So, What Exactly Do The Pros Put In Their Fuel Belts?
A question was recently posted on the popular slowtwitch forum: “What do the pros have in their FuelBelt during an Ironman?” Many guesses and theories abound, and some people chimed in with their own ideas of the benefits of carrying extra weight versus having personal nutrition needs at your fingertips.So – full disclosure here – as both the managing editor of Xtri.com and the manager of Fuel Belt athlete sponsorships, I have the unique opportunity to answer the above question! Last year, we were curious too, about what it is the pros carry in the Fuel Belt products they use in training and racing. When you see someone like Craig Alexander, Cam Brown or Chrissie Wellington running to victory in an IM, what is it they’re slogging down at mile 18? Here’s what they said…
Craig Alexander: I carry GU Gels mixed with water in my Fuel Belt flasks.
Rutger Beke: On the run in Ironman Hawaii I ran with a two bottle fuelbelt. I actually need three bottles for the entire run so I put the third bottle in my special needs bag. In every bottle I put 5 scoops of Squeezy energy boost. (Don’t think you have this brand in the USA). On my bike I used a fuelbox. In this fuelbox I put a Vittoria pitsstop can and 2 co2 cartridges.
Lisa Bentley: In my 2 flask Fuel Belt when I am racing, I carry Shaklee Performance drink or Red Bull and a few Power Gels in the elastic sleeve with the bottle. I also put a Power Gel in the little Fuel Belt pocket. If it is an Ironman, one of my flasks contains 5 Power Gels with a bit of water to make it more liquid. In my little Fuel Belt box on my bike, I carry my C02 dispenser, a cartridge, my salt pills and a few Power Gels and maybe a few cut up bits of Power Bar. When I am training, I carry my tools and some ID and some money as well.
Cameron Brown: I always have a mixture of drinks during Ironman, I usually use the Helium 4 bottle fuelbelt but sometimes I just use the Helium 2 bottle. I put my gels in the pouch and fill the bottles up with either coke, redbull, or my own electrolyte drink. If I use the 2 bottle belt I make sure I have another 2 bottles waiting for me at the special needs aid station at half way.
Dede Griesbauer: My Infinit Nutrition drink formula goes in my helium 2-bottle belt, and I carry shot blocks in a rip-stop pocket that I carry either on my race number belt or attached to my Fuel Belt palm holder.
Chris Lieto: I put a concentrate of Powerbar Endurance with BASE Performance Amino, BASE Salt, and BASE Water. In the Flask I will put in PowerGels
Kim Loeffler: The Fuel box and pocket allow me to carry all the nutrition I need to get me through the day. All my Power Gels and salt tablets are placed in my fuel box for the bike and in my Fuel Belt pocket for the run. Part of racing well in an Ironman is learning how to read your body and reacting quickly to its demands. I don’t have to wait to get to an aid station if I feel like I need a quick fix. All my nutrition is on hand and easily accessible.
Chris McCormack: I use Clifbar products and most of the time my fuel belt is loaded with chocolate clifshot in one bottle and Expresso caffeinated shot in the other. I tend to carry salt stick salt also as a precaution for cramping.
Alex McDonald: On my tempo runs and long runs I have water in three of my 4 Fuel Belt bottles and concentrated Powerbar Endurance drink in the fourth. This way I can tailor my fluid and carbohydrate consumption on the fly. On race day I carry a similar mix of water and carbohydrate drink. I also always have a few Power Gels in the pocket of my various Fuel Belts.
Luke McKenzie: I always run with PowerBar Power Gel in one of my flasks and Coke for a pick up in the other!
Karen Smyers: I put my inhaler in the asthma belt, my race number on the race number belt, my head in the headlamp, water or Gatorade or Infinit in my Fuelbelt bottles, and my computer in the Fuelbelt courier bag when I travel.
Chrissie Wellington: I fill my Fuel Belt products with the highest quality fuel I can find, and that is Cytomax Energy gels, in tasty vanilla flavour! My FueltBelt aerobox is the best way of carrying all the tasty goodies I need to survive a 180km cycle ride during an Ironman.
Source: Betsy Delcour
