Up to Oly, go with what works. Gatorade is fine. Longer races you may want to think about something with protein.

For heat, I use Thermolyte salt tablets. They have saved my butt many times in the heat. I usually order 2-3 bottles to average out the shipping. http://www.nvo.com/sportquestdir/products/skudetail.nhtml?uid=10032[/URL" target="_blank">

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I haven't tackled a tri yet, but I do a lot of ride-then-_____s, and I find that a gel every 45 minutes on the bike keeps me going. I also carry Gatorade (basic Lemon/Lime flavor) in my water bottles. A Clif bar before the ride, and depending on what sport's next maybe another if the ride exceeds 2 hrs. I've found my performance/endurance drops quickly if I don't have gels along the way, and I get REALLY cranky. Blood sugar crash? I think so. I recommend gels on the bike to keep your energy up for the run.

As for differences between the drinks, I think Accelerade has soy protein in it and maybe a "better" sugar source, where everything else (read Gatorade, Powerade) are just corn syrup and water, no protein. Accelerade is $$$, and I'd rather put my money into toys than drinks.

FWIW, I rode in the heat yesterday and my usual 2 bottles of Gatorade weren't enough to last the whole ride and I paid for it at the end.

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There's plenty of time for rest when you're dead.

I know not everyone will agree, but I say go with what works and don't worry too much about the composition of the drinks. In other words, if Gatorade works for you, go with it. Just know that hydration is only a part of the equation, where you will want to get in more calories, and if you use salt tabs, then you'd have to worry less about the sodium content and things like that.

You should be fine with any drink of choice and Gu's and PowerBars or substitutes, and if you think you'll sweat way more than normal, then insert a salt tab or two. That should do it.

From my experience, the number one problem athletes have is hydration, where once the get behind with that -- and often they have no idea -- then there body accepts no nutrition, or it gets more picky. And they often think the problem is the fuel source when in fact they've set themselve up to fail all over the place because they were severly dehydrated.

Kelli,

Try Powergel in vanilla. Tastes just like vanilla cake icing! And if you have a bento box on your bike, several will fit in there.

I forgot 2 things...being in Texas, you might want to think about sodium intake. You can get this in some gels now that have extra sodium, you can take salt tabs, or drink something that is sodium enhanced (i.e. gatorade endurance).

I train with gatorade endurance when I'm not using my infinit.

Also, I should say after you pick a product you like, you can most likely order it online in bulk for a discount, as opposed to always buying it at a running store or REI.

My favorite subject:

I gree with Thor that most athletes have more than enough calories, but do not have near enough water. Each gel requires 4-6 oz of water, that's almost a cup, think abouthow much that really is. Most people take a gel and a sip of water. No good, you need a 1/3 of the bottle. that's 3 or 4 big gulps. That does not include how much you need to replace what you are sweating.

So how much water/hydration do you need. Ideally you would do a sweat test. It's simple. Weight yourself naked before you go out. Measure all the water hydration you take in. weigh yourself when you return. Naked. (If you are more then 2% lighter than your performance has decreased dramatically. Subtract your post race from your pre race weight. A cup (8oz) of water is ~ 0.5lb. (If you had a 20 oz bottle of water it weighs 1.25lbs. ADD that to the lost weight and you know how much you need.

Example ME:

I'm 150 pre exercise. I drink 40oz of fluids and I weigh 145 post exercise. I'm a sweater so those numbers aren't to far from the truth. Anyway, 150-145=5 5 plus the 2.5 from the water is 7.5. I need 7.5 lbs of water to break even.
Almost a GALLON..... Think I'm kidding? Do the test.

That is ME and I do drink that much. I typically bring 2 bottles of 20oz and the Profile drink system up front and my camal bak 70oz and I refill at about 3 hours.

I'm outa work, more later.

Sheldon