Fruit Punch Chewable Energy Tablets (14 Tablets)

Anthony Potts (Andy), 37, of Colorado Springs, Colo., is perhaps the U.S.'s most diverse professional triathlete. In fact, he's championed distances from sprint to Ironman including winning the Pan American Games, the 70.3 World Championship and the World Team Championship, he was named USAT Triathlete of the Year three consecutive times (2006, 2007 and 2008). And it all started in the pool at the University of Michigan where Potts won two Big 10 individual championships and was named an NCAA All-American swimmer six times.

It wasn't until 2003, though (four years after his last year on the swim team), that Potts started his professional career as a triathlete. That first year, he was named USA Triathlon Rookie of the Year and became the only athlete to break the Top 100 rankings as a first-year professional. Furthering his unbelievable break-out in the sport, Potts competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Since then, he hasn't stopped. Potts is still training and racing just as hard as ever and continuing to perfect his skills as a professional athlete. Between his training sessions, we had the chance to catch up with Potts to learn a little more about his training, his career and, of course, his sage hydration advice for both during and after training and performance:

When you're training for triathlon, you're working your whole body-a wide array of muscle groups-all the time. How do you fuel yourself?
It all starts with a balanced diet. Once you have the three meals of the day taken care of, it's time to look at what your body specifically needs to get through an intense day of training. ... I can tell when my calorie intake is off if I start to lose focus.

My workout fuel includes liquids [PowerBar's Perform mix], solids [PowerBars] and electrolyte replacement. The right nutrition and hydration strategy can keep me focused and motivated and able to improve on a daily basis.

Remember, the key is building your heart and lungs as much as possible because they don't know what your arms and legs are doing [other than screaming for more oxygen].

You are truly a decorated athlete from the sprint distance to the ironman. How do you stay above the game and continue to dominate?
Wow, thanks for the compliment. One of the great things about triathlon is that it has so many components that provide plenty of areas for constant improvement. ... I'm always looking for deficiencies in my game and where I need to improve.

My job as an athlete is try to stay ahead of the curve. To do that, I'm always tweaking my physical training as well as my mental preparation. I'm seeking my potential and I know that may not be attainable but that won't stop me from searching.

How do you manage hydration during an Ironman?
Every Ironman is different when it comes to hydrating. Since so many factors [temperature, yesterday's intake, humidity, preparation and appetite to name a few] go into my hydration strategy, it is constantly evolving. I have a general plan at the start of the race but it will always change as the race unfolds.

The basic plan is to consume about 24 ounces of a balanced electrolyte drink with a sufficient amount of the right kind of calories, namely glycogen because that is the primary source of energy for the body. Once I find myself in the thick of a race I'll look to answer my cravings, as cravings are our body's way of communicating to us its specific needs. [Example: Sometimes I want cola to calm my tummy down, sometimes I'll want just water to satiate my thirst.]

If you could offer two pieces of hydration and fueling advice to new triathletes, what would they be?
1. Listen to your body. It's okay to answer a craving
2. Don't overthink it. Drink when your thirsty, stop when you're full.

What does your recovery hydration plan look like?
It is only lately that I've looked at hydration as an area where you can aid your recovery. Lots of people know that you should try to refuel quickly (within 30 min) after a workout or a race with something nutritious that has a small amount of protein. However, I've been noticing more that refueling via hydration can play an even more effective role in my recovery.

Immediately after I finish a workout, I'll down a whole water bottle, preferably from a Fire & Ice Bottle so I know it'll be cold! That simple action will get my mind to shift gears from training to recovery. That way I'm already preparing for my next workout without even thinking about it.

What are your favorite pieces of Nathan equipment/gear you never leave home without when you're doing a workout?
I use the Quick Shot Plus on every run. It carries 8 oz. of liquid as well as a pouch big enough for a PowerBar. My Quick Shot Plus has saved me countless times from bonking!

When I'm out on the bike, I always ride with my AP Pro Aero Bottle. It's super easy to refill, keeps me in an aero position, and reminds me to stay on top of my hydration.