Ensure

1. use: i just use it for 1/2 IMs and full IMs. for all race
breakfasts, however, i use instant breakfast---so you
could easily substitute one for the other here.

2. yes, i use ensure and gels together, and throw in
gatorade, too. all go well for me.

3. toting: i use 3 cans for a 1/2, 6 for a full IM. in both
cases i carry 3 cans' worth in one large water bottle,
which is on my downtube. i have masking tape marks at
the level of each can/8 oz. and mark that with when i
want to start drinking it. i have a front bottle i fill
on the fly, and that's the gatorade. i pick up a bottle
of water from the aid stations when i want one, and that
goes in a bottle carrier behind my seat. even if it gets
launched, it's the least necessary and easy to replace
at the next station.

4. ensure knock-offs: i generally buy any one of these when
they're on sale and have found all (ensure brand
included) to work just the same and taste about the same.
i go for the plus variety, and this comes in around 360
calories. peggy

[email hidden] (PMcDC) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

1. use: i just use it for 1/2 IMs and full IMs. for all
race breakfasts, however, i use instant breakfast---so
you could easily substitute one for the other here.

2. yes, i use ensure and gels together, and throw in
gatorade, too. all go well for me.

3. toting: i use 3 cans for a 1/2, 6 for a full IM. in
both cases i carry 3 cans' worth in one large water
bottle, which is on my downtube. i have masking tape
marks at the level of each can/8 oz. and mark that with
when i want to start drinking it. i have a front bottle
i fill on the fly, and that's the gatorade. i pick up a
bottle of water from the aid stations when i want one,
and that goes in a bottle carrier behind my seat. even
if it gets launched, it's the least necessary and easy
to replace at the next station.

4. ensure knock-offs: i generally buy any one of these
when they're on sale and have found all (ensure brand
included) to work just the same and taste about the
same. i go for the plus variety, and this comes in
around 360 calories. peggy

I used for my last (and only!) IM and it worked very well;
with some practice. You still need to keep to the
~400kcal/hr limit and it's very easy to go over using Ensure
plus. Go over for too long and you stomach will insist on
returning the nsure the way it came. Always chase the Ensure
with water, not sports drink, and take smaller amounts at
frequent intervals (v.s. gatorade, etc.)

Agreed about the knock-offs. Cheaper and work just as well.

[email hidden] (Bob Mercier) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (PMcDC) wrote in message news:<20040622201240.29515.00000357@mb-
m16.aol.com>...

Quoted message said:

1. use: i just use it for 1/2 IMs and full IMs. for all
race breakfasts, however, i use instant breakfast---
so you could easily substitute one for the other
here.

2. yes, i use ensure and gels together, and throw in
gatorade, too. all go well for me.

3. toting: i use 3 cans for a 1/2, 6 for a full IM. in
both cases i carry 3 cans' worth in one large water
bottle, which is on my downtube. i have masking tape
marks at the level of each can/8 oz. and mark that
with when i want to start drinking it. i have a front
bottle i fill on the fly, and that's the gatorade. i
pick up a bottle of water from the aid stations when
i want one, and that goes in a bottle carrier behind
my seat. even if it gets launched, it's the least
necessary and easy to replace at the next station.

4. ensure knock-offs: i generally buy any one of these
when they're on sale and have found all (ensure brand
included) to work just the same and taste about the
same. i go for the plus variety, and this comes in
around 360 calories. peggy

I used for my last (and only!) IM and it worked very
well; with some practice. You still need to keep to
the ~400kcal/hr limit and it's very easy to go over
using Ensure plus. Go over for too long and you
stomach will insist on returning the nsure the way it
came. Always chase the Ensure with water, not sports
drink, and take smaller amounts at frequent intervals
(v.s. gatorade, etc.)

Agreed about the knock-offs. Cheaper and work just
as well.

Thank you for your comments. Any thoughts on how this would
work with Perpetuem or Sustained Energy (Hammer products)?

Ensure Plus saved my life. When I was training for IMH in
2002, I was losing weight faster than I could eat. 2-3 cans
of Ensure Plus kept me from doing my Calista Flockhart
impression.

I also use E/P to supplement pre ride training breakfast.

I put it in my special needs bag for the turn around at
Hawi.

I mix it with MetRx and water for after a ride so I can get
the 4 to 1 carb to protein ratio currently recommended.

It tastes good.

Ray "Ironic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have seen a lot of references to drinking "Ensure" in
triathlon. I would be interested in hearing
opinions/combinations with gels, etc. Also, how do you
tote it?

Greg

I have tried it in training but never racing. It has way too
much fat content for my liking. I try not to eat anything
with greater than 15% of calories from fat.

Ken

"Ironic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have seen a lot of references to drinking "Ensure" in
triathlon. I would be interested in hearing
opinions/combinations with gels, etc. Also, how do you
tote it?

Greg

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I have tried it in training but never racing. It has way
too much fat content for my liking. I try not to eat
anything with greater than 15% of calories from fat.

Ken

"Ironic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have seen a lot of references to drinking "Ensure" in
triathlon. I would be interested in hearing
opinions/combinations with gels, etc. Also, how do you
tote it?

Greg

Bought some Ensure today--they have Regular, Ensure Plus
and Ensure High Protein (which I bought). The "high"
protein version has 6G fat (50 of the 230 cal about 21%),
31G carbs (19 from sugar--sucrose, no fructose) 12G
protein. Also has 290mg of sodium and 500 mg potassium.
Gatorade 0 fat, 0 protein, 100mg sodium, 30mg potassium.
Serving sizes were both 8oz.

Anybody know whether fat (not including that stored in
your body) have any benefit (or detrimental effect) in
endurance events?

I could be way off but I do sincerely believe that race
nutrition is and individual science. I have for the last 17
or so years tried to stay on a rather low fat diet. I
started out on the Nathan Pritican diet which only allowed
10% fat and very small amounts of red meat. A year on that
plan and my body fat dropped to a measured 4%. I never ran
nor cycled faster since that period nor have I felt quite as
spunky. It is a very difficult level to maintain so I now
attempt to stay at 15% cal from fat.

When I began doing long distance cycling and running 17
years back I only used water. I would cycle 120 miles or do
20 mile runs with no food intake other than water. I worked
up to those levels from a "O"miles background in endurance
over a period of two years. I think my body adapted to that
stress and learned how to metabolize body fat rather well. I
never seemed to bonk nor cramp. Of course I was only 50
years old then so just a kid. I continued that training and
racing up until my first Ironman. That was Ironman Hawaii
where I took liberty to treat myself and took two powerbars
with me on the bike. Yep, a measly 450 cal for the entire
112 bike leg in blistering heat and wind. During that race I
was alternating Gatorade and water for fluid. I did take in
a couple bananas during the run but I competed with very
minimalistic nutrition. I did this because I was ignorant of
scientific nutrition requirements and my body had been
trained to survive on itself. During that very first Ironman
Hawaii race I set a PR which I have never beat. I went in to
finish and did not know if I could. I did not have any
thought of placing. My longest race was the Qualifier,
Windward Triathlon, a race of less than half distance. It
was a one mile swim, 49 mile bike and 10 mile run so well
under. Much to my surprise I finished second in my age group
at IMH on my first attempt.

Since that beginning at ultra distance I have learned much
about nutrition. I began training with scientific amounts
and types of foods. After a few months of that I learned
that I could no longer do long distance without it. My body
now absolutely required it to get home from a long day on
the road. I started racing with meticulously calculated
calories and fluid consumption. Now that I am educated and
spend hours and hours preparing the perfect race foods my
times have dropped slightly though I have had a few first
place finishes. It could be that I am a little older and
that is what I like to think but it might also be that too
much science has developed a need within my body that
requires the extra nutrition. I now bonk, get cramps and
all the other stuff if I falter even slightly from my plan
or "habit".

So, in conclusion, do in racing what you habitually do in
training. Just remember to train hard, learn the feeling of
bonk now and then but race a maintainable pace slightly
lower than what you train. The bonks should be rare,
however, I believe intensity should be high but of a
duration that leaves you wanting to do a little more when
you call it a day.

My two cents which has value to me but could be worthless
to others.

"Ironic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have seen a lot of references to drinking "Ensure" in
triathlon. I would be interested in hearing
opinions/combinations with gels, etc. Also, how do you
tote it?

Greg