Sample Resources for Sports Nutrition & Training

Triathlon Sports Nutrition
This site has been designed to help those who are interested in the sport of triathlon: swimming, biking and running. Topics included are about beginner's tips, training tips, nutritional information, race day tips and other triathlon-related links. Most interesting is a section about sports nutrition.

Electrolyte Drink History
This article is about Bill Gookin, who came up with a combination of water, lemon juice, salt and sugar. This was the first Gatorade formula and electrolyte drink. Utilizing procedures of chemical analysis, Gookin set out to identify the components of the basic Gatorade formula. He found that he needed a solution of glucose (not table sugar) and the ions he was losing that was isotonic (the same osmotic concentrations as in body fluids and blood. An isotonic solution makes possible quick absorption of fluids and electrolytes without upsetting your stomach. If the sugar solution is too sweet or contains sugars other than glucose, it will draw fluids from the blood into the stomach, causing cramps, he found. The exact formula for Gookinaid is a "trade secret" but, in addition to sodium and potassium in balanced proportions, the mixture contains vitamin C. There are some other informative pieces in this article, which gives a history about electrolyte drinks.

Hyponatremia in Triathletes
This article is part of the sports science library at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. It is vital because it follows up on a huge media story reported in New England Journal of Medicine that tracked the incidence of hyponatremia (a potentially-fatal condition caused by dangerously low blood sodium levels) among 488 participants in the 2002 Boston Marathon. The institute says that it believes media coverage surrounding this study is doing a disservice to the running and athletic communities by providing a single-minded focus on the dangers of hyponatremia as compared to the more common ailment of dehydration and consequent heat illnesses. In response, tips for staying properly hydrated and monitoring sodium levels in a marathon are offered.

How Bicyclists Avoid Bonking
Bonking is a common cycling term for a variety of symptoms caused by low blood sugar. It can cause extreme exhaustion, mental confusions, hallucinations, feeling uneasy and passing out. A cyclist can experience any or all of these symptoms during the course of a bonk. The brain runs entirely on sugar. The blood stream has sugar for the brain, but only enough to last a few minutes while biking. The sugar supplied to brain comes from the liver's production of sugar. When the liver is deprived of the energy required to make or convert sugar for the brain, bonking is the result.