Dedicated triathletes are always looking for new ways to elevate their performance and training sessions, and those at the top know it’s often about training smarter, not just harder. Endurance training effectively for a triathlon includes managing your diet, and especially watching your intake of protein, carbs, electrolytes, and ketones. The first three are likely familiar to you, but you may not recognize the fourth.
So what are ketones? Ketones are an energy source that can be endogenously — i.e. internally — produced within your body. However, your body will only create its own ketones after experiencing severe restriction of the amount of carbs and sugars you consume each day.
Alternatively, users can also turn to exogenous ketones –– i.e. ketones of “external origin”, produced outside the body. Today, many athletes harness exogenous ketones with ketone drinks like Kenetik, which offer a fast-track to clean, plant-based ketone energy.
Regardless of whether you opt for exogenous or endogenous ketones, ketones themselves are a source of clean burning fuel that are often more efficient than carbohydrates. This is how the keto triathlete trend was born. So if you’re looking to learn how ketones can help optimize your triathlon training sessions and performance, read on.
What Should a Triathlete Eat During Training?
A triathlete diet usually consists of a large amount of carbs. Athletes usually consume a carb diet as an easy way to provide their body with the energy needed for high-intensity exercise. Athletes — triathletes especially — rely on large amounts of carbohydrates to generate the glucose needed for energy.
Is a Low-Carb Diet Good for Endurance Athletes?
By contrast, ketones are produced by the liver when there is no more glucose available — such as during fasting or ketosis. And while ketones are a more efficient energy source than carbs, high-intensity efforts may still rely on the body’s ability to metabolize carbs.
As a result, because of the intensity of triathlon training, fasting or adhering strictly to a low-carb diet is probably out of the question for most triathletes. Doing so would require users to largely minimize or completely eliminate their carb intake.
Furthermore, to actually achieve ketosis, a person must consume less than 50g of carbs per day. During training, triathletes should be consuming between 30-60g of carbohydrates per hour. Then, immediately before a triathlon, individuals should consume about 10g of carbs per kilogram of body weight.
Consequently, triathletes may have difficulty accessing endogenous ketones. However, keto during triathlon training is not impossible. This is what makes exogenous ketone products so important for those who rely on constant carbs to fuel their performance. Dual fueling with clean carbs and a tasty, portable exogenous ketone drink like Kenetik can make all the difference in a long race, and ensure carb adapted triathletes stay energized and focused.
What Should a Triathlete Drink During Training?
Proper hydration and electrolyte consumption are both mandatory components of successful, sustainable triathlon training. While water is usually sufficient hydration for more casual workouts, electrolyte drinks are necessary for higher intensity workouts.
Most conventional sports drinks aren’t ideal, as they tend to be high in sugar. The drawbacks to excess sugar consumption are well documented, but unwanted weight gain and even tooth decay are common consequences of overconsumption of any sugary beverage: soda, sports drinks, or otherwise.
Exogenous ketone drinks like Kenetik are an excellent addition to any athlete’s training regimen. Keto drinks for athletes act as a fuel source and contain no caffeine or added sugar but chock-full of powerful electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
How Can Exogenous Ketones Help Triathletes? - Keto Triathlete Benefits
What makes exogenous ketones so beneficial? Well, exogenous ketone drinks offer an energy source with the benefits of a keto diet without the hassle and carb-cutting.
Ketones are an incredibly efficient and powerful fuel source that tote a long list of benefits. These include the ability to reduce oxidative stress and provide restorative energy to cells. Additionally, studies have found that ketones are linked with the production of proteins known as BDNF, which are known to improve cognitive function. Similarly, BDNF can also enhance your memory and help your mind sustain stronger mental energy, which can help you power through exhaustion.
Exogenous ketone drinks for athletes like Kenetik help you stay on top of your game and elevate your training regimen. Kenetik harnesses the power of D-BHB and R-1,3-butanediol, a novel molecule that the liver converts into D-BHB. D-BHB is bioidentical to the molecule our bodies naturally produce in ketosis, but Kenetik’s version is carbon negative and plant-based, making it a perfect fit for a triathlon diet. Kenetik is caffeine, dairy, gluten, and soy-free. Plus, it contains no added sugar and simply supplies powerful, smooth bursts of energy with zero crash. Kenetik can be taken right before workouts to boost your energy levels and focus, or during or after exercising to improve your stamina and facilitate a quick recovery.
How to Optimize Triathlon Training - Keto Ironman Guide
When you choose to make Kenetik a part of your triathlon training regimen, there are a few ways to optimize its effects.
First, Kenetik works best as a daily addition to your exercise routine. Why? Because the more consistently endurance athletes expose their body to exogenous ketones, the better it will become at using them efficiently! In fact, it can take up to four weeks of drinking daily exogenous ketones for your body to harness these ketones’ entire scope of benefits.
Kenetik is the perfect add to any triathlete’s training regimen and diet, because its exogenous ketone blend is not only delicious (and recommended by the American Brain Council), but also proven to rapidly increase your circulating ketone levels for maximal performance.
Another great thing about Kenetik is it can be taken at any time of day, and comes in a portable bottle for on-the-go activities. Are you someone who prefers an early start, up and running before everyone else hits the streets? A glass of Kenetik in the morning lets you start your day off focused and energized. Keto and triathlon training is now made possible thanks to Kenetik’s clean energy source.
Unlike caffeinated beverages, Kenetik won’t spike your heart rate or negatively affect your sleep schedule if you drink it late in the day. Instead, our ketone drink for athletes provides a steady energy boost that remains entirely jitter-free.
For the best results, try drinking one bottle of Kenetik 15-30 minutes before you start endurance training, or before your triathlon. Don’t worry — during prolonged bouts of exercise, you can always drink another to sustain your momentum.
Your muscles — including your heart — can do nearly 30% more when powered by ketones than they can with a carb diet alone. Grab a bottle today and transform your training with Kenetik.
