When you’re running ultras, flavour is a big deal. Late in the day, in the heat, when your stomach starts to turn, what you can actually get down is what keeps you going. I train with both of these, I race with both, and honestly I don’t leave home without either one.
A lesson learned the hard way
I’d heard before that it’s a good idea to find out who’s sponsoring a race ahead of time and train your body (and your palate) on that product, so there are no surprises at the aid stations. At my last race, Desert Rats, I didn’t do that. I packed light on purpose, figuring I’d grab electrolytes at the aid stations and save some time and space in my pack.
That was a mistake for me. They were serving Naak, and I just wasn’t enjoying the flavour. It was bland, way too close to plain water for my taste, and I actually had a hard time keeping it down. Lesson learned. If you’re going to rely on something during a race, get to know it well before race day.
GU Hydration Drink Tabs: Orange
I’ll admit it, I have a bit of a sweet tooth. The GU Orange is sweeter and more vibrant than a lot of electrolyte drinks out there. Think Gatorade Orange. That’s what works for me. When I’m hot and tired, having a drink I actually want to sip makes a big difference in staying on top of hydration. It’s low calorie too, so I get my energy from gels and food and use this just for hydration and electrolytes.
I only use half a tab in each 500 ml (17 oz) Salomon soft flask. A full tab is too strong for me.
Quick tip: the tab gets fizzy while it dissolves, and whatever’s going on in there actually puffs up a soft flask. Leave a little room at the top, and once it’s dissolved, let the air out through the nozzle before you head out. Otherwise there’s a little burst on your first sip, which in my case ends up all over my face. Then I’m sticky for the rest of the run.
I’m loyal to the GU Orange.
GU Liquid Energy Gel: Cola
Most of my training is in cold, freezing temps, and gels go down pretty easily then. The Cola is always a favourite. It’s something I look forward to on a training run or in a race, and I appreciate the little jolt of caffeine.
The real test, in my opinion, is when things warm up. In desert heat, which gel can you actually get down? For me, the GU Cola is by far the easiest. It still isn’t easy, but it works. I picture myself taking a swig of ice cold Coke and down it goes. The lighter, liquid texture helps too.
Price
GU is also easy on the wallet, and gels can get expensive fast when you’re going through several on a long run and even more on race day. Everyone has an opinion, but I have no issue at all with GU and I like the flavours. Running Free sells a case of 12 for $34.99, which is tough to beat.
Bottom line
If you struggle to get fuel down late in a long race or in the heat, give these two a try. Train with whatever you’re going to race with, and find flavours you actually enjoy. For me, that’s GU Orange and GU Cola.
