When money and pride are on the line, you can be sure that all the big dogs will be going at it and giving it everything they have. Pros and experienced age groupers use salt tablets to keep their performance levels high in long, hot races. While training and racing in hot conditions, or any conditions depending on your sweat rate,your body sweats profusely and loses a lot of sodium. Salt tablets help replace this sodium and help aid in the absorption of water.Sodium is key to proper muscle operation, so if you run low on sodium, that system can't work properly and cramps are often a result.

Another problem when you have low levels of sodium in the body is called Hyponatremia. Symptoms of Hyponatremia include: muscle cramps, nausea, headaches, vomiting, disorientation and slurred speech. Iron-distance athletes are very susceptible to developing Hyponatremia in training and racing. Some people combat the sodium loss by taking in additional sodium while training and racing. In one study after an Ironman, a large number of finishers were found to be hyponatremic. Some athletes swear by their salt tablets in helping them combat dehydration and Hyponatremia. Keep in mind that Hyponatremia can also occur due to taking in too much water while training or racing, so strive to reach a good balance for your body. Don't depend solely on just water or just energy drinks and/or gels; combine them to keep your body performing at its best!

TriSports.com offers the following sodium supplements: Succeed, Thermolyte, Sport Legs, and Hammer Endurolytes.