Author: Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Watermelon? Yes, please!

Disclaimer: I received Watermelon Gatorade Endurance and Mango Energy Gels to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Fueling and I have a bit of a rocky relationship. I have a tendency to run with just water. Want to know a little secret? I ran Big Sur on zero fuel. I realized a few days before that the pack of gummies I shove in my pack every race day but never touch was actually expired. Oops! I don’t eat breakfast before races either. Part of it is because I am always concerned about my stomach acting up and part of it is that it has never seemed to hinder me.

Yet, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t missing something. So, occasionally I try to step outside my tiny box and try new things.

Enter Gatorade Endurance Formula and Endurance Energy Gels.

Ok, though- in truth- on the rare occasion that I ran with pumped up hydration- it was good ol’ Gatorade- the orange flavor is my jam. Mix a bottle with some water and that would be my “last minute” race prep. The Endurance version was new to me though and the flavor even newer. Just in time for the heat of summer, Gatorade is introducing a tasty Watermelon flavor to the Endurance line.

And tasty it is. I was actually super concerned about the taste, I Love watermelon but hate watermelon “flavored” things. No worries here! I love the taste! It does not taste like it is watermelon flavored, it just tastes like watermelon! I was hard pressed not to drink it all at once. Also, I generally run with luke warm water so I was curious what it would taste like when ice cold. The answer? Even better. I had a migraine while at work recently and I was trying to hydrate well. I had the Gatorade Endurance Formula with me at work so I figured why not? Ice cold Watermelon Gatorade Endurance was kind of amazing.

So what makes Gatorade Endurance different?

I love the taste and it makes me actually want to drink more while running. Which is great as summer has made its presence known and it’s over 95* most days in home town. That’s half my struggle right there- making myself drink the hydration when I know I should.

How about the Gels?

gel desc

I am not a huge fan of gels. I normally can’t choke them down even with water which is why they have never been my fuel of choice. That is so not the case here! In fact on first taste, I wondered if I even managed to taste any it was so subtle and smooth. In fact I had, it was just so easy and the new Mango flavor was tasty, I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even need to drink water after it. Who knew??

As for energy- I haven’t run a real long run since San Diego. So I used the gels more as a pre-run boost. Which considering how tired I’ve been lately was probably a good idea. At first I didn’t think it was making any difference, then I noticed I was holding a 10 minute flat pace on 100* runs on my running portions without trying. These days, that’s fast for me but we’ll leave that for another post. Hey now, maybe there’s something to this fuel thing? I am looking forward to trying it on my long runs.

Ok, so some potential downsides-

If you mix the Endurance Formula powder with super cold water it tends to clump. I’ve noticed this with most drink mixes though, it’s probably why I drink mostly barely cold or room temp water.
I wish the scoop was a little smaller for smaller mouthed bottles. I made a little bit of a mess when I forgot my soft flasks and had to use a plastic water bottle one day.
Right now they are both only available to buy online or at a few specialty retailers. Ok- this actually isn’t a drawback for me- I live in tiny town, USA, so would be ordering online anyways but this could be a factor for someone else.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I like the new Watermelon flavor from the Gatorade Endurance line and I am going to continue to work on my fueling with the Mango Energy Gels- I have big race goals this fall.

How do you hydrate?

Want to hear more thoughts on the new Gatorade Endurance Formula?

Lindsey – Karen – Lissa – Katy – Jessica – Kevin – Amy – Jenn – Vanessa – Ang

Rambling On 35

Let’s ramble.

It’s almost July, people, how??? I mean, seriously? It’s almost fair time. Give me a funnel cake! Well, in a month. But in reality I am in denial that the fair is almost here… and that the year is half over.

I did it again. I committed to a race out of town on the same day there will a local half in me hometown sponsored by my work. Oops.

Speaking of work, I will be traveling for work at the end of next week. Not gonna lie, I’ve never driven that far by myself so shout some podcast options to keep me alert on the long drive.

Summer heat has officially, fully arrived. Which also brings fire season. Can it rain at night?

Something angered the Instagram PTB and I’ve been shadow banned. Me? I’m boring- what the heck did I do??? Grrr.

Share something new in your world!

Week 24- Landed Wrong

How is halfway through June? I am so in denial.

I finally had my CT scan on Monday for my ever present side pain and I was glad to finally get that completed. Scheduling it for the afternoon wasn’t too bright but I made it work.

Later in the week I felt like I was run over by the tired truck. I was so damn tired from Wednesday on and I couldn’t figure out why. I fell asleep on my lunch Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and took a nap on Saturday. Everyone around me seems to sick with something so maybe I was fighting a bug or something? I don’t know.

Then there was my foot but more on that below.

Monday- 3.41 miles Maybe heading out for a run after a day of fasting and drinking a ton of barium wasn’t a good idea. Combine that with 95* weather and while this run started out ok, things turned south on me at the halfway point and my stomach let me know that I needed to to back at my car sooner rather than later but could I please not run to get there? 😂

Tuesday- Rest

Wednesday- Rest I was planning on running but then the brother offered to take the family to dinner so food won out.

Thursday- 2 miles This was not the plan for this run. However a little over a mile in, I landed wrong on my left foot and felt a shooting pain. I stopped, walked but it felt ok so I adjusted my shoelaces and my shoe and ran on. Only to pull up short less than 1/2 mile later by the same stabbing pain in my foot. And this time it didn’t go away. I turned around and hobbled back to my car.

Friday- Rest I never run on Friday’s but I really wanted to make sure to take it easy on my foot. The odd thing was that it didn’t feel horrible when I woke up or throughout the day.

Saturday- Rest Once again, I was resting the foot but it really did feel ok. I actually spent the morning helping my brother buy a new truck. When you’ve bought as many cars as I have, you get called in for reinforcement. Well that and your resting bitch face. 😛 However it’s hard to be as helpful as possible when the Toyota dealership gets a shipment in the night before and one of those trucks happens to be the exact truck your brother was eyeing on the Toyota website right down to the color. They were literally pulling the plastic off and he looked like a kid in a candy shop. Poker face! Poker face!

Sunday- 3.1 miles Not the long run that I hoped for. As soon as I put on running shoes, I knew my foot wasn’t happy. What gives?! My foot had felt fine until then. Grrr. I still headed out for a run hoping that it would ease up. I tried to run nice and easy and just focus on my form and sometimes it worked. Mostly, not so much and then I landed in a pothole. I kept the run short and on the slower side so as not to aggravate the foot any more.

8.56 milesfor the week. I didn’t think I could run less than last week but I did. Boo to landing wrong.

How was your week?

Rambling On 34

Friday, everyone!!!

This week has been special- I’ve put my pajamas on inside out twice, reversed which eye my contacts go in (again) and had a rock chip my windshield.

I also realized or remembered that I am still claustrophobic when it comes to medical devices. 😂 I finally had my CT for my abdominal/ flank pain and was surprised how far into the machine you had to go. I damn near freaked out. One second I’m fine then I’m trying not to hyperventilate. 😂 Oops.

The last local school graduates today and is it sad that I am excited that that means my commute should be a little shorter now?? For a few months I don’t have to drive through active school zones in the 3 towns. It’s the little things.

We were given permission to wear jeans all summer for work but in my office, we were all like- nah. We’re such oddballs but hey we can be oddballs together. 😀I’ll stick to my dresses Monday through Thursday.😀

My summer guilty pleasure Is back- American Ninja Warrior. I just can’t help myself- I love it.

Share something random!

Week 23-Vacation

Upcoming Races-

Nada!

I do not have a race in the immediate future and y’all, I am so good with that. I need a break. Even though the marathon and San Diego were a month apart I think they were too close. My body kind of rebelled during May, maybe it was trying to tell me something?

Currently, my next scheduled race is October. I won’t last that long, I am already looking at race or two in July but a little break will do me good. Which my body reinforced last week.

I took all of last week off work and that was so nice. I caught up on a few things, ran- err attempted- a few miles and slept. A lot. I mean a lot. I also ate way too much but let’s not go there.

Oh and the puppy got to go to the beach!!

Monday- Rest I didn’t get home from San Diego on Sunday night until after 8. I woke up on Monday tired and sore. So I didn’t do a whole lot- it was glorious.

Tuesday- 3 miles Not good. Nope. I couldn’t even force myself to round it out to 5K. My legs felt ok but the rest of me felt exhausted. Exhausted like I sat on a bench partway through the run just to chill, I was abnormally tired. Grrr.

Wednesday- 3.1 miles Global Running Day! However the smart thing should have been to skip the run. I could feel that my hips/glutes were angry before I even started and I was still tired. But it was Global running Day- how could I miss it?? Stupid. Not my brightest move.

Thursday- Rest So this time I listened to my body and whining legs and rested.

Friday- 3.1 miles Sense a theme here? I headed out for a run in the afternoon but knew 1 mile in it wasn’t happening. Glutes said yah, no. So I walked it out. I tried to look on the bright side and think that at least I was able to finish a podcast that way.

Saturday/Sunday- Rest I took the whole weekend off! It didn’t start out that way, I was supposed to go on a hike with my mom on Saturday. However, it turned out she woke up sick and I was feeling an increase in my lovely side pain. Yay. So with that being said and still feeling off in my hips and glutes, I decided rest was best.

9.2 miles for the week. Could be worse for a chill week but I think I needed it.😀😀

How was your week?