gatorade

You are browsing the archive for gatorade.

You Can’t Beat A Beet

06/22/2012 in Running Posts

beet juice 300x180 You Cant Beat A Beet Over the past few years I have heard many superstitions, crazy fueling concoctions and snake oil cures regarding running. We can discuss the merits of powerless potions, such as coconut water or pickle juice, another day. Today the “supplement” or “pre-race fuel” I speak of may sound like it falls into one of those categories but, fear not. Your cocky correspondent has done his research and this little root could be the real deal.

Beet Juice

Let’s start with a study by the University of Exeter and published in the “Journal of Applied Physiology. It showed that beet juice may have the most benefits of any pre-workout fuel when it comes to improving athletic performance. Specifically, it pointed to the benefits of nitrates which are abundant in beets. Nitrates bring oxygen to muscles quicker and dilate blood vessels to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, which allows an athlete to exert less effort for the same reward. Unfortunately, this study was performed on cyclists so we have no way of knowing how it will effect real athletes, like runners. The good news is that it did boost their endurance by a full 16%.

This subterranean sensation also improves hydration. Being high in potassium, it can stabilize fluid levels and help balance electrolytes. Beet juice is also an effective anti-inflammatory due to its high betaine content. I am not ready to throw away my Gatorade just yet, but I am willing to give this a try. red bomb You Cant Beat A Beet Did I mention that beets are also high in vitamins B1, B2, B6, C and A? My only concern is that if beets are high in potassium AND nitrates, one could throw in a certain organosulfide and receive a visit from homeland security. (The one chemist reading this just chuckled)

Those of you brave enough to try this, be warned! There could be an unwanted side effect. Eating beets leaves some people producing purple urine. If this little vegetable powerhouse lives up to the claims, I am willing to put up with a little case of beeturia. I’ll gladly be the guinea pig for this test and drink some beet juice before my 10K/5K challenge this Saturday and let you all know the results.

Run for fun and race to place everyone

Tags: 10k, 5k, beet, beet juice, beeturia, cyclists, gatorade, hydration, nitrates, race, run, superstitions, supplement 2 Comments »

by The Hornet

I Think I’m Gunna’ Hurl!

02/16/2012 in Running Posts

delta bb 2 217x300 I Think Im Gunna Hurl! Is he really going to do a whole post on stomach evacuation? It’s true, I am. So I request your full attention as the flight attendants demonstrate the safety features of this blog. A bag is located in the back of the seat in front of you in the event of illness, so get ready to read on.

It happens to most runners at some point and you have most certainly seen it at a race. The runners retch occurs for many reasons and I contend that it is not always such a bad thing. One of the most common reasons for losing your lunch is due to drinking far too many liquids before a short race. All too often there is someone in the beginning of mile three leaning against a tree, relieving themselves of a gallon of Gatorade. The obvious answer is to have an 8 oz. glass of liquid twenty minutes before the start of a 5k. It’s better to stop quickly in a race if you have to get a “splash and go” rather than losing large amounts of time puking. So let’s try and avoid this one in the future, shall we?

I mentioned in my post entitled “Half Way There!” that some runners make the mistake of combining thick sports drinks with sports chews or gels. Unfortunately the fuels you consume don’t break down well unless they are combined with water. But when consumed with a sports drink, many times it will create a mixture that sits in the stomach only causing nausea and not being turned into the needed energy to complete the race.

Overheating and heatstroke are also causes of the mid-race hurl and this can be very 2007XCountryCships29 199x300 I Think Im Gunna Hurl! dangerous. If you believe you are suffering from heat stroke, stop immediately and take any steps necessary to cool your body temperature. I recommend getting assistance from race officials.

Now for the good part of throwing up. If you finish a 5k race and cross the finish line only to start dry heaving, good job! Many runners don’t push themselves toward the end of a race to the point of being nauseous. It’s a combination of over exertion and sometimes lack of oxygen while maintaining a breakneck pace in the last two tenths of a mile. So unless it’s the end of a short race, let’s try to avoid the technicolor yarn from now on, huh? And remember, always run for fun and race to place!

Tags: 5k, gatorade, gels, race, runners No Comments »

by The Hornet

Half Way There!

02/03/2026 in Running Posts

Over the past few days I have been asked by a few readers to write an article providing tips based on my experiences in half marathons. So get your pencils out and be ready to take notes because the half marathon is the best race out there and here’s why:

You don’t need the lengthy recovery time as you would in a full marathon.
Your long training run is only 10 miles.
It’s the most bang for your buck. The average half marathon is $55 and you get to run for 13.1 miles of fun.
There is a medal waiting for you at the finish line.
And most importantly, many half marathons serve beer at the end.

Yes, it’s my favorite distance. The finish medals are fun but placing in a half marathon is quite another story. I competed in 10 half marathons during 2011, placed twice and came close a few times. Too many runners over train and arrive at the starting line all banged up. Obviously this is not an ideal situation and you must trust yourself enough to know that g2 fruit punch 32oz1 300x300 Half Way There! completing a ten mile training run very slowly is enough to accomplish your goal in this race. Diet is everything leading up to the big day. Eat sensibly the night before just as if you were not racing at all. But load up on carbs and they will be sitting in your stomach the next morning. Carbohydrate intake IS important immediately before and during the race. I like to chew a couple Clif Shot Blocks with some G2 Gatorade thirty minutes before I start then resort to gels at miles 3, 6, 9 and 11. Try to drink diet sports drinks before a race because the regular versions are very thick and can make you nauseous when mixed with gels or Shot Blocks. I found this out the hard way and had to buy new shoes the next day.

When you hear that gun go off to begin the race, start out slightly slower than you think you should. Try to enjoy the first couple miles, listen to music and hopefully take in the scenery, knowing that in an hour you’re going to want to cram some spectator’s cowbell somewhere only a doctor can retrieve it. If this is your first half marathon you need to set your goal very low. FINISH the race. That’s all. Nothing more. This is new territory and a learning experience the first few times.

Water Station 300x208 Half Way There! Hydration is VERY important. I can not stress this enough. Suppose you feel you don’t need any water at the first aid station. Drink it anyway. Once you start to get thirsty or dehydrated, it is most likely too late and you will suffer all the way to the finish, if you make it. Every station should be used to hydrate and walk for a short time. WALK? Yes, I said walk. As a wise man once said, “It’s better to get the water IN you than ON you.” If you must trot a little when you are drinking, fold the cup together at the top in order to create a sippy cup. This will allow a small opening to drink water without splashing it all over you. In an effort to recover lost time, I pick up my pace when I spot a water station. If I can maintain my 10k pace once my target is in view, it’s easier to offset the time I spend walking, drinking and recovering. It also doesn’t hurt to pour a cup of water over your head each time to keep yourself cool. Most races are well stocked and you will not be depriving others of precious H2O.

Mile ten is the toughest stretch for most half marathoner’s . The remaining 5k seems as though it should be a Medal far small 300x179 Half Way There! walk in the park but it is usually the longest 3 miles of my life. This is when your mental might can bring you to the finish by playing tricks in your head. Tell yourself that you deserve a walk break if you just make it to mile 11. There is usually an aid station there, but if there is no aid station, keep running and make the same deal when addressing mile 12. At that point I can assure you that you will not want to stop. ”It’s only one more mile to the end” you tell yourself and before you know it, you spot that magnificent finish line filled with balloons, reporters and a ticker tape parade just for you. Well, maybe not, but it sure will feel like it. Congratulations.