Preseason - Hammer Nutrition

TRAINING / RACING
Hammer HEED is supplied on-course during the
Shannon Miller Foundation Weekend of Racing.
Photo : Aaron Fulton
why are the athletes who adopt this
strategy willing to downgrade the quality
of their workouts by training with
what the race will be providing (which
again, may be total garbage), simply so
they don’t have to carry their own fuel
with them? And why are they willing
to jeopardize their race by relying on
whatever is offered at the aid stations?
In all honesty, it makes no sense to me
whatsoever, especially because:
• You can carry several hours of fuel
(such as Perpetuem or Sustained
Energy) in concentrated, multi-hour
Hammer flasks or water bottles.
• You can carry plenty of Endurolytes
capsules (at least 30) in one of our
easy-to-use capsule dispensers.
On-course fuel
Don't let it limit you!
BY STEVE BORN
After numerous years in ultra
marathon cycling, I’ve made
every mistake in the book (some
more than once), so trust me,
I speak from experience. Most of the
blunders I’ve committed are reflected
in the “10 Biggest Mistakes” article
in The Endurance Athlete’s GUIDE to
SUCCESS, which I’m sure most of you
have read. (And if you haven’t, why
not?!)
However, over the past couple of years
I’ve noticed an ever-increasing trend
amongst athletes, and quite frankly, I
consider this trend and strategy to be
one of the dumbest ones that athletes
adopt. The strategy? “I’m training for
a specific race, and they’ll be providing
specific fuels and foods on the course.
Therefore, in an effort to better adapt to
these fuels and foods, I’m going to use
them in my training.”
My thoughts regarding this are:
• Really? You’re going to let what
the race serves at the aid stations
dictate what you use in training, not
to mention in the race itself?
• What if the fuels/foods available
at the aid stations are total junk,
which they oftentimes are? How can
you get the full value out of your
training for an important race by
fueling with junk in the weeks and
months prior to it?
• Are you willing to put what may be
a key race in jeopardy by consuming
fuels or foods that you know aren’t
of high quality?
Now, I understand the rationale behind
this strategy: the athlete doesn’t have to
carry fuel during the race, thus possibly
making things logistically easier. Still,
• You can carry at least a two-hour
supply (or more) of Hammer Gel in
the Hammer flask, and you can use
a runner's fuel belt to carry several
flasks of Hammer Gel, containers of
Perpetuem Solids, and Endurolytes
capsules.
The bottom line is that you can cover
most-to-all of your fueling needs during
your workouts and races via superior
Hammer Nutrition fuels in a very small
amount of space. You DO NOT have
to train with or rely upon the fuel/food
offerings the race may be providing.
And if you do run a bit short on fuel
during the race, you can always carry
extra Perpetuem or Sustained Energy
in a ziplock-type bag, making more at
the aid stations. Also, you can carry and
consume a Hammer Bar or two during
long-duration races. Hammer Bars and
Perpetuem Solids are ideal solid food
choices, and they’re an infinitely better
choice than the donuts, cookies, and
other junk foods that may be offered at
the aid stations.
As the season begins, make it a point
to train with the right fuels—Hammer
Nutrition fuels—all of the time. Yes, it
may be a slight inconvenience to carry
all of your fuel with you during your
long workouts and races; however,
that inconvenience is overwhelmingly
trumped by the fact that you KNOW
you’ve got the right fuels “on board” and
that you don’t have to rely on the fuels
and foods that the race may be providing.
HN
24 Feb/Mar : Issue 83 "The best nutrition products in the world, no matter what country you’re in!" - Greg M.