Client Spotlight: Sandy
Sandy had a pretty amazing 2019 due to her drive, dedication and commitment. Plus, she raised an insane amount of funds for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Congratulations on all your amazing accomplishments! We’re so honored to work with you.
–The Endurance Edge Team
What made you look for The Endurance Edge services? What were you trying to accomplish from the start?
My 2019 Triathlon goals were to complete 2 Full and 2 Half Ironman triathlons as well as 2 Marathons. With a much longer season than normal, I knew I’d have to pay special attention to my nutrition and recovery. After finishing two of the events early in the year, I felt something was off (lack of power, general fatigue, muscle soreness) and decided to seek nutritional help from The Endurance Edge. Chris mentioned the sampler package to me, where I could try out several of The Endurance Edge’s services. We decided on a nutrition evaluation, a metabolic efficiency test, a training/racing plan review as well as a sweat test.
Did you hit any roadblocks during the process of working with us? If so, how did that change your approach, mindset or goals?
I didn’t encounter any roadblocks, but there were a few hurdles where I needed to change past behaviors, assumptions or just habits.
I definitely didn’t like putting on the mask during our test :-), but I tolerated it to get the desired data. It didn’t hurt, I just mentally perceived I couldn’t get enough air. I’m still here, so that assumption was false!
I switched my macronutrient profile from high fat to more balanced, ensuring I was getting protein with every meal and every snack. I was already eating clean, however to meet protein requirements I added whey protein isolate (am) and casein (pm) to supplement my whole foods. My fatigue and soreness disappeared.
I already knew I was a salty sweater, however I did not realize I needed 50% more liquid and 4-5 times more electrolytes per hour than I had been using. It was initially challenging to get 1.5 bottles and 4-5 salt caps per hour in me during training, but with focus and watch alarms I adapted. I could also tell a few weeks later, my power and endurance were improving. This one change alone allowed me to have a solid, second Ironman event, with a heat index of 105.
After getting my blood tested, I did learn of a few deficiencies in my diet. I researched whole foods that would help improve it, and tweaked my recipes accordingly. I still have to supplement a few. This is still a work in progress.
What is the best part of your experience with The Endurance Edge?
As an engineer, I constantly seek to understand the science and data behind any guidance. The best part of working with The Endurance Edge was I could openly ask any geeky questions I needed. I also enjoyed reviewing the The Edge blogs as well as their weekly educational videos.
The Endurance Edge team is well qualified in their respective fields, yet the environment is laid back as well. I was able to ask, learn, apply and then see impactful results!
What are some of the lessons or concepts that stuck with you most?
The key lessons I took away from The Endurance Edge were:
Protein first. Time carbs to fuel and to recover from training.
Consistency is key! Training, fueling, HR, cadence, power, etc. makes for a better, long race day. There’s a place for high intensity, however it’s best to stick with a training plan’s parameters where the big picture is built in.
Train your gut. Really practice your calories, electrolytes, and hydration during training, especially longer sessions. Recognize and record how you feel and perform in different situations – ex. 30 vs 90 degrees.
Have a race plan: trust it and stick to it. If the conditions change (ex. heat), tweak your approach to the anticipated conditions. It’s better to know your body and how it’s feeling than to blindly chase data points.
Have fun along the journey! Treat the race as a celebration, and smile often!
What would you like to accomplish next?
After such a long season this year, I need a mental and physical break from swimming, biking and running. In the off-season, I will mix things up with an emphasis on strength training, mobility, balance and yoga. I hope to also toss in mountain biking and hiking for fun.
I will be building out my 2020 season and goals in December. I do know my A event will be the World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, ie. currents, winds and heat. With swimming as my weakest segment, I hope to get in more Open Water Swims. The ocean is a beast to me, so I need to get more experience and confidence with the currents to weather those conditions. Similarly, I’d like get more riding in on the East Coast, in anticipation of windy island conditions. I also expect I’ll have to rig up some heat training and conditioning, including Bikram Yoga.
I’m on Iron Team Challenge Crohn’s & Colitis. I will represent them again on course in 2020. It’s far more rewarding to align my hobby (triathlons) with my heart (giving back) for a bigger cause and impact, so our patients can one day also live a spontaneous, healthy lifestyle. Something I strive to do every day. The Endurance Edge was a missing key ingredient for me.
