Raptor Advantage
Triathletes need to have excellent aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, and anaerobic capacity for sprinting. They also have to be able to withstand heavy training periods. The Raptor bar can help triathletes gain a competitive edge by helping them meet their nutritional needs to optimize performance and recovery.

Triathletes often have to swim, bike, and/or run in hot and humid environments for 1-3 hours at a time. Ironman level triathletes may compete for up to 9 – 16 hours in a single event. Since sweat rates may exceed 2 liters per hour, triathletes are particularly susceptible to dehydration that can drastically reduce performance capacity and increase the risk of heat-related injuries. They are also susceptible to losing so much salt in their sweat and/or consuming so many fluids that they can dangerously lower sodium levels in the body leading to excessive cramping and/or hyponatremia. Therefore, the first goal in optimizing performance of triathletes is to prevent dehydration and maintain sodium levels in the blood. Recent research indicates that athletes may need more electrolytes than typically found in sports drinks in order to maintain hydration and sodium levels during intense exercise. The Raptor bar contains recommended levels of sodium and other electrolytes needed to promote hydration and help reduce the incidence of muscle cramping during exercise. In addition, the Raptor bar contains glycerol which has been shown to help promote fluid retention. Triathletes should consume a Raptor bar with fluids about 30-60 minutes before training and one-fourth to one-third of a Raptor bar every hour while cycling in order to promote hydration during exercise.

The second nutritional goal for triathletes is to provide carbohydrate to sustain blood glucose levels. Competitive triathletes can burn 800 – 1,200 calories per hour. Therefore, they may burn 2,500 – 3,000 calories during an international length triathlon (i.e., 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride, and 10 k run) During an Ironman length triathlon, triathletes may expend 8,000 – 12,000 calories. Therefore, it is imperative that triathletes refuel during exercise to maintain carbohydrate availability. The Raptor bar contains a mixture of fast, intermediate, and slow releasing carbohydrates that can provide a sustained release of carbohydrate over time. Ingesting a Raptor bar 30-60 minutes prior to starting an event and one-fourth to one-third of a Raptor bar at the start of the bike ride and each hour of cycling with fluids can help triathletes fuel prolonged exercise.

The third nutritional goal to optimize performance of triathletes is to provide nutrients that can enhance exercise performance. Research has shown that sodium and calcium phosphates and β-alanine can help buffer muscle acidity and increase anaerobic threshold. In addition, sodium phosphate supplementation has been reported to increase maximal aerobic capacity and endurance running and cycling performance. The Raptor bar contains high levels of sodium and calcium phosphate that can help triathletes optimize aerobic performance and get the most out of their interval training sessions.

The fourth goal of optimizing performance of triathletes is to minimize the catabolic and immune-suppressive effects of intense exercise. This can help triathletes recover from workout to workout day to day. The Raptor bar contains the right amount and type of protein and amino acids that can help minimize catabolism during exercise and promote protein synthesis after exercise. The Raptor bar also contains a rich source of antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, selenium, Coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, and taurine) that have been reported to minimize the effects of intense exercise on muscle damage. In addition, the Raptor bar contains high levels of nutrients that support the immune system (i.e., L-glutamine, Vitamin C, zinc). Triathletes who train two times or more per day are particularly susceptible for upper respiratory tract infections. Ingesting a Raptor bar within 30-minutes after training and performance can help triathletes recover from intense exercise and tolerate training to a better degree.

Exercise

• 4-6 hours per week of swimming
  
  
• 6-10 hours per week of cycling
  
  
• 4-6 hours per week of running
  
  
• 1-2 hours per week of resistance training

Nutrition

• Fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration and muscle cramping
  
  
• Carbohydrate to sustain blood glucose levels and exercise capacity throughout the event
  
  
• Nutrients that support aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold
  
  
• Protein/amino acids and antioxidants to reduce muscle breakdown, oxidative stress, and muscle damage from exercise
  
  
• Nutrients to promote recovery and support the immune system following exercise

Refueling

• Consume a high carbohydrate/low fat meal 3-4 hours prior to training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar 30-60 minutes prior to training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume 1-2 cups of water and/or sports drinks every 15-20 minutes during exercise with a goal of not losing more that 2% of body weight (e.g., 3-4 lbs for a 150-200 lbs athlete) as a result of dehydration during exercise
  
  
• Ingest one-fourth to one-third of a Raptor bar with fluids after completing the swim and each hour during the bike portion of the triathlon
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar within 30 minutes following training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume a high carbohydrate/low fat meal within 2 hours following training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume enough fluids to regain weight lost from exercise (3 cups per pound lost)
  
  
• Consume Raptor bars as a nutrient dense snack between meals and training sessions