Buzz
While water is sufficient for quick workouts, endurance activities lasting over an hour often require more advanced hydration solutions. If you're seeking alternatives with unique flavors or varied nutritional benefits compared to traditional options like Gatorade, explore these elite-approved choices favored by professional runners.
Why isn't water enough? Carbohydrates, including sugars, enhance performance by fueling muscles and altering your brain's perception of effort. Additionally, replenishing electrolytes, particularly sodium, lost through sweat is crucial for maintaining peak performance.
Runner's World interviewed several elite athletes about their preferred mid-run hydration options. While some stuck to well-known brands like Gatorade and PowerBar, others opted for lesser-known alternatives, including the following:
Nuun tablets dissolve in your water bottle, delivering electrolytes, flavor, and a touch of sweetness. However, you'll need to source carbohydrates separately.
Osmo Nutrition packets, designed to mix with water, were endorsed by a track and field athlete who appreciates their natural fruit powder flavoring and lack of artificial additives. Osmo offers gender-specific formulas, which they assert can counteract performance dips women may experience during certain phases of their menstrual cycle.
Although coconut water was previously criticized for its low sodium and carbohydrate content, it still made the list with a caveat: to make it effective for long workouts, you must supplement it with additional sodium and carbs.
Discover more about the hydration preferences of elite athletes by reading the complete article on Runner's World.
Image credit: Helen Cook.
