Each Tuesday I will post a blog that should give some helpful hints to other racers, athletes, fitness enthusiasts and anyone who wants to stay healthy!
This week I'll dive into arguably the most important aspect of a racer's diet; hydration.
I like to start by drinking at least a gallon of water per day. I bike, row, hike and generally move a lot so a lot of water is really key since I sweat a lot of it out. Sweat leads me to my next tip, electrolytes.
A lack of electrolytes can cause muscle cramps or a lack of concentration which can be devastating in a racecar. The answer is obviously to get the electrolytes back into your body. Sports drinks do this, but also contain a lot of sugar and salt. I get around this by drinking Pedialyte mixed with a bit of water and a tiny bit of pure juice for flavor. The taste will take some getting used to, but over time you can add less juice as you get used to the taste. I'll sip on this mixture throughout a race weekend as well as during my workouts. It not only helps me perform at my best, but also helps me recover faster in between stints in the car.
Another thing I like to do is drink a few cap fulls of Asea in the morning and at night. It helps my body recharge and rejuvinate each day, you can check them out at Asea.net
Whenever I get on a plane I also hydrate even more. The reason is, your body absorbs a lot of moisture through the skin and in a heavily air conditioned environment like a plane or even an office, the humidity is kept very low and you can easily become dehydrated. A few extra bottles of water when you travel will help take care of your jet lag.
The bottom line is, always drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fresh fruit. The magnessium, potassium and other minerals will keep you feeling fresh and ready to go!
Craig
