I'm going to try this stuff out. I've been getting calf cramps the last 30 minutes of 90 minute workouts, depending on the types of sets we're doing (it's worse on distance sets).
I saw a guy in my group chugging something after workout and he said he's less sore the next day if he drinks it.
Performance Bicycle has big discounts on powders (endurox, cytomax, accelerade- I didn't see Hammer, though) in the wintertime so check out their website when you decide what you want. I don't work for them, I'm just cheap. www.performancebike.com/index.cfm
Even better is Nashbar.com, owned by Performance, but with cheaper prices than Performance.
I use Accelerade during heavy training cycles and it works really well. I think it takes a while to acquire a taste for it but if you dilute it slightly, it is more drinkable. Water alone does not do it, you need the electrolytes, protein, and vitamins.
During meets I will drink Hammer's Heed product because it is lighter than the others and tastes pretty good. That helps residual soreness a lot, especially the day after.
I normally get these at bike stores, especially when they are on sale. Performance normally have the best price but I regard them as the Wal-Mart of the biking market :2cents:
FWIW, I use Cytomax, .
That stuff is just plain NASTY. They must have been a sponsor of the Phoenix-PF Chang's Marathon, as it was the only drink available on the course (or after), other than water. A couple guys I know got sick from it, and I was pretty close.
Personally, I drink either plain Gatorade (the green forumla) mixed with a ton of ice (one of the rare times I use the ice crusher in my fridge)....or more recently G2, also with some crushed ice (for some reason they didn't release the lime G2 until recently). Yea, after a long workout (like a 15-mile run), your body does need some electrolytes, but certainly doesn't need all the carbs in most of these drinks, unless you're doing some MAJOR distances.
I also like Hammer for longer, high intensity workouts and 10K swims.
Yesterday, though, I brought a banana and ate it halfway thru. I felt great during the second half of my workout--better than I usually do with sports drinks.
Then nationals in Portland was nearly as bad, and no convenient AC to retreat to.
Actually the warm up pool wasn't that bad. Or at the top of the bleachers in the shade.
I just had this discussion with a lanemate yesterday.
I love the fruit punch Accelerade. It's cheaper if you buy it on-line through the Acclerade (or whatever lab it is) site.
I drink 12 oz during an hour workout.
I dilute Gatorade to about 3/4 of the recommended strength. That seems more than adequate for a 90 minute workout, 24 ounces. If I have a blow out workout day I'll eat a clif bar and maybe another 24 ounces of gatorade, and then a bag of Chex Mix when I get home, and a pizza.
