Most of us understand that sustained physical activity, no matter what form, requires adequate hydration.  However, our fuel intake is of equal importance.  Fuel, which for this review’s purposes includes any electrolyte replacement or gel products currently on the market, comes in many forms.  These fuels all serve to replace the very things we burn or lose as we exercise.  Our quest to become more fuel-efficient as we exercise, train, and/or compete is valid, as most of us have recognized that it can mean the difference between feeling good and feeling bad, finishing or not finishing, recovering slowly or bouncing back quickly, and most importantly having fun or being miserable. 

The choices are many when it comes to selecting the electrolyte replacement and gel product that is right for you, and the criteria that one must be mindful of in making a selection are even more plentiful.  Electrolyte replacement and gel products vary in calories, serving size, flavor, packaging, sugar content and type, consistency, and perhaps most importantly ease of digestion (which varies from person to person).  Whether you’re a runner, cyclist, multi-sport athlete, swimmer, or otherwise, the best place to test these electrolyte replacement and gel products is on the “playing field.”  But before you make a purchase, it really helps to understand the big differences and perhaps the small nuances between these various products.  We’ve done some testing of our own, and while our opinions may sway you one way or the other, keep in mind that your kryptonite may be different than ours.  The end goal is simple: become the most fuel-efficient athlete that you can be!    

Good morning Larry!
I am delighted to hear about your desire to move the body my friend. From
your email it is safe to assume that your body is screaming out for some R&R
(rest and recovery). This assumption is based on not knowing your exact
training program except for your frequency.

Training is awesome for the mind and body, but too much of it can lead to
feeling stale, becoming overtrained, and injured. We have all heard the old
adage, "Too much of a good thing can be bad". This holds true for
training/exercising. Both the mind and body require recovery within a day
(adequate sleep), a week (easy days mixed with threshold days), a month
(recovery weeks post a 3 week steady build in volume), and within a year
(off season - laid back and unstructured training mixed with technique drill
work). What you did 3 weeks ago will influence how you feel and perform
today. This may be why you are feeling a bit off today for what has been
taking place for the last 2 to 3 years.

So, Larry, what I would strongly recommend is to evaluate your current plan
and determine what day per week is your "off day". If you do not have an off
day (no training at all) lets find a place for one. If you do not allow
yourself a recovery week within a month I would recommend working in one
week (ideally the last week in the month) to train at an aerobic/easy
training intensity (well below lactate threshold numbers). Lastly, if you do
not have an off season I would strongly recommend creating one. This could
be from late October to January 1. You decide what works best for you. It is
during this time period that you can zero in on technique/skills that may be
weak in your sport. This will promote (typically) a lower HR/intensity,
which means you are allowing your body an extended period of time to recover
from the rigors of in-season training.

Focusing in on R&R throughout the year Larry will promote a fresher set of
legs and a stronger desire to train with purpose. Larry, nothing feels
better then when you rest and then come back feeling stronger then ever
before. I promise you that you too can experience this again by making some
small modifications as noted above. Promise.

Hope this sheds some light on your current situation. If it doesn't please
do not hesitate to throw another note my way!

Enjoy the process,
Lance Leo
(Coach L)