Thousands of Ironman hopefuls are training with one thing in mind: the momentous second they burst through the finish line, with crowds cheering all around. It all sounds very glorious-but only if a very important element of training is not overlooked. With the extraordinary amount of physical exertion forced over such long periods of time, Ironman triathletes across the board are at risk of nutritional deficiencies.
“Nutrition is crucial,” says Dana MacCorquodale. We met Dana in February. Quick recap: she’s a longtime ultra-runner and one of Get Out’s featured five locals who are on the path to Ironman Chattanooga in September. “If your nutrition is off, it can put you out on race day and it can hamper your recovery,” she explains.
The thing about proper nutrition is that it’s not one size fits all, nor is there a static meal plan that any athlete can follow to succeed in a race like the Ironman.
“It’s a very hotly debated topic,” says Dr. Danielle Mitchell of Chattanooga Sports Institute and Center for Health on North Access Road. “It’s hard to say what works for one person is going to work for another. It really depends on where you feel the most comfortable.” Mitchell has firsthand experience with this; she’s also racing the Chattanooga Ironman in September, which will be her sixth go at the race.
The dangers