By Luis Alvarez
Though everyone's body reacts in a different way and there exists no body equal to another, I want to share with you my training and competition strategies for nutrition and hydration, I hope they can be useful for you.

Basically, my hydration and nutritional intake, whether it is during training or competition, should almost be the same as you do not want to experiment during an actual IM event. It is during training that one needs to experiment and so I like to test other types of food and drink so I can discover what is agreeable for me or not.

Ironman training is about consistency - being able to put together strong back-to-back workouts. Needing to take extra recovery days or backing off on a workout due to a tired body can compromise my overall plan. I start working on recovery the minute I finish a workout, and I consider MAP to be key to my Recovery Plan and a consistent Ironman training program.

Cherie Gruenfeld, Age Group Hawaii Ironman World Chamption

Optimum performance is determined by the right training and the right nutrition. If the right nutritional ingredients are present in the form of protein, carbs and fat, the body can add strength and recover. Almost never considered is what if that nutrition is accompanied by toxins that block body processes?

by Team MAP member, Kevin Moats

As an experienced Ironman, the ironman distance in itself is not daunting. You have completed a few ironman races, and you can go the distance. So now you are racing Kona for the first time.

The Kona’s unique mix of heat, humidity and shifting winds elevates the race to an extreme level.

I have competed in Kona for 20 years, and have been able to experience the course during various months of the year. In all those times, the course is rarely gentle or forgiving. Due to the simple fact that the island heats up during the day, the winds will be against you in the morning as you head north through the Saddle area, (the 30 miles between the airport and Kwaehae), since the prevailing evening and early morning wind is out of the northeast. At about 10 am, as the island heats up, the wind shifts and starts blowing from the south west or westerly direction, so that on your return from Hawi and Kwaehae you will suddenly have another 20 to 25 MPH headwind for 20-30 miles.

We have several programs through which you can earn free MAP.

MAP Winner's Circle -- Win your age group in a sanctioned event and win a free bottle of MAP.

Automatic Re-order Program -- When you sign up for our Auto Re-order program, every 12th bottle is free.

Affiliate Program -- Register as an Affiliate, then have the people you refer enter your name on their order form. Every time you have earned 12 credits, we will ship you a free bottle of MAP.