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Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Upcoming Kansas City spring 2013 races
Monday, April 29, 2013
2013 Kansas City Warrior Dash Obstacle Course Race Recap - 4/27/13
So this past weekend, Warrior Dash came calling to Kansas City.
3ish miles of cross country style running with 15 or so obstacles.
The weather was looking pretty good. 60's on Saturday with some spotty rain, but nothing debilitating.
In 2012, I ran the WD in 28:40 for about 8:30 minute miles. I was hoping to better that time and have a good time in general. I know I'm not going to bust out 6 min/mile to win the thing, but I like to be competitive, finish strong and not injure myself.
Saturday was my day at the 1pm wave.
But, as you may recall, our daughter had to have her tonsils out last week and we had an extended stay in the hospital for post-surgery issues. There were some sleepless nights, no rest and come Saturday, we decided the time spent driving to WD, running and driving home would be better spent focusing on a long run around the house and taking care of the kiddo. I could have transferred to Sunday, but it was the same mantra, "family comes first" and it wasn't right to leave Em with a recovering kiddo and a wild toddler boy. On a side note, Wee Man is 2 and a half and HOLY COW he is into EVERYTHING and does not stop! Wow... I need to bottle that up for my races.
So, Warrior Dash will have to wait for another year.
I'm trying to see if I can get my shirt or anything, or maybe transferred to 2014. I'm not sure if they will be any more cool than WTC when they flat out pissed on me when I missed IM 70.3 Branson when my son was in the NICU. We shall see. I'm counting on nothing, but it would at least be cool to get my t-shirt. I could go crawl around in the mud in the subdivision they are building by my house and have that count, right?
3ish miles of cross country style running with 15 or so obstacles.
The weather was looking pretty good. 60's on Saturday with some spotty rain, but nothing debilitating.
In 2012, I ran the WD in 28:40 for about 8:30 minute miles. I was hoping to better that time and have a good time in general. I know I'm not going to bust out 6 min/mile to win the thing, but I like to be competitive, finish strong and not injure myself.
Saturday was my day at the 1pm wave.
But, as you may recall, our daughter had to have her tonsils out last week and we had an extended stay in the hospital for post-surgery issues. There were some sleepless nights, no rest and come Saturday, we decided the time spent driving to WD, running and driving home would be better spent focusing on a long run around the house and taking care of the kiddo. I could have transferred to Sunday, but it was the same mantra, "family comes first" and it wasn't right to leave Em with a recovering kiddo and a wild toddler boy. On a side note, Wee Man is 2 and a half and HOLY COW he is into EVERYTHING and does not stop! Wow... I need to bottle that up for my races.
So, Warrior Dash will have to wait for another year.
I'm trying to see if I can get my shirt or anything, or maybe transferred to 2014. I'm not sure if they will be any more cool than WTC when they flat out pissed on me when I missed IM 70.3 Branson when my son was in the NICU. We shall see. I'm counting on nothing, but it would at least be cool to get my t-shirt. I could go crawl around in the mud in the subdivision they are building by my house and have that count, right?
Friday, April 26, 2013
JustCloud cloud file storage
If you're like me and have had issues with external USB drives dieing on you and losing data, cloud storage is a great alternative.
No having to remember to back it up. No worrying if your computer croaks. It's all taken care of.
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music and videos stored on your computer, to
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No having to remember to back it up. No worrying if your computer croaks. It's all taken care of.
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- Sync Multiple Computers
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- Access Files Anywhere
- Share Files with Friends
Thursday, April 25, 2013
May 2013 Kansas City running races
Triumph
Over Tragedy 5K Run/Walk on May 5 @ 8am
Garmin
World Headquaters - Olathe
This
event is put on by the Kelly Lynn Lutz Memorial Foundation, who has the
unique focus of "Helping the Kids Cancer Left Behind". Their mission
is to make postsecondary scholarships available to area students who have lost
a parent to cancer. Since the inception of the Foundation in 2008, they have
committed over $36,000 to help kids pursue their college dreams. Get more
information or sign up at the link below!
Outpacing Melanoma 5K
Run/Walk
May 5 @
8am
Corporate
Woods - Overland Park
Come out
for this second annual 5K Run/Walk supporting Outpacing Melanoma, a non-profit
organization dedicated to funding research and increasing public awareness in
the local community by promoting early detection, screening, and prevention in
the fight against melanoma, an often neglected disease and the most deadly form
of skin cancer.
Run To Remember 5K on May 5 @ 8am
Lawrence
Police Department - Lawrence
The 2nd
Annual Run to Remember 5K benefits the Ride4Cops Fund, supporting the Kansas
Chapter of the Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and the Lawrence
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #2. Join us for this second annual event
and compete for top overall and age group awards!
Running
With the Cows Half Marathon and 5K
May 11 @
7:30am
Holy
Rosary School - Bucyrus
The
rolling rural course, great hospitality and fun shirts and medals
make this event a favorite among past participants. The half marathon is
the second leg of the Heartland 39.3 Series and is one of the largest half
marathons in the state of Kansas! Proceeds benefit the Holy Rosary Holy Rosary
School and Catholic Relief Services. Find out more about this event and
sign up at the link below.
Nativity School 5K on
May 11 @
9am
Nativity
School - Leawood, KS
The
annual Nativity 5K Walk/Run and 1-Mile Fun Run event proudly raises awareness
about health, fitness and wellness for our parishioners, students and
community. Generating excitement and enthusiasm for the cause also helps raise
vital funds-through sponsorships and participant fees-to help support health
and wellness awareness at Nativity Parish School, Catholic Education
Foundation, and the Arch Bishop's Call To Share.
Girls on
the Run 5K Run/Walk on May 18 @ 8am
Sporting
Park - Kansas City, KS
Their mission is to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of
self-respect and healthy living. This positive youth development program
inspires third through eighth grade girls to stay true to themselves and learn
to boldly pursue their dreams. Join these girls as they
conclude their 10 week program with a 5K Run/Walk at Sporting Park in
Kansas City, Kansas.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
2013 Warrior Dash Kansas City preview
It's time for ANOTHER RACE!
Second obstacle course race of the year (and probably last of 2013) comes up this weekend. Time for some Warrior Dash!
Three weeks ago was the Ruckus Run KC that turned out pretty well. I managed to improve my time and I believe I qualified for the Champion's Heat, but didn't stick around to find out.
Two weeks ago was the Rock the Parkway Half Marathon. Much to my wife's excitement, this wraps up the flurry of early "spring" racing for me. This is the most jam packed part of the year racing wise for me, which puts strain on the home front with the kiddos, but Em's handling it like a trooper.
It would be nice if spring would show up...
And it should starting this weekend. As I type this preview up, it's in the 30's and raining with occasional snow. Temps should drop to the 20's tonight and freeze everything. Joy.
But, this weekend is looking up!
Today, suck.
Wednesday, less suck.
Thursday, respectable.
Friday, respectable.
Race Day Saturday, spectacular!
I'm signed up for the Saturday races and I'm looking forward to warmth and sunshine. The forecast better not change!
There is a caveat though.
R2 gets the ole tonsils out this week. Nothing indicates that it will be an issue, but should concerns arise or complications such as a grumpy child carry into the weekend, I could be pressed into service and have to opt out of the Warrior Dash. It one of those deals, family comes first.
But, assuming I race...
My goal is to simply better my time from last year.
It's not a easy task to better time from a traveling obstacle course race. They change the layout and configuration from year to year, so it's almost apples to oranges.
I'm just going to approach it like Ruckus and run all out to separate from the crowds to get unimpeded run-up to the obstacles. Avoiding waiting times is key.
I plan on running the same gear (I even kept the shoes from Ruckus to avoid trashing two pairs) and the same strategy as Ruckus Run. It seemed to work well and you have to stick with what works.
Wish me luck!
Second obstacle course race of the year (and probably last of 2013) comes up this weekend. Time for some Warrior Dash!
Three weeks ago was the Ruckus Run KC that turned out pretty well. I managed to improve my time and I believe I qualified for the Champion's Heat, but didn't stick around to find out.
Two weeks ago was the Rock the Parkway Half Marathon. Much to my wife's excitement, this wraps up the flurry of early "spring" racing for me. This is the most jam packed part of the year racing wise for me, which puts strain on the home front with the kiddos, but Em's handling it like a trooper.
It would be nice if spring would show up...
And it should starting this weekend. As I type this preview up, it's in the 30's and raining with occasional snow. Temps should drop to the 20's tonight and freeze everything. Joy.
But, this weekend is looking up!
Today, suck.
Wednesday, less suck.
Thursday, respectable.
Friday, respectable.
Race Day Saturday, spectacular!
I'm signed up for the Saturday races and I'm looking forward to warmth and sunshine. The forecast better not change!
There is a caveat though.
R2 gets the ole tonsils out this week. Nothing indicates that it will be an issue, but should concerns arise or complications such as a grumpy child carry into the weekend, I could be pressed into service and have to opt out of the Warrior Dash. It one of those deals, family comes first.
But, assuming I race...
My goal is to simply better my time from last year.
It's not a easy task to better time from a traveling obstacle course race. They change the layout and configuration from year to year, so it's almost apples to oranges.
I'm just going to approach it like Ruckus and run all out to separate from the crowds to get unimpeded run-up to the obstacles. Avoiding waiting times is key.
I plan on running the same gear (I even kept the shoes from Ruckus to avoid trashing two pairs) and the same strategy as Ruckus Run. It seemed to work well and you have to stick with what works.
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
April and May 2013 Lawrence Kansas running races
April 27 @ 8 am - Hilltop
Hustle 5K run/walk and 1K family run/walk Located
on the KU campus, Hilltop Child Development Center hosts this 14th annual
event. This scenic 5K certified course runs past Allen Fieldhouse, Watson
Library, the Kansas Union, and the Chi Omega fountain. Sign
up today to help Hilltop raise money for the Martha Langley Families in Need
Fund.
Help fight brain cancer by
running in the Head for the Cure 5K. The event will start and end at
Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence. Whether you sign up to run for a
friend or loved one affected by brain cancer, or simply want to run or walk
a 5K, you will aid the fight. Celebrating the lives and legacies of
those with brain cancer has always been central to the atmosphere at Head for
the Cure events.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Get your Garmin 910XT and heart rate strap for $449.00, shipped free, shipped asap
If you have read this blog for any length of time, you would know that I'm a HUGE proponent of Garmin products, in specific their multisport watches.
I started off with the 310XT and upgraded last Christmas to the 910XT.
I've reviewed the Timex Global trainer, and while it's a good first step, it's lagging behind Garmin's second edition of the triathlon specific watch.
After training with the 910XT for nearly 4 months, I have hardly any complaints.
It's just the top of the line.
And, I have the in's if you want the 910XT with heart rate strap for $449 (plus tax) and free shipping. My connections at Lifetime Fitness can ship the 910XT anywhere in the continental US for free. All you have to do is drop me a line at ryan.falkenrath@SetThePaceMedia.com and I will get you in there. If you live in the KC area and want to swing by the Lenexa Lifetime Fitness to get it, let me know.
HURRY! Deal is up this Sunday, April 28.
I started off with the 310XT and upgraded last Christmas to the 910XT.
I've reviewed the Timex Global trainer, and while it's a good first step, it's lagging behind Garmin's second edition of the triathlon specific watch.
After training with the 910XT for nearly 4 months, I have hardly any complaints.
- They upgraded the indoor swimming feature to count laps and measure efficiency. It does have issues with over-counting every now and again, but it's 95 percent accurate and you can adjust the distance later in Garmin Connect.
- It measures everything you could want on the bike. Cadence. Speed. Heart rate. Power. Distance. It's all there. If someone has made an ANT compatible sensor, odds are the 910XT will read it.
- Open water swimming has been improved to cut down on the jumping around, but any GPS unit you use will not really hold much accuracy when it goes under water. Unfortunately you need GPS replication under water and good luck finding that, ever. No watch will give you that. And, you cannot use the lap pool feature since there are no turns for the sensors in the 910XT to pick up to count your laps. Only real bust, but there's nothing you can do. At least it's waterproof and if you wear it in your swim cap, it works pretty well.
It's just the top of the line.
And, I have the in's if you want the 910XT with heart rate strap for $449 (plus tax) and free shipping. My connections at Lifetime Fitness can ship the 910XT anywhere in the continental US for free. All you have to do is drop me a line at ryan.falkenrath@SetThePaceMedia.com and I will get you in there. If you live in the KC area and want to swing by the Lenexa Lifetime Fitness to get it, let me know.
HURRY! Deal is up this Sunday, April 28.
There's more to a triathlon than swim, bike and run
Sure you have may have heard of the three sports that make up a triathlon; swim, bike and run. But, did you know there are more to it than those 3? They may not be as apparent on race day, but if you ignore them, they can come back to bite you in the butt on race day.
There are many other aspects to a triathlon than the swim, bike and run, but for the sake of this post, we’re going to focus on the two additional most important disciplines of triathlon; nutrition and recovery.
Nutrition is nothing new. Any triathlete that’s be “in country” for a while knows that once you get past the sprint distance, nutrition is a key role between a good day and a DNF. After racing long course endurance events for the past 8 years, I’ve come to slowly realize the importance of nutrition during a race, how to apply what I have learned and what nutrition works for me. I’ve come a long way from bonking (but completing) the Dublin Marathon in 2005 and racing long course triathlons like Ironman 70.3 Kansas in 2012.
Your breakfast the day of a race will only go so far for your energy stores, and after your pushing the pace for more than 90 minutes, the carbs that can be easily converted for immediate energy use are severely depleted and without taking in replacements, you’re toast. From an article on PowerBar.com that speaks of training at low levels of glycogen and race at high levels;
“Push the pace, and your reliance on carbs increases. The problem is that while fat stores are available in abundance — you’ve got an estimated 80,000 calories worth on board — your carbohydrate reserves weigh in at a paltry 2,000 calories when you total what’s available from glucose in the bloodstream and glycogen in the muscles and liver. So a single, long exercise session can severely deplete your very limited carbohydrate fuel reserves.
Hence the importance of starting exercise with adequate glycogen stores, taking in carbs during long-duration exercise (more than 60–90 minutes), and replenishing stores in between or after training sessions. Athletes who have “hit the wall” — or “bonked” — know firsthand the price to be paid for running low on muscle glycogen. When this occurs, you are forced to rely on your meager supply of glucose circulating in the bloodstream. Liver glycogen stores can be tapped to resupply blood glucose for a short while, but when that energy reserve runs dry, blood sugar drops — and that’s when you slam into that wall of pain. Your pace slows dramatically, because you’ve switched from relying on fast-burning carbs for muscle power, to much slower-burning fat. Fat simply can’t be metabolized fast enough to support your pace, so you slow down or even stop.”
Ignore nutrition during training and racing, and you’re asking for a world of hurt.
The other discipline that deserves it’s due attention, but not as well known is recovery. Without proper recover your body will break down over time under the duress of training, racing and everyday life. If you do not take the time to properly recover, injuries, fatigue and weakened immune systems will plague your racing and life in general.
There are two prongs to the recovery fork. Athletes need to recover with nutrition AND physical rest for the body.
The Scottish Institute of of Sports published an article on recovery nutrition and hydration. “When there is less than eight hours between workouts or events that deplete glycogen stores (stores may be depleted when exercising for 90 minutes or more of high intensity work), the athlete should maximise effective recovery time by consuming a high carbohydrate (CHO) meal or snack within 30 minutes of completing each session.” Not only are you consuming nutrition before and during, you need to continue after workouts and races to allow your body to repair itself.
Don’t also neglect straight fluids. “It is important to note that athletes that are dehydrated will be compromised in their ability to refuel. This should be taken into consideration when planning a recovery strategy to ensure rehydration requirements are also addressed.”
About.com sports an article about physical recovery with rest. “Rest days are critical to sports performance for a variety of reasons. Some are physiological and some are psychological. Rest is physically necessary so that the muscles can repair, rebuild and strengthen. For recreational athletes, building in rest days can help maintain a better balance between home, work and fitness goals.”
Whether you are going with active or long-term recovery plan of low intensity workouts and/or planned off days with the appropriate amount of sleep, triathletes that are actively training and racing need rest. If you have been caught up in working out and guilty of not taking much time off, you might find yourself tired, fatigued, often sick and more prone to injuries.
So while you’re planning your swim, bike and run workouts and race schedule, make sure to spend an equitable amount of time looking at nutrition and recovery. You can be the most disciplined triathlete in swim, bike and run, but you may not be reaching your potential on race days or in everyday life due to poor nutrition and recovery.
Build your plan with nutrition and recovery in mind as their own sports. Nutrition needs to be as primary as remembering your swim jammers and bike shoes for workouts. You may be caught up in looking at hours and miles in your training log, but are you building in recovery time as well? Training for 30 hours a week won’t mean much if you’re hurt or sick all of the time.
For more tips, ideas and training guidance, follow Set The Pace on Facebook.
There are many other aspects to a triathlon than the swim, bike and run, but for the sake of this post, we’re going to focus on the two additional most important disciplines of triathlon; nutrition and recovery.
Nutrition is nothing new. Any triathlete that’s be “in country” for a while knows that once you get past the sprint distance, nutrition is a key role between a good day and a DNF. After racing long course endurance events for the past 8 years, I’ve come to slowly realize the importance of nutrition during a race, how to apply what I have learned and what nutrition works for me. I’ve come a long way from bonking (but completing) the Dublin Marathon in 2005 and racing long course triathlons like Ironman 70.3 Kansas in 2012.
 |
| Sugar cookies and peeps are the cornerstone to any good nutritional plan... |
“Push the pace, and your reliance on carbs increases. The problem is that while fat stores are available in abundance — you’ve got an estimated 80,000 calories worth on board — your carbohydrate reserves weigh in at a paltry 2,000 calories when you total what’s available from glucose in the bloodstream and glycogen in the muscles and liver. So a single, long exercise session can severely deplete your very limited carbohydrate fuel reserves.
Hence the importance of starting exercise with adequate glycogen stores, taking in carbs during long-duration exercise (more than 60–90 minutes), and replenishing stores in between or after training sessions. Athletes who have “hit the wall” — or “bonked” — know firsthand the price to be paid for running low on muscle glycogen. When this occurs, you are forced to rely on your meager supply of glucose circulating in the bloodstream. Liver glycogen stores can be tapped to resupply blood glucose for a short while, but when that energy reserve runs dry, blood sugar drops — and that’s when you slam into that wall of pain. Your pace slows dramatically, because you’ve switched from relying on fast-burning carbs for muscle power, to much slower-burning fat. Fat simply can’t be metabolized fast enough to support your pace, so you slow down or even stop.”
 |
| Not a bad source of nutrition, Better Eat Your Wheaties! |
The other discipline that deserves it’s due attention, but not as well known is recovery. Without proper recover your body will break down over time under the duress of training, racing and everyday life. If you do not take the time to properly recover, injuries, fatigue and weakened immune systems will plague your racing and life in general.
 |
| Recovery is key... you're body will tell you when you need it. All you need to do is listen and find a bed, ASAP. |
The Scottish Institute of of Sports published an article on recovery nutrition and hydration. “When there is less than eight hours between workouts or events that deplete glycogen stores (stores may be depleted when exercising for 90 minutes or more of high intensity work), the athlete should maximise effective recovery time by consuming a high carbohydrate (CHO) meal or snack within 30 minutes of completing each session.” Not only are you consuming nutrition before and during, you need to continue after workouts and races to allow your body to repair itself.
Don’t also neglect straight fluids. “It is important to note that athletes that are dehydrated will be compromised in their ability to refuel. This should be taken into consideration when planning a recovery strategy to ensure rehydration requirements are also addressed.”
About.com sports an article about physical recovery with rest. “Rest days are critical to sports performance for a variety of reasons. Some are physiological and some are psychological. Rest is physically necessary so that the muscles can repair, rebuild and strengthen. For recreational athletes, building in rest days can help maintain a better balance between home, work and fitness goals.”
Whether you are going with active or long-term recovery plan of low intensity workouts and/or planned off days with the appropriate amount of sleep, triathletes that are actively training and racing need rest. If you have been caught up in working out and guilty of not taking much time off, you might find yourself tired, fatigued, often sick and more prone to injuries.
So while you’re planning your swim, bike and run workouts and race schedule, make sure to spend an equitable amount of time looking at nutrition and recovery. You can be the most disciplined triathlete in swim, bike and run, but you may not be reaching your potential on race days or in everyday life due to poor nutrition and recovery.
Build your plan with nutrition and recovery in mind as their own sports. Nutrition needs to be as primary as remembering your swim jammers and bike shoes for workouts. You may be caught up in looking at hours and miles in your training log, but are you building in recovery time as well? Training for 30 hours a week won’t mean much if you’re hurt or sick all of the time.
For more tips, ideas and training guidance, follow Set The Pace on Facebook.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Tailwind Endurance Fuel hydration mix review
Have you ever had to stop mid-race to depart with something you ate, at either end? Sounds gross, but in the world of triathletes, it’s a very real problem. Heat, distance, sensitive stomachs, taking in too much or taking in too little can result in mild stomach cramps to full on port-a-potty stops and even DNF’s. It’s a tightrope walk to find the right combination of hydration and nutrition that works for any one given athlete. Forget about what your friends use. They may not sweat like a pig or have a cast-iron gut that can process anything. You’re not Rambo who can eat things that would make a billy goat puke.
For those keeping tabs, personally I’ve had my issues with heat and nutrition at long course events in 2011. It started at the Midwest Mayhem long course triathlon and continued at Ironman Boulder 70.3. Both of these long course events occurred during the heat of the summer. It’s also interesting as we triathletes age, our external appearance not only changes, but our internal functionality changes as well. Items such as sports gels and energy chews no longer worked on log course and instead caused GI upset, gas and heartburn. What was once a staple of training and racing had become the bane of my existence on the race course. Back to the drawing board and 2012 was an experiment in finding a new solution to hydration and nutrition. Sports gels are out, fluids are in. It’s not a 100 percent fluid intake plan, as there are some energy chews that work for my particular issues.
But, hydration is always a contentious subject in triathlete circles. There are 101 companies and brands out there trying to get their product on the market. Some will test your sweat output for salinity and formulate an exact hydration mix that in theory should get your body right on race day. Others throw together concoctions they deem appropriate for the vast majority of athletes and insist their products are far superior than X, Y or Z brand.
There are even a few that advertise that they will take the place of any nutritional solids athletes think they need to get through a long workout or race. That’s where we find Tailwind Nutrition. That’s their target market. Hate all the extra stuff you have to lug around like salt pills, gels or chews? Tailwind wants to be your one stop shop. They claim, “Tailwind’s potent energy and electrolytes are all you need to go all day. No juggling gels, pills, or chews—just pour, shake, and go.” What’s really interesting is their statement that, “Tailwind also has a full complement of electrolytes that mimic the composition and proportions of sweat, so you don't have to take separate electrolyte pills to make up for what's not in your drink.” Electrolyte and/or salt pills can be a slippery slope. It takes a lot of research to find out the right time and quantity of pills to take for any given athlete. Too little and it’s pointless to mess with it. Too much with not enough water and you can find yourself in the emergency room with a severe electrolyte imbalance.
That’s the test. Could Tailwind provide a sustainable source of energy without the additional nutrition supplements? Will Tailwind avoid the gut rot that some athletes experience with sports gels and chews? Will the taste be tolerable? Is the powder convenient to mix and use?
What’s also nice is the resealable packets. Any size they have, the pouch can be resealed via a zip lock strip for safe storage if all of the product is not used at once.
Who likes the powder that clumps together and takes an industrial paint shaker to mix? If you don’t like shaking your water bottle for 20 minutes, Tailwind is a solution for you. Their mix is highly water soluble and with one to two shakes, the powder is dissolved 100 percent into the water and you’re off, secure in knowing that half of your nutrition isn’t stuck to the bottle of the bottle. That also helps with cleanup. Who’s got time to repeatedly hose out a water bottle to get that last bit of goop and grime off of the bottom? Don’t count on your dishwasher to get it, either. The sure way to avoid sucking up leftover drink mix in your next ride is using a product like Tailwind that dissolves 100 percent.
On initial consumption fresh after mixing, Tailwind was very palatable and lacked the sour or tart kick that some of the bigger brands punch. It was very similar to your flavored waters on the market these days. When you think of nutrition and hydration in long course triathlons, and you throw in too much sports gels or a sour sports drink in a fragile ecosystem, and BAM, rot gut, port-a-potty stops and bloated stomach are your co-pilots. Drinking Tailwind on scheduled hydration stops was as disrupting as drinking plain water. The taste wasn’t vile after 2 hours running with Tailwind on the hydration belt. It went down smooth and didn’t produce major disruption in the workout, just like it’s suppose to.
But, that lack of taste may not hot home for all triathletes. Who doesn’t like to have a little favor when in the saddle for 2 to 3 hours? It’s another balancing act to get it just right without going overboard and causing discomfort or rejection. We found that mixing a little G2 gatorade works wonders upping the taste without significantly upping the calories and sugar. It worked great for taste after time and didn’t sour the stomach.
Don’t write off Tailwind for its sugar content. It may be more in line with sports drinks such as gatorade and powerade, but it provides more nutritional substance than those drinks.
Tailwind provided confidence in knowing that I could complete a workout as planned with just the drink. It may or may not provide triathletes with energy above and beyond that of other mixes, but it performed to the standard I have come to expect from my tried and true hydration after 2+ years of ditching gels and chews. There were no breakout workouts or land speed records set, but I felt strong and energized enough to get the job done.
In this day and age of the internet and with so many choices, it’s a no brainer that the savvy triathlete will shop online for the best product and the best prices. Buying Tailwind in bulk puts you right in the middle of the value per serving. It then comes down to trying out the products to see if they work for you.
*Writer’s note, Tailwind provided 1 bulk serving and 2 (4) serving pouches for this review and in no way influenced the review.
For those keeping tabs, personally I’ve had my issues with heat and nutrition at long course events in 2011. It started at the Midwest Mayhem long course triathlon and continued at Ironman Boulder 70.3. Both of these long course events occurred during the heat of the summer. It’s also interesting as we triathletes age, our external appearance not only changes, but our internal functionality changes as well. Items such as sports gels and energy chews no longer worked on log course and instead caused GI upset, gas and heartburn. What was once a staple of training and racing had become the bane of my existence on the race course. Back to the drawing board and 2012 was an experiment in finding a new solution to hydration and nutrition. Sports gels are out, fluids are in. It’s not a 100 percent fluid intake plan, as there are some energy chews that work for my particular issues.
But, hydration is always a contentious subject in triathlete circles. There are 101 companies and brands out there trying to get their product on the market. Some will test your sweat output for salinity and formulate an exact hydration mix that in theory should get your body right on race day. Others throw together concoctions they deem appropriate for the vast majority of athletes and insist their products are far superior than X, Y or Z brand.
There are even a few that advertise that they will take the place of any nutritional solids athletes think they need to get through a long workout or race. That’s where we find Tailwind Nutrition. That’s their target market. Hate all the extra stuff you have to lug around like salt pills, gels or chews? Tailwind wants to be your one stop shop. They claim, “Tailwind’s potent energy and electrolytes are all you need to go all day. No juggling gels, pills, or chews—just pour, shake, and go.” What’s really interesting is their statement that, “Tailwind also has a full complement of electrolytes that mimic the composition and proportions of sweat, so you don't have to take separate electrolyte pills to make up for what's not in your drink.” Electrolyte and/or salt pills can be a slippery slope. It takes a lot of research to find out the right time and quantity of pills to take for any given athlete. Too little and it’s pointless to mess with it. Too much with not enough water and you can find yourself in the emergency room with a severe electrolyte imbalance.
First Impressions
Tailwind has their marketing act together. Their packaging is professional and their product lines are cohesive. You’re not looking at one package and then the other wondering if it was made by the same group. The packages are sealed, packed well and shipped promptly. Have you ever been eyeing some nutrition or even regular groceries and wondered if the packing job was sealed and safe for consumption? Unless you’re buying Twinkies that could survive nuclear holocausts, don’t trust suspect packaging and Tailwind subscribes to safe packaging. In fact, it’s almost “difficult” to get into their packets at times.
What’s also nice is the resealable packets. Any size they have, the pouch can be resealed via a zip lock strip for safe storage if all of the product is not used at once.
Ease of Preparation / Cleanup
Here’s the tricky part. Tailwind recommends and provides enough product in one pouch for 48 oz of hydration. The larger pouches come with a scoop, but with the smaller packets, users must have a way to measure out the right combination of water and Tailwind powder, or have a 48 oz container on hand to mix all at once and pour into water bottles. Issues could arise from estimating how much powder has been poured into a 12 oz water bottle for single use mixings. When we tested our Tailwind, we guesstimated serving sizes and mixed as we saw fit. For the most part, the serving sizes were adequate and didn’t require huge amounts of prep time and measuring utensils. The moral of the story is that using the eyeball test for the right mix works just fine. You might short yourself 20 or 30 calories here and there, but for the everyday non-elite triathlete, it won’t bonk the bank.
Taste Test
With hydration, taste is more than half of the battle. No one wants to suck down vile tasting hot water on mile 50 of a half ironman. There are a lot of mixes that taste fine when chilled, but very few are palatable on a 90+ degree day. Even your taste friendly, sugar loaded gatorades and powerades can result in immediate stomach ejection on a hot day. While we tested Tailwind in the early spring, temperatures didn’t hit the 90’s, but it did get to the 70’s on longer rides. The mixture at least was exposed to the sun for 2+ hours or stored on a hydration belt being warmed by body heat. It’s safe to say that during our test runs, Tailwind wasn’t chilled to a desirable hydration temperature.
But, that lack of taste may not hot home for all triathletes. Who doesn’t like to have a little favor when in the saddle for 2 to 3 hours? It’s another balancing act to get it just right without going overboard and causing discomfort or rejection. We found that mixing a little G2 gatorade works wonders upping the taste without significantly upping the calories and sugar. It worked great for taste after time and didn’t sour the stomach.
Ingredients
Tailwind’s passing marks on taste are probably bolstered by the nutrition facts. Sodium, potassium and carbs are in line with most other competitors, but sugar content is somewhat disproportionate. With 25 grams per serving, Tailwind exceeds some competitors by almost 5 times with sugar content. That agreeable taste is more than likely proportionate with the sugar. What’s newsworthy is the fact that even with more sugar than most, Tailwind didn’t cause the GI distress or rot gut that those with delicate stomachs experience with an excess of sugar. Even pushing high zone 2 on a long run for 2 hours, Tailwind went down without a problem. Even after the run, we weren’t left feeling nauseous or faint from lack of nutrition.
Don’t write off Tailwind for its sugar content. It may be more in line with sports drinks such as gatorade and powerade, but it provides more nutritional substance than those drinks.
Performance factor
Tailwind is advertised as a long workout or race mix. We used it for 1 to 2+ hour runs, sprint runs, hill runs, 1 to 2+ hour bikes rides, trainer rides and swims and each and every time, there was no bonk or GI distress. From an athlete that cannot tolerate the sports gels and chews and needs their nutrition from their hydration, Tailwind delivered.Tailwind provided confidence in knowing that I could complete a workout as planned with just the drink. It may or may not provide triathletes with energy above and beyond that of other mixes, but it performed to the standard I have come to expect from my tried and true hydration after 2+ years of ditching gels and chews. There were no breakout workouts or land speed records set, but I felt strong and energized enough to get the job done.
Price
The 50 serving is priced at $34.99 and the single use 4 servings is priced at $10.50. See a list below for comparison of prices.- GU BREW - $14.99 for 35 servings, $0.43 per serving
- TAILWIND - $34.99 for 50, $0.70
- TAILWIND - $10.50 for 4, $2.63
- PUSH ENDURANCE - $44.99 for 23, $1.96
- HAMMER HEED - $28.00 for 32, $0.88
- HDX - $55.00 for 48, $1.15
In this day and age of the internet and with so many choices, it’s a no brainer that the savvy triathlete will shop online for the best product and the best prices. Buying Tailwind in bulk puts you right in the middle of the value per serving. It then comes down to trying out the products to see if they work for you.
In Conclusion
Tailwind’s claim to fame is their ability to supply what a triathlete needs for long periods of strenuous exercise, replacing the need for solid nutrition. After putting Tailwind in the grinder for 2 weeks of workouts, it’s safe to report that they held up their end of the bargain. With no chews or gels, we made it through indoor and outdoor runs and rides without the need for solids. There were no dizzy spells, GI distress or needs to go to the emergency room for IV fluids and electrolytes. Tailwind is worth a try. They also are so confident in their product that they have the Tailwind Challenge that if you buy 4 bulk servings at 10 percent off, and you don’t agree that Tailwind provided you with the nutrition you needed, they will pay your race entry (with certain stipulations, of course). At least they put their money where your mouth is.
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