Fueling has often been cited as the fourth discipline of triathlon, and for good reason: getting your sports nutrition right can help power positive results, while getting it wrong can be disastrous. And we’ve *all* suffered through getting it wrong, whether that’s GI distress, bonking, cramping, or ultimately, being unable to finish an event. And those are just those that I’ve suffered through during my endurance sports career…
We endurance sports folks also tend to be creatures of habit. Once we find something that we no works, we cling to it. For example,for years I used a specific Infinit Nutrition mix and refused to consume anything else. For the last five years, I’ve been on a Gatorade Endurance kick, and for two reasons: first, it was recommended to me as my best option by a sports dietician; second, it was available on course at IRONMAN races. (Cue my kicking and screaming when IRONMAN moved to Mortal Hydration…)
There are also those products that we have unfortunate memories with. I can never again eat a Hammer Nutrition Montana Huckleberry gel,because I had the immense misfortune of trying to take one while on a run in Portland,Maine’s Back Cove and the wind shifted,bringing a gust carrying the fresh scent of raw sewage from the treatment facility into my mouth at the same time. Even typing that I still get the flavor recall. Never, ever again. And what a shame, as those things were delicious.
This is a long way of saying that I generally like what I like, and I don’t usually make changes, when it comes to my sports nutrition. But, well, I’m here to test stuff out. And as I gear up for version 4.0 of trying to make a novel attempt at coming back to triathlon (seeing as the first three editions whent so well),figured it was as good of a time as any to try some new things,starting with GOODLIFE Nutrition’s core line-up of endurance fueling and recovery products. We’ll break a couple of these down, as well as compare to them to a couple of equivalent products that are out there.
Note: GLN is a partner of Slowtwitch. I got the products for free. Otherwise, the review is my own.
High Carb: Mixed to your Preferred Strength
Electrolyte Drink Mix from GOODLIFE Nutrition is designed with a primary focus on replenishing essential electrolytes. It delivers a blend of sodium, magnesium, potassium, and chloride – a combination also found in popular products from brands like Precision Hydration, LMNT, and First Endurance.
A key advantage of GOODLIFE Nutrition’s Electrolyte mix is its low carbohydrate content. This allows athletes to easily combine it with the GOODLIFE High Carb product to create a single beverage that addresses both hydration and caloric needs. Alternatively, the strong flavors of the electrolyte mix mean it can be used independently of a fuel source, allowing for separate management of hydration and energy.
For training and racing, a preferred method is to mix the electrolyte and high carb solutions together. This strategy is employed by GOODLIFE sponsored athlete jason West. When combining the two,matching the lemon-lime flavor of the High Carb product or opting for an unflavored electrolyte mix is recommended to maintain a palatable taste. The electrolyte mix itself has a notably strong flavor profile.
Worth a look