Do you have to have solid food during your HIM event? Could you use a product like Infinit or CarboPro or any of the other liquid fuels? I can't speak to the IM distance and whether this would be sufficient calories at that distance. I did my first HIM last fall with Infinit no problems. I had a serving of clif shot bloks just in case I got "bored" and wanted to chew something around mile 40 or something, but by itself the Infinit did the trick on the bike. On the run, I just used whatever they had at the aid stations.

i have done a few HIMs and carbopro (or HEED) and water is sufficient for the bike. i also eat a powerbar - which I cut into 3 or 4 smaller sections - on the top bar of my bike frame. for the run i follow tamara's and trisooner's lead and eat/drink whatever they have.

I used Infinit for the entire race at Ironman Canada last year and it was FABULOUS. It's a personal mix, fitted to your own needs and wants. Put as many bottles as you can on your bike and a like number in Special Needs and you're set. Same on the run -- with a Fuel Belt. I never once had any stomach issues, either. Planning on using it again for an upcoming half and then again at Canada.

i too switched to a liquid diet on the bike, carbopro mixed with powerbar drink mix. i will have one gel with caffenie on the bike towards the end and then go to gels and aid station stuff on the run. i do this for both 1/2's and full's

i can't repeat this enough, test it out to on your training days and see what works...

like the others, I have found that I simply can't tolerate solids on race day and stick to fluids. In addition to the usual e-lyte solutions and gels. I throw 6oz of gel into a drink flask, one for the bike and one for the run and can easily carry that in my pockets. If you don't like gu you might try other gels - the fact that one makes you gag doesn't mean they all will. I also mix up some hammer perpetuem in a liquid form and my old standby ensure (350 cal/8 oz and actually tastes pretty good to me, at least when it's somewhat cold) which is a higher calorie content then gels and includes some protein instead of just carbs (which you need for endurance events) for the bike and usually one or two flasks for the run. The science suggests that liquid vs. solid doesn't matter except to personal taste and tolerance. The one benefit of solids is that they usually go further in satisfying your hunger sensations - but personally I can't stomach solids during a race. There is also some trial and error to be had, but most people can't get their system to absorb more than a few hundred calories/hour, so don't mix up a 500 calorie solution and expect to be downing several servings an hour without sending your GI system into turmoil. Instead, as has been pointed out above, make certain to start early. You will finish in a calorie deficit, but should tolerate it. Caffeine has been shown to be beneficial for endurance events, too, but with some people will "activate" their intestinal system leading to forced potty breaks! As always, experiment and stick with what works. If you plan to use what's at the aid stations then find out who the sponsors are and make certain that you train with those products!

For my first 70.3 and even some Century rides I used Hammer Nutritions Perpetuem mixed a little richer than specified and add for each bottle a single Hammer Espresso (with caffeine) gel. I loaded up my aerodrink with that and carried 2 other bottles mixed and a single water bottle and had no problems with feeling flat.

S.

I use a combination of bars (I like the Cliff bars because they're not too sticky), CarbBoom gels, Cliff Bloks and Accelerade. The yummiest thing I have ever seen someone eating in an Ironman was a pastry tube full of mashed potatoes. After all of that sweet stuff, it looked really great. I think I will have to try that next time.

Nutrition is very individual. Some folks do really well with all fluids and no solids. Others do really well with lots of solids (I know a guy who eats Subway sandwiches in IM distance races) and many in between use bars/gels, either a lot or a little. Experiment around with all liquid and see if that works for you. Or experiment around with other solids. I like my Bento box because I don't have to keep stuff getting warm and sticky in the back of my jersey. The Cliff bars seem to keep pretty well in there. I've found that Powerbars get too melty in warm temperatures.

For the IM run, it's a good idea to practice with whatever they'll have available. The chicken broth that many races serve is terrific if you're craving something salty, and I made sure I could tolerate it ahead of time by using it in training. Ditto with the defizzed Cola.