Hydration
What is the best thing to drink before, during, and after you run? Water!
But there are exceptions. If you tend to
run first thing in the morning you need something to supply your body with the
necessary calories without upsetting your stomach. That is when a product like BUZrn comes
in handy. Consuming a gel before a long morning run will also provide
you with useful carbohydrates: gel will get into your system faster and with less stomach
upset.
If you are going out for more than 12 miles or if it is really
hot out, bring a sports drink. If you are going for more than 15 miles, bring a pack or two or three of
sports gel.
After a run, opt for water, a couple of tablespoons of blackstrap molasses, followed by chocolate milk or
Ovaltine. But then again, if it was a particularly hard speed workout or a longer run, mix up the BIOfix®
or Endurox® R4®.
Remember, everybody's system is different and your body may need to get used to running with some of these products
in its stomach, so make sure you train with any sports drink or gel
before you race with one.
Before Exercise
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smartFUEL BUZrn®
Yum...chocolate. BUZrn® will give you the fuel you need before any long run or race without
upsetting your stomach. The directions say to drink BUZrn® 1.5 to 2 hours before your run, which
is ideal, but you may be OK drinking it within 1/2 hour of a long run, as long as the first mile
or two is nice and slow. My stomach can't
handle cereal, bagels, or fruit right before a run, but it can handle this.
A word of caution: this product contains 35g of protein! That is well more than the 22g of
carbohydrates it provides, so you can't consider this a traditional carbo loading beverage.
Consequently, if you decide to use this product it is even more imperative that you
test it during training before using it before a race.
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During Exercise
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smartFUEL WARPaid®
WARPaid® contains the necessary carbohydrates and electrolytes and throws in vitamin C
and an amino acid. I usually look for a sports drink that has maltodextrin as the first ingredient
(I find it easier on the stomach) and the ingredients for WARPaid® list maltodextrin as the second
ingredient behind dextrose. Still, I can drink WARPaid® during all but the most strenuous runs
without stomach upset...it provides my body with a refreshing burst of energy and it tastes good.
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GU® GU2O®
GU2O® is a stripped-down sports drink that satisfies your body's needs during a run without
any extra ingredients. Ingredients include maltodextrin for carbs, fructose to make it taste good, and the electrolytes
sodium and potassium. This is my favorite sports drink; it tastes good, provides the necessary
calories, never upsets my stomach, and is very refreshing.
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Accelerade®
Accelerade® is supposed to have some magical, patented ratio of carbs to protein. The
marketing copy cites research showing how this carb/protein blend helps improve endurance. That
may be true, but I still prefer GU2O® over Accelerade®, primarily due to the taste and
way it sits in my stomach. I'll continue to test it to see if my taste buds and stomach get used
to it. I'd try mixing it 50-50 with GU2O to improve the taste, but then that would mess with the
carb/protein ratio.
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Gatorade®
If you race, then you need to train with Gatorade®. Don't choose it because it is the best
sports drink, but because it is what you will usually have handed to you by the aid station
volunteers in your next race. So, since you will most probably need to race with Gatorade®,
you should spend some time training with it as well.
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After Exercise
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smartFUEL bioFIX®
bioFix® is the third product in smartFUEL's excellent line of products. This is the
smartFUEL product to mix up after that long run or race. (Actually, if you can keep it in the
fridge or otherwise keep it cool, mix it up before you head out the door so you can
grab it as soon as you finish.) Maltodextrin is the primary source of carbs...and bioFix®
provides plenty of whey protein, amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, and electrolytes
to help your body heal.
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Endurox® R4
Again, that patented ratio of carbs to protein. While I'm not so sure I like in Accelerade®,
which is to be consumed during your run, I do like it in Endurox®, which you drink after your
run. In addition to the carbs and protein, Endurox® provides all the vitamins, antioxidants,
and amino acids your body needs to recover. As with any recovery drink, down this as soon as you
are able to maximize the benefits.
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