Meet Lisa and Paul McDonald. We're diving into Paul's recent gruelling experience with Ultraman Australia. Lisa, armed with her expertise as a member of the Triathlon Nutrition Academy (TNA), played a crucial role in equipping Paul for success. In this blog, we'll explore their journey from training and nutrition planning to the actual race and recovery. Get ready for some actionable advice on optimising your performance in long-distance triathlons. For those unfamiliar, Ultraman is no ordinary triathlon. It's split over three days: - Day 1: 10km Swim and 140km Bike Ride - Day 2: 281km Bike Ri ..read more

How can you know if your nutrition sucks? Well, bad nutrition can cause big issues in all areas of your body, so there are plenty of warning signs, but they’re easy to miss if you don’t know what to look for. I want to share nine critical signs that your nutrition needs immediate attention.  1. You Need a Nap During the Day For me, the biggest red flag here is when someone constantly needs to nap or if they’re falling asleep on the couch. If your body isn’t receiving the fuel or nutrition it needs, it will try to keep things balanced by forcing you to rest more. When naps aren’t possible ..read more

Have you ever felt like your body just isn’t cooperating, no matter how hard you train or how well you think you’re eating? You’re not alone. Many athletes experience this, and today’s guest, Laura Hoffman, is no exception. Laura previously struggled with iron absorption issues that severely impacted her training but overcame this with tailored nutrition. Recently, she achieved a 20-minute personal record (PR) at the Western Massachusetts 70.3 Ironman, and Laura is sharing how she did it! Laura shares that her realistic goal for this race was five hours and 45 minutes, but her “super top secre ..read more

When it comes to sports nutrition, athletes are often bombarded with a plethora of choices. From protein shakes to energy bars and salt tablets, the options seem endless. But what about Coca-Cola as a performance enhancer? You probably didn't see that coming on a sports nutrition blog! But what does a triathlon dietitian have to say about incorporating Coca-Cola into your sports nutrition plan? My opinion may surprise you... The Role of Sugar in Sports Nutrition First, let's talk about sugar. Carbohydrates are our primary source of fuel as endurance athletes. During prolonged en ..read more

Ironman announced early this year that they're phasing out Gatorade Endurance and introducing Mortal Hydration for their North American races. This change is not global, so our friends in Australia and the UK can breathe a sigh of relief. But if you’re heading to a North American event, you need to be prepared. What is Mortal Hydration? Unlike Gatorade Endurance, which is a carbohydrate-rich sports drink, Mortal Hydration is more of a hydration formula with considerably less carbohydrate content. Available exclusively at The Feed, it is less readily available. Wondering how mortal compares to ..read more

As an aspiring triathlete, you might be wondering how long it takes to prepare for a triathlon. The answer is not straightforward as it depends on various factors such as your current fitness level, the distance of the triathlon, and your personal goals. However, with the guidance of a triathlon dietitian and a well-structured training plan, you can effectively prepare for this challenging endurance event. Understanding Triathlon Training  A triathlon is an endurance event that consists of swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances. As such, preparing fo ..read more

As an aspiring triathlete, you're likely aware of the physical and mental preparation required for this endurance event. However, knowing what not to do before a triathlon is just as important as knowing what to do. This guide, curated with insights from a professional triathlon dietitian with 15+ years of experience, will help you avoid common mistakes that can hinder your race performance. 1. Neglecting the fourth leg - Nutrition  The first mistake many triathletes make is neglecting their nutrition. Most triathletes have their training program sorted, but have put minimal thought to th ..read more

In the world of triathlon, relentless training isn't enough—you need the right fuel to power you through not one, but three sports. The triathlete's diet is more than just food; it's a strategic plan that keeps your energy levels up, recovery fast and performance at its best. So let's break down the essentials of what goes into a triathlete’s diet, why it matters and how you can optimise your own nutrition for maximum results. Why Nutrition is Key for Triathletes Before we get into the nitty-gritty of a triathlete's diet, let's talk about why nutrition is so crucial for triathlon. Triathlons a ..read more

Triathlons are one of the most challenging (and awesome) multi-sport events, combining swimming, cycling, and running into a single race. Triathletes are dedicated individuals who love to train hard, often balancing training with work and family life.  They train to test their limits, improve their health, and achieve personal goals. Becoming a triathlete requires a lot of commitment, but it's also incredibly rewarding. I'm Taryn Richardson, the founder of Dietitian Approved and I’ve been working with triathletes for 15 years, helping them reach their performance goals through my Triathlo ..read more

Triathlon is an endurance sport that requires a significant amount of energy. It consists of three different disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running, all performed in immediate succession over various distances. As such, triathletes need to fuel their bodies appropriately to meet the high energy demands of their rigorous training and competition schedules. This brings us to the question - how many calories should a triathlete eat? In this blog post, we will delve into the world of triathlon nutrition and provide some insights into this important aspect. Understanding Caloric Needs The numb ..read more