Hey guys. I am a newbie. I have been training for a July sprint since February. Here's the deal. I have what's called "exercise induced anaphylaxis". That means that if I eat anything (even sugar alone) within 2 hours of exercising (to the point of being fatigued), I have a bee sting type, go to the hospital, stick yourself with an epi-pen kind of allergy attack.

My question is, am I going to be able to do this?? I figured I would, but I hear all of this about gels etc., and wonder if I'm just being crazy. I have to do this with nothing but water. Having never "tri'd" before, I wonder what it is really going to be like.

I guess I am looking for some encouragement.

Thanks

I'm no doctor, and you should probably consult a physician first, but certainly someone can complete a sprint without nutrition intake.

I'd advise, on your first couple races (cause you will get hooked and do more than one) you should compete to just complete the race. Don't push yourself. Just get a feel for the distances and remain in a lower heart rate zone (in which you'll burn more fat for energy, reducing need for nutritional/carb intake). See how you feel and go from there.

As well, slowly add distances to your training and gage how you feel there. Just add 5 minutes to your run per week and 5 miles to the bike until you get to the distance of your race.

Hope this helps. Definitely stick with it, but monitor your progress. The sport is a bit of a science as well.

- tribro

As you get closer and closer to the race, you can do the whole race (or similar distances) as art of your training to see how you go.

Maybe do something like 75% distance swim/bike/run and see if you bonk, then determine if the bonk is related to not enough fuel or not enough training.

Im sure you have (make that I hope you have) talked to your doctor about all of this. I would even get a 2nd opinion from a sports doc. before you make the appointment, tell them your issues/concerns and make sure they are qualified to help you. My experience with docs has been (at least with sports questions) they will refer you on to someone who knows if they dont.