I always joke with my husband that feeding him (during hard training and race season) is like feeding a family of four. And when we go do training camps or have other triathletes come stay with us, it’s like feeding a village! These guys are small but need a lot of good fuel, especially if it’s for ironman training.
eat/train/sleep/repeat.
Like I mentioned before, I love being a sherpa wife. I feel like it’s my calling, my “sweet spot.” But I wouldn’t be able to keep this Kiwi triathlete well fueled for the year (season) if it weren’t for some helpful tools and amazing companies.
The BEST investments for FOOD and COOKING:
- A Costco Membership- For things like Udis Glutenfree Bread in large quantities and bigger pieces! And for organic eggs. Eggs on toast–> BAM!
- A Rice Cooker –I use it for everything. GF oats, rice, lentils, etc.
I’ve even traveled with it and made a trail mix porridge for fellow triathletes we were staying with.
- Crock pot- BIG batches of BBQ chili or taco meat.
- Vitamixer –Best for Healthy Bites
- Extra Freezer – To store frozen fish, meat, veggies, and more!
- Dehydrator –> for homemade fruit wraps.
The FUEL and Sponsors/Ambassador programs that help:
No no, they did not pay me to write this. This shout out for genuine LOVE. Honestly, we could not DREAM BIG without these companies. The provide us with the RIGHT fuel and for that, we are forever thankful!
NUTTZO– The kiwi and I are both Athlete Ambassadors for Nuttzo. They are truly an amazing company (see their story here) and of course provide us with AMAZING nourishment. Certified Nuttzo Addicts right here! Feel free to use our 15% off code too. COTTER-15 at checkout.
Our favorites.
Lovegrown Foods Granola and Oatmeal- Our go to for breakfast and for traveling! The kiwi has gluten free Hot Oats or Super Oats almost every morning post swim!
Corepower– Oh yes, we love our lactose free and gluten free Corepower. We’ve known this company for so long. First met them back in 2009 at the Buffalo Springs Half Ironman. We knew them when they were first honey milk and have stuck with them ever since! Needless to say, they POWER our RECOVERY.
PB and Banana Smoothie anyone?
Rebootizer– Oh my, this company is a god send. Truly a great natural supplement that helps fight oxidative stress. And if you’re an athlete that trains hard every day, your body needs this to fight those free radicals. AMEN!
Sorry, proud sherpa wife had to post this picture. 
Larabar– Gluten free training fuel –> Did I mention the KIWI trains anywhere between 20-35 hrs a week? Yep. He uses these bars for long rides and snacks. I use them, well, anywhere and everywhere.
We are both lucky to be ambassadors for Larabar.
Sizzlefish– This is a new sponsor for us this year and one we are EXTREMELY grateful for. Sizzlefish sends us their omega packs each month. This allows my husband to eat quality fish 4-5x a week. The owner, Rob, is a fellow triathlete and definitely understands the demands of good nutrition that goes along with training.
Enduropacks- a monthly supply of nutrition in a box! Enduropack is a great new company targeting endurance athletes. T
- Each pack includes a 30-day supply of their: Liquid Multi-Vitamin, Concentrated Electrolyte Spray, Essential Amino-Acid Patch, and L-Glutamine Tablet. All Gluten Free, NON GMO, and Organic. Plus they include small business samples in there too!
And of course, Zevia …Ohh SWEET SMART Zevia. Long gone are the days where my husband drank coke or coke zero after a long run. So glad I can provide another “soda” fix that is sugar free and all natural.
If you made it through this post, you deserve a medal. I know, it’s long but it was needed.
The kiwi and I have privilege of really KNOWING these companies. We know the people behind them (in real life as well). We know their names, what they believe in, what they stand for, and more. We believe in them and they believe in us.
A BIG HUGE thank you to each!
[Tweet “Fueling a Professional Triathlete for race season via @LCCotter #glutenfree #fitfluential #triathlon”]
What’s your go to fuel for training? Any favorites?
Cheers to a WELL FUELED race season!
LC
You guys deserve all the support you get! I love that you embrace your role in your husband’s life and how supportive you are. I feel like it’s rare these days to see that kind of support. I really admire this!
Love reading about how you keep him well fuelled! All those sponsors sound amazing too!
My boyfriend and I also have a Costco membership that we need to start using a lot more than what we do right now.
Oh jan! You must!!
YOU have some great sponsors there lady! I love that you say you love being a sherpa. I need to be a “sherpa” for my boys (even though they aren’t triathletes. He he. Checking out that Rebootizer now.
your boys are definitely mini athletes!! they run around all day, in a good way! and you are a great sherpa mama!
I can only imagine what it must be like to feed him. I bet it’s nonstop. what’s his favorite thing to eat?
I tend to gloss over sponsorship type posts because they often seem impersonal, but that is definitely not the case with you. I can feel how genuine you are and how much you appreciate these companies. I feel the same way about some of my local haunts. Basically, it’s nice to feel the love.
well we honestly wouldn’t be able to do this without them. Or we’d just live off rice and beans. no joke!
Yeah, rice and beans does have the potential to get old after a while. 😉
I love seeing what people eat when training. My son stole my Coconut Larabar last weekend and ate the whole thing! Where do you get the mini sized ones?
I got these from their site, but I’ve also found them at target!
Be my sherpa!! 🙂 As I’ve mentioned before, loooove Core Power
will you let me hold Ethan if i do? 😉
I love this post… I keep hearing about Sizzlefish, but we have such great fish here from markets (even though I live in Pittsburgh). Definitely not at your level, but I fuel with homemade larabars, nut butter (just got on the Nuttzo train, actually!), and designer whey protein powder!
let me know if you want a discount for nuttzo!!
Love this post!!!! SOme great foods. I am curious about the Zevia because I am trying to kick a diet coke addiction!! :). I am also curious aboiut where you find the love grown oats?….they look great!
Great post. Costco membership,Vitamix and crockpot are staples in our house too. The farmers at the local farmers market are always so nice to us filling our bag with an extra this or extra that. Plus, my son is going through a growth spurt and my daughter eats like she has a hollow leg!
Your hubs and I have twin appetites. However, I have a feeling I could out eat him in an EATING COMPETITION!!! Ask him is he is BALLSY enough to take on this challenge!!!
i bet your could. and you could out drink him with zevia. ;-p
I love Zevia but it is just so darn expensive. Pre workout I like eating something simple like a banana and then if I’m going for a long run etc I love Gu Blocks 🙂 Really informative post.. thank you!
i wish i could share my zevia with you!!
Costco is key!! I love that you have these incredible companies supporting you and James and your dreams. And you both are incredible ambassadors for them.
We just need costco as a sponsor! Haha
So amazing that you have so many great companies supporting you. Post long runs, this last training cycle, I was craving rice and meat!
that’ another great meal! or we do rice and eggs. gah, so good!
Gosh men eat so much (at least all my boys do) so I can only imagine one that is burning calories like your hubby!
Great post, thank you for all the wonderful fueling ideas! My go to fuels: lara bar, quinoa, spinach salad, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (personal Fav.), Whole grain goldfish, designer whey, and many other things obviously!
that sounds perfect! we need a training camp and we all bring our fuel to share! haha
Love my rice cooker and costco membership! Love the Cotter Team support! Amazing really!
Yes, larabars are my favorite! I’ll keep these tips in mind because I’m going to start working on nutrition with a college cross-country team, and everyone responds differently to fuels.
Ohh keep me posted!! So exciting
Please come be my fuel-er too! I love Sizzlefish – that’s so awesome they are a new sponsor!!!
Balls for mug cakes???
I didn’t know you were the Creamy Nuttzo type…I am ALL about the crunchy ones. And I’ve been craving oats and cherries, so when I saw that picture, I think I’ll have to make some pre-run tomorrow AM. XOXO
I’m kinda jealous of James, I gotta say. The man eats well! I ordered 2 jars of PF Nuttzo when they had a sale about a month ago and I’m almost out :(. I want to give it to the kids because it’s so good for them, but I REALLY want to ration it all for myself ;). It’s rare that I get to buy it! And I checked out Sizzlefish since you posted about it before. I’m thinking I need to make an order. Good fish (i.e., wild caught) at good prices is so hard to come by!
(PS, my mama is coming to visit the first week of March…I’m hoping that will give me time to come up to Austin on my own!) xoxo
You are an ambassador for all of my favorite products!! I really need to try Nuttzo. Great post!
Such a wonderful post! I have a membership to SAMS & it saves us so much money over the course of the year. Especially on fresh produce & meats! I’m really loving Corepower after my lifting sessions & obviously Healthy bites! I didn’t realize you made them in the Vita… I was doing them in the food processor. Maybe I should try that & my bites will look more like balls instead of crumbs haha I also enjoy ordering NUTTZO as a “treat” I should have ordered a case that time I got 40% from you! haha We have been eating larabars a lot lately, since Drake LOVES them, however I’m experimenting in the kitchen making my own, just being 1 bar a day for him adds up to be a lot by the end of the week! 😉
ohh let me know how that recipe turns out!
Can I be honest & say Costco creeps me out? 🙂 I don’t know why, but those types of stores just feel too BIG for me. Yes, I’m strange. but you already knew that!
haha, well i dont like to go. I send james. He’s obsessed with that store.
GREAT TIPS as always!!
I have been STARVING since I started training haha.
Do you know what macro-nutrient ratios Kiwi aims for? I have been sugar and grain free for over a year and currently training for IMLP. I am shooting for a KQ time and would like all of the advice I could get. Will we see you in Placid this summer?
Hey john! Do you want macro nutrients for during race or during IM training? Happy to help!
Day to day macros during training. I am currently doing 15-20 hours per week right now (with a family and full-time job)! I pretty much have my 70.3 nutrition down, so I am using that as a guide for the big day. Thanks.
I’ll email you. Basically you want your carbs right after hard workouts and then a balanced meal morning till mid afternoon. Then a fat/protein based dinner. This is just what’s worked for us.
I love this post – thanks for sharing! Even though we are not quite at your level, I always think that feeding my husband and I (who are both very active!) is like feeding a family of 4 :). Sometimes I can’t imagine how larger families actually fit everything in their refrigerators/ freezers because ours is usually packed! Some of the companies you mentioned are on the top of my list, too – I’ve been intrigued by Sizzlefish after hearing so much about it lately (and your link is broken, by the way!). Thanks again!
oh thanks Megan! I’ll fix that link. You so need to try sizzle fish. email them! I bet he’d send a sample pack for you and your husband
Great idea – thanks! I just emailed them 🙂
I need a blender & crock pot & a few other kitchen gadgets! I might even cook more if I had them. 😉
I love your love & man, the Nutzzo – holy yum!! Do love that Core Power too!
I don’t need as many carbs as the Kiwi so I have to be careful that way but such a great group of companies!
Very interesting! SO much goes into the feeding and fueling of your husband. I find the science of nutrition so interesting. You have some great companies backing you guys!
And so much goes into your fueling those kids as well! And you amaze me at your creativity!!!
I am always so impressed and mesmerized by all of the science and planning that has to go into fueling athletes. If I could do school over again, I would definitely study sports nutrition. I love ready about how you fuel your man and the great products. I actually use a ton of those as well. You go girl!
It’s a science for sure!! Good thing I like science hahah
All sorts of great companies here! That’s great you guys been able to partner up with them.
I know you can appreciate them too! ❤️❤️
I think it’s wonderful that these companies are so supportive of the two of you. You named some of my favorites and a few I definitely want to try. For instance, I have yet to try Nuttzo. Isn’t that crazy!?! I should really take advantage of that discount!
Please use that discount! You will be hooked
Costco is essential!! Oats, oats, oats, peanut butter, bananas, dark chocolate, fro yo at least one a week. Yep thats pretty much it (;
Mmmmm we need dark chocolate
Good fuel is super important, which you know of course! So it’s fun to see what’s out there and what people are using, thanks for sharing!
Such a cool post! It is so interesting to see how you all stay fueled for your training and active lifestyles!
We are lucky! Fueling is key
It’s because of great support and your encouragement
OMG I totally wish we had Sizzlefish up here in Canada!! That’s awesome that you’ve got such great relationships with these brands – they have such good products and I bet they make fueling your Kiwi Cotter much easier! I love my Love Grown Foods too (especially the super oats!!), and I’m a big Vega loyalist. The pre-workout energizer and performance protein are staples in my kitchen!
I bet sizzle fish can get to canada!! Email rob!
Knowing that these companies support people like you and James definitely raises them up in my books. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again (and probably again and again)… Seeing you both pursue your dreams with so much passion and dedication has always been so inspirational <3
And that means the world to me friend! ❤️❤️
I’m quite sure your partner companies love their relationship with you–you are such a great ambassador for brands!
I love my Vitamix…such an essential here. And the crockpot. Now I think I need the rice cooker after reading this post.
I never ate as much as I did when training for an IM–it’s no joke!
I can imagine that must be like feeding a village! I feel like our grocery bill jumps substantially when I’m marathon training. I’ve never tried the rice cooker for more than rice… I like that idea!
Oh yes, the rice cooker will be your new best friend!!!!
A good support system is key! Sounds like you guys have some wonderful companies that believe in you and your dreams!
Thank goodness!!
Wow! You have a ton of great sponsors! I have my sponsors too, but not this many! It makes such a huge difference to have companies behind you willing to support you in your journey.
Body Armor Sports Drink has been my favorite fueling supply that I have used. I would definitely recommend their products. Enduropacks is mailing me some supplies, thanks for the recommendation! I am hoping to reach out to a few more companies in the near future too 🙂
Great learning about the world of triathletes 🙂
I know you can relate! And I’m so glad. Enduro packs is helping you!!
I am ever so amazed at the amount of nutrition all of these guys take in during training; even the off-season is impressive! I love all of the sponsor love. You two are so very outgoing, grateful and simpatico, it’s no wonder how many people y’all know and network with within the Kiwi’s talented career!
Have a blessed day, gorgeous!
Oh tiff, I love you! Thank you for believing in us
I really love this post and all its information! Even though my husband is not a professional athlete his dream is to make the Olympic Trials and that requires A LOT of training, races, and wear and tear on your body. I am always looking for new says to help fuel him 🙂
Oh it takes just as much effort! He’s a pro and a doctor in training! Eating is key! Good wife you are
So I loved this post! wasn’t long to me at all. Enjoyed learning about the different companies you guys work with, but also about some good nutritious food for high intensity (endurance) training.
Love how you are SUCH a wonderful wife. You’re amazing, and you truly lead by example <3
oh friend, you are so good to me! thank you for always believing in US! lots of love to you and your sweet family
I think it’s so important that you share with us these amazing companies that help YOU and James out. That’s awesome!
thank you. I know you are familiar almost all of them too, yes?
I still remember the post you wrote about fuelling for the off season so it’s been great to see how the kiwi fuels ON season. I’m actually in testing mode at the moment for fuel for workouts- I do it before breakfast and have never ‘fuelled’ before but now I have a 25 minute walk + 10 minute train ride to the gym before work so need something!
do you have a rice cooker yet? I bought cheap one and travel with it. Seriously the best! throw some rice or quinoa or oats in there and make that trail mix porridge with an egg on top. Perfect fuel! Or i’m thinking you like potatoes.. so potatoes, egg, and a drizzle of molasses for natural sugar and iron intake. Gah.. we need to catch up via email. K?