What to Eat?

no, that's not my fridge
My mother used to yell at  me for standing in front of the open refrigerator door. I knew I was hungry, but I never knew what I wanted to eat.

Now I am vegan and now I take medication that can upset my stomach and now I am training for a half ironman in just about three months. I will be out there for about eight hours (I think) -- swimming, biking and running. It just hit me -- WHAT THE HECK AM I SUPPOSED TO EAT?

I have been to the nutrition clinic with my team and I have read various resources about what I am supposed to do, but most of the plans don't work with my diet and my stomach. And in the end, all athletes no matter what their diet or mental medication regiment all say your race day nutrition is personal and the only way to figure it out is to figure it out.

I know I can't do Gatorade. It makes me throw up. Perhaps it is the BVO - oh, wait, they removed that - or the corn syrup or wood resin. Pretty sure that is still in there. Hear they have some natural version now, but I can't seem to find it anywhere and honestly I think it is all kinda of a gymic anyway. If what I need are water and calories and electrolytes, those come from food and water so I think I am going to go the route of eating food and drinking water. Crazy, I know.

I think it is time I revisit Brendan Brazier's Thrive and stumbled on this today as well -- vegan, raw triathlete Richard Wygang. He has some easy ideas for natural sports drink - soak dates, figs, gogi berries in water (1 cup fruit per 1 jar water) - and gels - raw sugar, molasses, date paste (soaked dates and water), add celery for potassium.

My injury is finally such that I think I can go out for a longer run and bike this weekend. Will try one of these natural solutions and report back. Oh, and I am off to physical therapy with Dr. Tim Vidale at the Washington Injury and Sports Performance Clinic. Calf is much, much better, but I want to do this right.  Will make sure to report back on that as well.

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