expect it to take me around 8.5 hours. I don't run anymore, arthritic knees, so I racewalk.

Any thoughts out there?

Laura

Hi Laura,

Search for the threads here about marathon running and use those suggestions. Look for Martha's info, lots of good info and experience there. I'll be glad to help if you have qns. There are 3 marathon runners/zoners in my inmmediate family. The PB and J sandwich and gels aren't usually going to work for a person who's the Zone. Someone I was helping last year, a fairly new zoner who was a runner, had a half marathon coming up. He trained totally in the Zone. For the race, he decide to begin it in the Zone and then use gels about half way through. (Just to give you an idea, for only a 13 mile run, he'd probably have been fine if he ate a good solid Zone breakfast prior, such as egg whites, steel cut oats and olive oil, and only drank water during the race.) He bonked in a bad way, mid-race soon after eating the first gel during the race. He was not new to running, but had figured he always used to use gels, so he'd use them for the race. It's usually better not to change anything too much (nutritionally) in the weeks just prior to the race. If you've been training in the Zone you should have a pretty good idea of how to support yourself nutritionally during the actual race, just from the way you've been handling training, unless you haven't gotten into the long training runs/swims, rides yet.

Keep us updated!

Thanks for the suggestion. I've just started the zone. My event is in 1 1/2 months, so training now in the zone is the right way to go.

It's interesting, I started training for triathlons in May 2007. I had previous lost 75 pounds, but once I started training, I have gained 30. It was so frustrating. I know now why I gained it, because of the imbalance of p/c/f. Today's a new day@!

Hi Laura!

I am also an aspiring triathlete and your question is a really good one. Many of the Zone athletes eat within the guidelines of the Zone Diet during training but switch to all sorts of various approaches to nutrition / fueling during the race itself. I'll forward your note to a couple of our Zone triathletes to see if I can get a point of view on this, and I would also suggest going to this site:

www.beginnertriathlete.com

for additional information for newbies like us.

Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve!

A newbie triathlete, that's cool!

I'd also be interested to hear about different ways Zone athletes handle the actual race. My husband and daughters might pick up some tips. They prefer only to drink water during the event, not eating during, but that could be because they're marathoners and not triathletes.

Good luck!

Here's the senario at a ride yesterday in Claremont called Assualt on Sugar Loaf...58 miles of grueling hills. It was supported so there was 4 stops. The "menu" was cookies, animal crackers, donuts, bannanas, gatoraide and water. It was a carbo junkie paradise. ~ Laura

Sounds very typical. What did you do nutritionally for the ride?

Hi,
I thought I would share my experiences with running in the zone. I started running 3 years ago.

I always start with egg white w/ olive oil and steel cut oats w/ peanut butter breakfast that had been recommended on this site years ago (3 blocks)

For short races - 10 milers and under - I just use water.

For half marathons, I have done just water and I have used 1/4 zone bar between mile 6 and 7 (usually 50 min into race or so). My times were better with this added fuel/nutrition.

I ran my first marathon last year and finished 3:56 (and I am over 40/ female) with no bonking, or burn out - I just had lactic acid build up in legs last 2 mile - training issue not fuel issue. During the marathon, I fueled with 1/4 zone bar ~ every 6 miles (total of 1 bar). I cut my bar into 1/4 pieces and wrapped in a bit of plastic wrap so they fit in pocket. I tested this out during my long runs to make sure I could digest this easily. I found it best to eat bar right before water stop so I could wash it down if necessary. I am happy that the new zone bars are not covered with chocolate - helps with the melting problems in summer. I am using the apple cinnamon one for my training right now. I like the chewier chocolate one in fall/winter - takes longer to eat and distracts from so of those boring miles. I would love to hear more on how others are fuelling their runs.
Suzanne

The day was hot so I needed to keep electrolytes in me, so I drank G2 for the 1st 20 miles, which is only 25 calories but had to switch to the gatoraide with water on the rest of the route. From the "buffet", the animal crackers were the safest, so I ate some of those, ate a bannana 3/4 of the distance along with a stick of cheese I had with me. After the ride, they served hotdogs with a white bun, chips, pop or water. I was starving by then for solid food, so I ate. I'm on that bike for 4 plus hours expending ??? calories...how to replace for me is still a mystery.

hello, a long time I haven't posted !
I am Martha of Belgium ! Still staying in the Zone !
So my experience is that 4 hours before the marathon I eat a 8 egg whites omelette with 60 gr oats (dry) cooked and olive oil. It is the best breakfast ! I also use this before a 10 km race : 2 block (4 egg white with 30 gr oats, before half marathon : 6 egg white and 45 gr oats.

My best time with marathon is 3:21' in Firenze Italy with 1/2 zone bar every 11 km and only water because it was too late with my personal drinks.

I ran my last 10 miles in Holland within 1:13'47'' !

During last marathon (May 2008), because of the very hot day, I did'nt eat 1/2 zone bar, but only 1/4 once or twice, and than nothing and had my personal drink - water mixed with little electrolyte.

My next marathon is within 14 days. I will take 1/2 zone bar or less if I wouldn't need it and also personal drink, the first drinks water with a very very little electrolyte powder, and the latest drinks more powder, if needed. If not needed, I will drink only water...

Hope it help you !

Thank to Sue because every time I come on the forum, she is always there for everyone.

Excuse me for my english writing !

Hi Martha!

It's great to hear from you! Congrats on you successes! Your doing a fantastic job! I've been wondering how your running has progressed. Those last 10 miles in Holland! Wow, that's just over 7 min miles for the last 10!

Thanks for sharing your accomplishments and your tips with us here!

My best to you!

Hi Sue,
Here are my latest results : in October 2008 : I run my best marathon in 3:20:57 with the Zone. Always my zone breakfast with 8 eggwhites and oatmeal and olive oil ! So that, I have guaranteed entry for New-York marathon 2009 ! They confirmed my entry and will come in USA in November ! So happy !
Since October, I was zoning very approximative, but now, I am preparing one marathon here in Belgium on April 26th and I get now on track !
I always use the same meal before the race. I ran last week my best 1/2 marathon : 1:35:55.
I know that zone diet is the best for performance.
Hope that will help someone.
Martha

Hi Martha!

Oh wow! Congrats! 3:20 and 1:35, great times! I've been to the NYC Marathon. My oldest daughter has run it twice, my younger daughter once, as well as my nephew (twice) and a few other people I know. Who knows, I might even be there in the crowds cheering you on!

It's so good to hear from you!

<div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By Sue on 09/11/2008 12:05 PM

Search for the threads here about marathon running and use those suggestions. Look for Martha's info, lots of good info and experience there. I'll be glad to help if you have qns.
</div>

I'm in the same situation as the OP. My half iron is next weekend.

Sue, I searched for threads about marathon nutrition but I was unable to find anything with suggestions for nutrition during the race. All I saw was the Barry Sears suggestion for breakfast and then 1/4 zone bars during the race. Can you post links to any other info?

I did a marathon three months ago and had a couple of energy gels and I was ok so I won't panic if this is my only option.

Hi Dennis!

You'll find some more if you do a search for everything posted by ADELA00 (that's Martha from this thread).

Hi Dennis!

You'll find some more if you do a search for everything posted by ADELA00 (that's Martha from this thread).

Congrats, Martha!

Dennis, I don't know if this helps, but the following is an article on marathon runner Dean Karnazes. It states what he does. Even if it doesn't help, it's still a good read.

http://www.zonediet.com/tabid/130/i...-Zone.aspx

Martha and Dennis, good luck in your upcoming events!

Dennis if you're doing a half iron man which I'm assuming is this weekend based on your last post, the last thing you want to do is change your diet right before the race.

You need to keep the same fueling strategy you've been using for your training.

Read thins link... http://www.hammernutrition.com/za/H...%20Library

I don't know too much about the Zone, I'm just starting with that but I will unequivocally recommend you do not change your race fueling from what you've been doing during training leading up to the event.

Thank you Sue and Karen for congrats.
I ordered Dean karnazes book, the first one, the second is not yet available in Belgium. I will try to order in USA or GB.
So, Dennis, I always use zone meals with marathon workout. I tried other diet for loosing weight, but always, the zone is the best for performance ! Here, the Zone is not so easy, in your country, you can easily order omegarx zone bars, fish oil, polyphenols... but here... I tried twice to order and I received my order with so expensive customs cost.
When I fly to Italy (twice at least in the year) I buy zone pasta.
My next marathon is on 26th, and now I have to follow strictly the zone to have all energy available for marathon.
Bye, Bye
Martha

I made it through the race last weekend. On Saturday I had a Crossfit competition that consisted of two workouts and then the half ironman on Sunday. I maintained Zone throughout the weekend and it worked out pretty well.

Chris, I follow Zone most of the time and I did no training for the triathlon so I didn't switch anything up!

My breakfast was 4C of oatmeal, 4C of egg whites and 16F of macadamia nuts. I actually cooked 5C of oatmeal and eggs but it was way too much food for that early in the morning. My snacks during the triathlon transitions were 2P fat free cottage cheese with 4F macadamia nuts and an orange (2C) I had this during both transitions. I also ate two Zone Perfect fruitified bars during the bike ride but I found them to be too sweet and dry and I ended up eating some oranges during the second half of the run because I couldn't stand the thought of eating another bar at that point.

It wasn't pretty, my legs refused to move during the run (lots of squats the day before) but I finished the race in just over 7 hours. Not the the fastest time, but I was happy to finish.

Hello Dennis, congrats.
For my 2 latest marathon, I found the omegarx bars too sweet and dry, too. So, I didn't eat them and ended without them.

hey guys,

glad i found this post - i was hoping to get some tips to use during an international distance triathlon this weekend.
i've only been eating in the zone for about 3 weeks. i did my last international tri using gels and sport drinks at carefully timed intervals. i'm afraid to wait until transitions to eat and rely on only zone-friendly foods.

i have been having reactive hypoglycemia during training, which is why i'm on the zone in the first place. i'm having tests done, but so far all i know is it's not insulin-mediated. the zone has been helping to control it, for sure. but i don't think i can stick to only occasional zone-friendly foods during the race without running a real risk of having a serious drop in blood sugar.

i plan on just doing whatever i did for the last race, hoping the gels don't throw me for a loop after a few weeks of healthy eating.
but for future races, would be nice to be in the zone...
does anyone eat zone bars during the bike? i don't suppose there are any mixtures for drinks that would be more zone-friendly? i just can't imagine eating nuts, etc. during the run...

thanks!!

sabrina , go to the home page of this site and check out the articles on athletes. One article describes the foods that were used by the Zoners in last year's Tour de France. Good luck!

To me, I care more about providing my body with the nutrients it needs during races (whether it's a gel or a shotblok, etc) and not worry about points (when I did WW) or zone blocks. You are burning SO many calories in the event that all of what you consume is burned anyway... thats JMO