Gatorade Alternatives That Elite Athletes Actually Use
For short workouts, you will probably be drinking water. But on long runs (over an hour), you probably need something more substantial. If you want something with a different flavor or a slightly different nutritional profile than old standards like Gatorade, try these hydration options that elite runners use.
So why not just drink some water? Carbohydrates (including sugar) increase performance by nourishing muscles and sending signals to the brain that alter your perception of effort. When you sweat, you also need to replenish lost electrolytes, especially sodium .
Runner’s World surveyed several elite athletes regarding their choice of hydration while running. Some were from popular brands like Gatorade and PowerBar drinks, but here are some of the less obvious options:
- Nuun tablets fall into a water bottle and contain electrolytes, flavoring and a small amount of sweetener. You will have to get your carbs from another source.
- Also designed to be added to your water bottle, Osmo Nutrition’s bags have been recommended by an athletics runner who loves that they are “free from fake flavors.” (Instead, they are flavored with fruit powder.) Osmo products come in male and female varieties, which they claim may offset the performance degradation women see at certain points in their cycle.
- Coconut water was on our list of overrated “healthy” foods because it is too low in sodium and carbohydrates to make a good sports drink. He entered the World of Runners list with the caveat that (surprise!) You need to add sodium and carbohydrates if you expect it to last for a long workout.
Read the full article on Runner’s World to learn more about hydration choices for elite athletes.
What Elite Midrun Drinks | World of runners