Goos, Oozes & Chews...Oh My!

The miles keep adding up and the distance is becoming longer and longer which means it has become time to experiment with the wide array of options of energy gels and boosters. Sports gels and boosters are a formulated mix of simple and complex carbohydrates used to energize your body during long, intense exercise, making them a necessity to endurance runners. Much easier to choke down then solid food and provide higher calories (energy) than most sport drinks. Some even contain added electrolytes and/or caffeine for an extra kick.

Running is a high intensity activity. The body uses a combination of proteins, carbohydrates and fats to burn energy. However, carbohydrates are the most efficient form of fuel available to burn. Carbohydrates are sugars that store and transport energy. If the body runs low on carbohydrates, runners can experience the “hitting the wall” effect, a point when all the glycogen has been used up and the body starts using fat for metabolism and to produce energy. Since burning fats is not as efficient as burning carbohydrates, the body feels is extremely fatigued—it is very difficult to run.

Energy gels can be used every 30-45 minutes during the run. Since most gels are a concentrated carbohydrate, you should consume enough water to help with hydration and absorption.

My coaches have reminded me numerous times that you DO NOT want to try something new on race days. Energy goos and chews can affect athletes' digestion in different ways, depending on their metabolism, body weight and fitness level. So something that works for one of my teammates may not be the right option for me. It was time for me to establish my gel-sucking habits as I continue to train

Boy was I overwhelmed with the countless options of consistencies, brands and flavors. There were some in the form of gels, some powders, some more like jelly beans ranging from berry and fruity flavored to mocha or cookie dough flavored. Literally feeling like a kid in a candy store,  I realized finding the right option was going take some time.

Last Saturday before the long run with the team, my Coaches went over which gels and drinks would be provided at each marathon we were training for. Carb-Boom is Yuengling Shamrock’s gel of choice (sounds delish, huh?) so I decided to test it out. These gels offer a blend of 22-25 grams of complex carbohydrates and two to four grams of simple sugars, two essential electrolytes (sodium and potassium) to effectively assist re-hydration, aid in key metabolic reactions and help replenish electrolytes lost in sweat. Now, to pick a flavor: apple cinnamon, banana peach or strawberry kiwi. Suddenly, I felt more like I was ordering a smoothie than something to pop while on the run.

Next day, it was probably about mile five that the curiosity got the best of me and I whipped the strawberry kiwi goo from my fuel belt. I am not quiet sure I needed it, but I know I will race day so might as well get use to it now. I will say, about 15 minutes after taking in my Carb-Boom, I definitely felt a nice little kick of energy, almost as if I got a second wind. It wasn’t in a caffeine overload kind of way, but just enough that my upcoming hill on the way home seemed feasible.

With all the replenishing options out there now, there is no excuse to “hit a wall” come race day and I will now be adding packs of Carb-Boom to my “marathon packing list” come March.