ENERGY SUPPLEMENTS
From Trainer Will: energy supplements
Each of those items (gels, gummies, beans) are designed for the same purpose:
quick, easily digestible energy. The different forms are only to cater to
various individuals’ personal preferences. Some don’t like the texture of gel
(like Gu), some don’t like gummy-type stuff (like Shot Bloks), and some don’t
really like chewing on jelly beans in the middle of a race. These provide
energy through caffeine and simple carbohydrates.
When to use them is also a personal preference situation. Most of these
products say to take one serving 15 minutes before you start, and then one
every half hour of exertion. There’s nothing wrong with that strategy,
however, because these supplements all use caffeine (they have non-caffeine
options, but…let’s be real here: why use it if not for the caffeine, which
can cause a significant performance boost), you don’t really want to stop
consistently taking them until your exercise is finished. Also, sometimes you
can only ingest so much caffeine before you start feeling “off.” Because of
that, some people like to settle for a good breakfast before the race and then
wait a period of time (maybe 60-75 minutes into the race) before starting to
use energy supplements.
Whatever race day strategy you decide upon, you should be careful to test it
in training. Use your long runs as you lead up to the race to practice and
test various strategies and see which works best for you, so that you have no
questions or indecision on race day.
Good luck with your training!
- Trainer Will
For more information about Will, visit runcha.co!