The water phenom shares his winning fueling formula
By Hammer Nutrition
Stand Up Paddleboarder Connor Baxter, featured in Endurance News 91, hammered the competition at every turn this summer. The Hammer Nutrition sponsored athlete won the Maui-2-Molokai World Cup Championships (his sixth win there), the Molokai-2-Oahu World Championships (beating his old record by 5 minutes, with a winning time of 4 hours, 8 minutes, 8 seconds), the Ultimate SUP Showdown, the Naish Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge, and the Olukai Ho'olaule (his third win there) - and more!
For daily training leading up to a race, Connor routinely uses Hammer Nutrition's Endurolytes, Race Caps Supreme, Tissue Rejuvenator, Race Day Boost, AO Booster, Super Antioxidant, and Recoverite.
"I believe the most important aspect of Connor's training and racing is his nutrition, which comes from the Hammer products he uses," said Connor's mother, Karen Baxter, who devised his long-distance fueling formula. HN
Baxters' SUPer Fueling Plan
Day before:
Karen prepares Connor's race fuels by putting the dry powder mixes in small water bottles (with NO water). Each mixture is different. Some contain Perpetuem and Endurolytes powder, some have Sustained Energy and Endurolytes powder, and "some may have Sustained Energy with Perpetuem," she says.
She marks the bottles "1 hour," "1 1/2 hours," "2 hours," and continuing in 1/2 hour intervals up to 5 hours. She also gathers Hammer Energy Bars and Hammer Gels in preparation for race day.
3 hours before the race:
Connor pre-fuels with Perpetuem.
Right before he leaves the beach (about 15 minutes before):
A small serving of HEED provides supplemental energy and electrolytes for the first hour.
During the race:
1 hour into the race, Connor takes his first fuel. (After the first hour fueling, he refuels every half hour.) Depending on how he is feeling, the fuel might be liquid, Hammer Bar, or Hammer Gel. "We get as close to him as possible and ask HIM what he wants," says Karen. "He is so in tune with his body that when we pull alongside to ask, he tells us instantly - bar, gel, or liquid."
With the bars, I only give him about 1/3. I unwrap it and just hand him the portion. I also open the Gel pouches, so that he can just grab and squeeze."
Hydration:
Connor wears a hydration pack that contains pure water. About halfway or three-quarters of the way into the race, he exchanges it for another full pack that his parents have ready on the boat.
After the race:
Recoverite every time!
