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(Almost) Ready to Pack

It’s 11 days before the start and 6 days before the departure. Actually, bikes and gear will leave already in 2 days, so it is almost last minute to start getting the gear together and start packing.

My bike is all set and ready. During the last Gran Fondo I had some technical difficulties and so I ended up with the final upgrade for my bike – SRAM Red eTap! Wicked!

Argon 18 Gallium Pro eTap

Most of my friends know me as a thorough person, so yes, you won’t be disappointed – I compiled a packing list for IRONMAN! đŸ™‚
checklist2

And you can use it also if you like – it’s printable and downloadable here – IRONMAN Packing List

Crucial part of the packing and actually the whole IRONMAN experience is the race day nutrition.
I have discussed this matter with my coach, other IM athletes, friends and ended up with this plan (more or less).

According to my estimations, I’ll probably consume 60-70g carbs per hour during the most of the race (bike and first part of the run). And I’ll get this from 2 x OTE Energy Gel (my choice is Blackcurrant and Lemon & Lime, 20g of carbs each) plus 30g from OTE Vanilla Energy Drink.

The whole plan looks like this:

1 Gel Right before entering the water.
1 Gel T1, stored with the bike gear.
100ml Drinking Bottle T1, stored with the bike gear.
12 SaltCapsules From bike gear bag, stored in a Kinder egg container. 1 capsule in every 30 minutes on the bike.
2 x 750ml Drinking Bottles On the bike (will put them in the morning) and filled with Energy Drink. I’ll try to consume 500ml in hour so I should be good for 3 hours.
2 x 750ml Drinking Bottles In a Special Needs bag (Orange) and filled with Energy Drink. Will swap them with the ones on a bike in Aid Station in Pollença.
8 Gels In a top tube bag. I will take 1 gel in every 30 minutes, starting from 30 minutes on the bike.
6 Gels In a Special Needs bag (Orange). Will put them in the back pockets in Aid Station in Pollença.
1 Gel T2, from the running gear bag.
5 Gels T2, from the running gear bag, will put them in the pockets. I will take 1 gel in every 30 minutes, starting from 30 minutes out on the run course.
10 SaltCapsules From running gear bag, stored in a Kinder egg container. 1 capsule in every 30 minutes.
100ml Drinking Bottle T1, stored with the running gear. I will carry it until Special Needs in Aid Station 1 (2,5km out) where I will swap it with full one. I will do so in every loop. 100ml of Energy Drink + sips of water in Aid Stations in every hour.

As with every plan, you must also be prepared for unexpected, so in addition to all that, Mari-Liis will carry (and provide me if needed in Aid Station 1 (run1)) these things:

6 Gels 2 Caffeine Gels and 4 regular ones. Just in case.
2 x 500ml Drinking Bottles Additional fuel for run course.
10 SaltCapsules If I happen to lose some.
Energy Drink Powder To make additional drink.
Paracetamol It’s hot there! đŸ™‚

If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to contact me either commenting below, through e-mail or social media! đŸ™‚

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