Spartan Race Athlete - Hannibal Smith- shares in this Q&A his nutrition plan and how he uses supplements to improve performance.

Do you have a health condition or allergy (ex: gluten intolerance) that requires you to have a special nutrition plan?
I do not have any allergies that hamper my nutritional outline for inside and outside of competition.

Do you follow a specific diet (ex: vegetarian, paleolithic etc…). If so, describe it and explain how is it benefiting you?
I follow a Paleolithic nutritional plan! I have tried a lot of different avenues to really achieve that optimal performance in day to day life and during competition, but paleo is what my body needs to be fueled efficiently and to max out potential. Eating this way is more about what I am not putting into my body than what I am. No cereal grains, legumes, refined sugar, potatoes, processed foods, salt, refined vegetable oils, set these aside and watch your whole life change.

Do you supplement daily with nutrients like vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, amino acids etc…?
Every day I supplement my morning meal with a serving of Proven Nutrition Core and Heal. Throughout the day, I supplement with Core for hydration, aminos, and recovery. If I am doing a workout over the hour mark, I supplement with clif gels to sustain my outpoint during my endurance sessions. At night I do one more serving of Heal to really focus on that muscle and joint recovery.

What’s your pre-workout/competition nutrition and hydration plan?
My pre-workout/competition nutrition and hydration has developed over the last couple years, but I have narrowed it down to a couple of important items. 24 hours before I hydrate combining coconut water and Proven Nutrition Core. I eat lots of sweet potatoes, and steamed vegetables, and fish. The morning of the race, to make sure I have enough energy to sustain me for hours of competition, I eat rolled oats and almond butter.

What’s your during workout/competition nutrition and hydration plan?
During my workout/competition I drink Core to keep me hydrated and focused. If I start to feel a drop in energy, I'll also eat a clif gel preferably the noncaffeinated options.

What’s your post-workout/competition nutrition and hydration plan?
After each race, I focus on recovery and hydration, so I can limit the recovery time and start working towards that next goal. This is when I double the serving size of Proven Nutrition Heal, and I really feel the effects immediately. As an athlete, you need to find things that are sustainable, before, during, and after the race, many changes are the result of one thing, consistency!

Do you compete in different types of events (ex: different distances or formats)? If so, is your nutrition/hydration plan different for each event?
I only compete in Spartan Races.

Any other nutrition/hydration secrets you’d like to share?
Staying focused on whole foods is the foundation for recovery and growth. The cleaner your system and gut health the faster your recovery into that next workout, or competition. It's important that the days leading up to competition are filled with water, and that the water is supplemented with a nutritional tool for lasting hydration, amino acids, and recovery tools; and that’s the void Proven Nutrition fills.