Electrolyte drinks are everywhere right now.

They're popping up on podcasts, in influencer morning routines and on supermarket shelves.

But are they really necessary for everyone?

I recently spoke with the Australian Financial Review about this exact question for their article, “Electrolyte Drinks: The Simple Rule for When to Consume Them” (note: google the title to access the article if you don't have a subscription).

Here’s the key takeaway:

•  For most people, plain water is perfectly adequate for hydration. Electrolyte drinks are only beneficial when you’re exercising for long durations (think four hours or more) or sweating heavily in hot and humid conditions.

As I explained in the article, your sweat rate and sweat-sodium concentration are highly individual.

Some athletes lose much more sodium than others. If your training clothes often have white, crusty marks or you can wring out your top after a session, you might be a salty or heavy sweater.

That’s when it’s worth...

Back of the Pack? Why You Still Need to Nail Your Triathlon Nutrition

If you’re an age-group triathlete who proudly races from the back of the pack, you might think nutrition isn’t as important for you. Maybe you’ve thought, “I’m not fast enough to need gels” or “I’ll just eat some real food on the course and see how I go.”

But here’s the truth: nutrition isn’t just for the fast ones.

Whether you’re first across the line or finishing with the sweep vehicle hot on your heels, the demands on your body are just as high — sometimes even higher. Back-of-the-pack triathletes often spend more time on course, under load for longer, and therefore have an even greater need to get fuelling right.

In this blog, we’ll dive into:

• Why nutrition matters just as much for slower athletes

• The biggest fuelling mistakes back-of-packers make

• How to shift your mindset around food and performance

• What smart fuelling looks like when your race takes 8+ hours

Let’s get into it.

Long...

If you're a female triathlete who's ever questioned whether your nutrition needs to change depending on where you're at in your cycle, you're not alone.

Hormones shift throughout the month and can influence everything from metabolism and hydration to gut function and sleep. But does that mean you need a completely different fuelling plan when you’re on your period?

Let’s break down what the latest research actually says and what that means for you on the ground as a training triathlete.

The Four Phases of Your Cycle Explained

Before we dive into what to do, it helps to understand what’s happening.

1. Menstruation (Day 1–5): Oestrogen and progesterone are low.
   
2. Follicular Phase (Day 1–14): Oestrogen rises as your body preps for ovulation.
   
3. Ovulation (around Day 14): A spike in oestrogen, luteinising hormone and FSH.
4. Luteal Phase (Day 15–28): Both oestrogen and progesterone are elevated.

Cycle length can vary between 21 to 35 days and even differ month to month.

What ...

Are Wearables Worth It? What Triathletes Should Know About WHOOP and Oura

If you're a triathlete, you're probably obsessed with data. Pace, watts, heart rate, sleep score, HRV, TSB... the list goes on. You’ve either already got a WHOOP or Oura — or you’re tossing up whether one is worth the investment. But here’s the thing: more data doesn’t automatically mean better performance.

In this blog, we break down what the research really says about wearables like WHOOP and Oura, how reliable the data is and the smartest way to use it to train harder, recover faster and perform at your best.

Meet the Expert: Prof Shona Halson

Professor Shona Halson is arguably Australia’s leading expert in sleep, recovery and performance. With 25 years of experience working with elite athletes, including at multiple Olympic Games, Shona has conducted numerous validation studies on wearable tech. In a recent chat on the Triathlon Nutrition Academy podcast, she shared the evidence-based truth about wearable...

Training like a machine but still falling short on race day? You’re not alone.

Triathletes are some of the most dedicated athletes on the planet. You follow your training plan religiously, tick every swim, bike and run session off the calendar, and yet come race day, something's still not clicking.

Sound familiar?

In this post, we unpack the real-life story of Brent Saltmarsh – a determined age-group triathlete with a military background – who learnt the hard way that training hard just isn't enough. With PBs finally falling and cramping issues a thing of the past, Brent's journey through the Triathlon Nutrition Academy (TNA) is packed with lessons that could change your race results too.

Cramping, Bonking and Gut Bombs: When Training Alone Fails

Brent came into triathlon from a 30-year career in the army. No stranger to hard work, he brought that same "grit it out" mentality to his endurance training. But what he didn’t realise was that his nutrition strategy – or lack of it – wa...

Are you chasing speed but still underperforming?

If you're a triathlete who's invested heavily in the latest gear but still struggling with cramps, bonking or gut issues on race day, this is for you.

There’s no shortage of shiny new toys promising better performance. But the truth? Most of them are a distraction from what really makes a difference.

In this post, we’re unpacking five of the biggest obsessions age-group triathletes pour time and money into, and revealing what will actually improve your race results.

1. Fancy Carbon Shoes Won’t Save a Bonk

There’s no denying that carbon-plated race shoes feel fast. But if you're walking the last 5km because you’ve hit the wall, even $400 super shoes won’t help.

• The carbon plate wears out after 160km, which is just a few races

• Most triathletes don't run with the technique needed to get the benefit

• If your race nutrition is poor, you're still going to suffer

What moves the needle: A well-tested fuelling plan. One th...

If you're an age-group triathlete chasing better performance, you're probably already training hard. But what if the missing link to your next PB isn't in the pool, on the bike or pounding the pavement? At this year's Sunny Coast 70.3, we proved that dialling in your nutrition could be the game-changer you've been searching for.

In this blog, I'm breaking down the three race-day fuel hacks that helped two Triathlon Nutrition Academy (TNA) athletes, Kelly and Kathleen, not only smash their goals, but do it overseas, under pressure, and with absolute confidence.

Here's what we cover:

• The real secret behind next-level performance (hint: it's not just training harder)

• How to fuel confidently, even when racing overseas

• Why recovery nutrition isn't optional if you want consistent gains

Let’s dive in.

1. Carbohydrate Availability: Your Hidden Superpower

Both Kelly and Kathleen transformed their racing by learning how to nail their carbohydrate availability – a fancy wa...

Triathletes, are you being duped by dodgy nutrition advice?
If you're training hard and trying to optimise performance, the last thing you need is gimmicky products or outdated strategies steering you off course. But with the rise of social media "experts" and slick marketing, bad nutrition advice is everywhere — and it’s costing athletes real results.

This month, I’ve seen some absolute shockers. So let’s break them down, explain why they’re wrong, and most importantly, what you should be doing instead.

1. Transdermal Electrolyte Patches — Stickers That Don’t Stick

You slap it on your skin and voilà — hydration solved, right? Wrong.

These so-called electrolyte patches claim to help maintain hydration and performance. But here’s the truth:

• Your skin is designed to be a barrier, not a sponge

• Electrolyte absorption through the skin only occurs in very specific conditions like broken skin, electrical stimulation or prolonged soaking

• Even then, absorption is local, not s...

Are Creatine Gummies Just Expensive Lollies? What Every Triathlete Needs to Know

If you’re a triathlete trying to stay ahead of the pack, chances are you’ve heard about creatine gummies. They look like the perfect solution: convenient, tasty and easy to throw in your gym bag. But are they actually helping your training, or are you just chewing on overpriced sugar bombs?

In this blog, we break down:

• Why creatine is having a moment

• What the latest independent lab testing shows

• Which brands completely failed

• How to tell if your gummies are legit

• Whether gummies are worth it or not for triathletes

Why Creatine is Trending Hard

Creatine is no longer just for bodybuilders. From weekend warriors to busy mums, the supplement is being promoted as a must-have. Even the ABC recently reported on its rising popularity.

But here’s the kicker: while creatine monohydrate powder has decades of solid evidence behind it, the newer gummy versions? Not so much.

A Quick Cr...

Creatine has been making headlines lately, and for good reason. It’s one of the most researched supplements out there, yet athletes are still bombarded with confusing claims and gimmicky products.

That’s why I was thrilled to be featured as an expert source in an ABC News article by journalist Paige Cockburn, cutting through the hype to explain what actually works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to creatine.

A few key points: 

• Creatine can support strength and performance when used correctly.
• Not all forms are created equal. Gummies in particular often underdose the amount needed (if they contain any creatine at all!).
• Marketing can be misleading, so athletes need to know what actually works.

You can read the full article here.

My Perspective as a Sports Dietitian

As an Advanced Sports Dietitian and triathlete myself, I see athletes wasting money on products that don’t deliver results. Creatine has potential benefits, but it’s not a magic bullet. It’s about knowing if it’...