Hydration ≠ Nutrition — Why So Many Pros Struggled in Kona

💬 Discussion: Hydration ≠ Nutrition — Why So Many Pros Struggled in Kona

After watching so many elite female athletes DNF in Kona, it’s a powerful reminder that hydration and nutrition are not the same thing.

You can nail your carbohydrate targets and still fall apart if your hydration strategy doesn’t match the conditions or your physiology.

We tend to lump them together — “fueling” — but the body processes them very differently:

💧 Hydration

Maintains plasma volume, thermoregulation, and neuromuscular function.

Driven by sweat rate, sodium concentration, and fluid absorption.

When it’s off: dehydration, cramps, dizziness, GI shutdown, and early fatigue.

🍌 Nutrition

Keeps glycogen stores, energy availability, and gut tolerance stable.

Driven by carbohydrate type, rate (g/hr), and gut training.

When it’s off: energy collapse, bonk, or nausea from poor carb-to-fluid ratio.

⚡ The Overlap That Catches People Out

Even the best endurance athletes forget that your gut can’t effectively absorb carbohydrates when you’re dehydrated.

So what looks like “GI distress” on the bike or run is often a hydration error, not a nutrition one.

This is where Infinit Nutrition stands out for our Synergy athletes — custom blends allow you to balance:

Electrolyte concentration based on your sweat profile.

Carb source ratio (glucose:fructose) for gut comfort.

Fluid volume tolerance in heat or humidity.

It’s not about copying what a pro uses — it’s about building your formula so the gut, brain, and muscles stay in sync across a 6+ hour day.

🧠 Let’s Discuss:

How do you currently test your sweat rate or sodium loss?

Have you ever separated hydration and nutrition in long sessions?

What do you adjust for hot, humid races like Kona or Cairns?

Who’s using Infinit — and what blend or custom tweaks have worked best for you?

Drop your thoughts and experiences below 👇

This is where we learn from each other, not just the data.

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