How A 60 Year Old Ran A Triathlon In Barcelona Despite Having Crippling Issues With His Gut!

Read the incredible story of Mark who competed in a triathlon at the age of 60 – At the end he told me "This race was the best I've felt in years!"

Case Study: Gut Issues & Boosting Performance for a 60-Year-Old Triathlete

When Mark (name changed for confidentiality) came to see me, he was in his early 60s and training for the Barcelona Triathlon, one of his biggest events of the year.

Despite being a very committed and experienced athlete, he’d been struggling with digestive issues for years!

His gut symptoms were unpredictable, uncomfortable, and starting to interfere with both daily life and training sessions.

He knew that if he didn’t get this sorted quickly, his build-up to Barcelona could become disrupted and he didn’t want to lose the momentum and confidence he’d built.

Identifying the Root Cause of His Gut Problems

Instead of guessing or making random diet changes, we decided to take a structured approach.

I arranged a comprehensive stool test, giving us a deep look into:

• Gut bacterial balance
• Inflammation markers
• Digestive enzyme function
• Possible infections or overgrowths
• How well he was absorbing nutrients

The results were incredibly useful. They showed exactly where the imbalances were coming from and why his gut had been reacting so strongly. 

For Mark, this was a huge relief, he had clear answers rather than uncertainty.

A Targeted Plan to Fix the Gut Fast

Because he was mid-training block, we created a fast but gentle protocol to support:

• Reducing gut inflammation
• Rebalancing the microbiome
• Improving digestive function
• Supporting nutrient absorption
• Minimising disruption to training

Within a short period, his symptoms began to settle. He could train consistently again without the uncomfortable bloating, cramping, or urgency he’d been dealing with.

He later told me that this alone felt like a massive win.

Personalised Fuelling Strategy for Triathlon Performance

With his gut health stabilised, we shifted focus to performance nutrition.

For a triathlete in his 60s, fuelling becomes even more important for:

• Sustaining energy across long sessions
• Supporting muscle recovery
• Keeping joints and connective tissue healthy
• Maintaining immune resilience
• Avoiding mid-race energy crashes

Together, we worked on:

1. Pre-Workout Fuel

Finding options that were gentle on the gut, but effective at providing energy.

2. During-Training Fuel

Testing different carbohydrate sources to discover what he personally tolerated best - gels, chews, liquid carbs, whole foods

3. Hydration & Electrolytes

Ensuring gut-friendly electrolyte strategies.

4. Post-Training Recovery

Carb + protein combinations that wouldn’t trigger symptoms but would maximise recovery.

5. Race-Day Plan

We built a simple, step-by-step fuelling schedule specifically for Barcelona, including:

• What to eat the night before
• Race-morning breakfast
• Timing of carbs during each section
• Hydration checkpoints
• What to avoid

Because his gut was sensitive, this part was extra essential and he followed the plan perfectly.

The Result: A Strong, Enjoyable Race and a New Goal

Mark completed the Barcelona Triathlon in an excellent time, but what mattered even more was that he really enjoyed the race. 

• No gut issues.
• No panic.
• No energy crashes
• Just steady, confident performance from start to finish.

When he returned for a follow-up session, he was buzzing with energy and proudly announced that he’d already signed up for next year’s race.

He told me:

“I finally felt in control of my body again. The race was the best I’ve felt in years.”

Summary

This case is a great example of the power of personalised nutrition especially for athletes in midlife and beyond.

Key elements of his transformation:

• Thorough gut testing identified the real issues
• A targeted protocol resolved symptoms quickly
• Individually tailored fuelling strategies supported his training
• Race-day nutrition was planned around his tolerance, not generic advice
• He raced confidently, finished strongly, and is excited to compete again

Working with Mark was a reminder that age is not a barrier with the right approach, athletes can continue to progress, thrive, and love their sport well into their 60s and beyond.