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| A picture of the useless thing (flickr crab68) |
The hydration belt, of which FuelBelt is the best known, is a ridiculous invention for triathletes and runners that consists an elastic strap with tiny little holders that fit tiny little 7 oz (200 ml) bottles. The most pointless use for them involves filling them with fluids. After fumbling with each of your various four bottles you'd probably have enough fluids to sustain you for about an hour of exercise. In this time, if you were using it for racing, you probably would've passed by two or three aid stations, offering similar sugary substances, handed straight into the palm of your hand by a volunteer.
BUT ALL THE PROS USE THEM!
Yes. Yes they do. Mercifully for them they are paid to. But how do they minimize the damage? Well, I couldn't find any evidence of their sponsored athletes actually using any FuelBelt products (aside the elastic band) while racing. If they do use them, they're using the two bottle over the four bottle version (interesting) and they fill them with gels. So, yeah, at least that way the contents of the bottles will last them the entire event. At the end they lug an empty belt of empty bottles over the finish line for the cameras. Personally, I suggest using whatever is on the course unless you're getting paid to.
OH, NO BUT I *MUST* HAVE THE STRAWBERRY FLAVORED GU BRAND I'VE BEEN SPECIFICALLY TRAINING WITH.
Grow a pair, ironperson, vanilla is not going to kill you. Or, if you're really that sensitive to various food flavor additives, find out what flavor gels they are giving out on the course and train with those. Try and get the most out of your over priced entry fee.
BUT WHERE AM I GOING TO STORE MY GELS?
In your pockets. They have them built into your tri suit now to justify charging you $150 for a piece of lycra.
HANG ON, DOESN'T HEATHER JACKSON WEAR AND WIN IN A FUEL BELT?
Well, she wins in a belt. There's not actually any fuel attached to it and in reality she seems to prefer taking fluid from paper cups at an aid station. Still, that doesn't stop FuelBelt sponsoring her. I'm waiting on the wind tunnel test results to see how much faster that piece of elastic is compared to others.
BUT MY RUN LEADER AT THE FLEET FEET RUNNING GROUP TOLD ME WE NEEDED ONE FOR OUR TRAINING RUNS?
Shut up.
1 comment:
You would have loved Jenn and my conversation the other day... we both couldn't figure the need for these.
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