Goo, gel, and all things sticky...

JakeKnight

posted: 2/26/2007 at 8:35 AM

Quote from tbarton on 2/26/2007 at 8:23 AM:

I'm not sure where the myth of GUs having caffeine in them come from. Maybe it's a rumor started by Power Gel or something. Some flavors of Gu do have caffeine. Checking out www.gusports.com shows that the following flavors do have caffeine: Vanilla Bean Choclate Outrage Tri Berry Espresso Love I don't do caffeine because of my heart issues. I use Gu Banana and Lemon Sublime because they don't have caffeine. The Gu flavors *without* caffeine say No Caffeine on the front. The ones with caffeine don't usually mention it on the label. Teresa

Espresso Love says "Double Caffeine" (actually I think its "2x Caffeine") right on the front - and they ain't kidding. As far as I know, they all say it. Right on the front of the pack, right beneath where you tear it open. Same place that strawberry-banana says "no caffeine."

E-mail: JakeKnight2002@aol.com
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Fanatic #3965

posted: 2/26/2007 at 8:49 AM

Ok, let me settle the caffeine/no-caffeine issue. I have in front of me a box of 24 packets of GU--3ea. of 8 flavors: Just Plain - w/caffeine Espresso Love - 2x caffeine Vanilla Bean - w/caffeine Chocolate Outrage - w/caffeine Strawberry Banana - no caffeine Tri-Berry - w/caffeine Lemon Sublime - no caffeine Orange Burst - w/caffeine So the only ones that don't have caffeine are the Strawberry Banana and the Lemon Sublime.

Kirsten

'07: 1324.5 | '08: 1561 | '09: 1810.9 run ~ 208.7 bike | '10: 1,000.3 run ~ 3513.5 bike | '11: 710.3 run ~ 4157.9 bike '12: 659.9 run ~ 3365.6 bike (100% benched by ortho last 4.5 weeks while in long-arm cast)

'13 Goals:

• DON'T BREAK ANYTHING!!!

• get within 5#s of 130#s (and stay there, gotdammit!)

• 1st olympic distance duathlon

• 1st Iceman Cometh mtn bike race

• Half Fanatic

• punch Type 1 in the junk

JakeKnight

posted: 2/26/2007 at 11:55 AM

So Espresso is the only one with 2x caffeine? For some reason I had thought chocolate was double caffeine, too. Good to know. Explains why it's my favorite, too.

E-mail: JakeKnight2002@aol.com
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Fanatic #3965

posted: 2/26/2007 at 12:06 PM

I haven't tried the Espresso one, yet. I love coffee, but only HOT. Not sure I will like that GU, or not. Does it really have a noticeable boost with the double caffeine? k

Kirsten

'07: 1324.5 | '08: 1561 | '09: 1810.9 run ~ 208.7 bike | '10: 1,000.3 run ~ 3513.5 bike | '11: 710.3 run ~ 4157.9 bike '12: 659.9 run ~ 3365.6 bike (100% benched by ortho last 4.5 weeks while in long-arm cast)

'13 Goals:

• DON'T BREAK ANYTHING!!!

• get within 5#s of 130#s (and stay there, gotdammit!)

• 1st olympic distance duathlon

• 1st Iceman Cometh mtn bike race

• Half Fanatic

• punch Type 1 in the junk

JakeKnight

posted: 2/26/2007 at 12:09 PM

Quote from zoom-zoom on 2/26/2007 at 12:06 PM:

I haven't tried the Espresso one, yet. I love coffee, but only HOT. Not sure I will like that GU, or not. Does it really have a noticeable boost with the double caffeine? k

Based on no science at all? Definitely. Or maybe it's all in my head. But that 2x Caffeine is why I tried them, and why I stick with them. Even if it's all mental. On pure taste, I'd take the chocolate instead.

E-mail: JakeKnight2002@aol.com
-----------------------------

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Fanatic #3965

posted: 2/26/2007 at 12:12 PM

I like the chocolate...kinda reminds me of brownie batter. But I think my faves so far are the fruit flavors. I really like the banana and the tri-berry. k

Kirsten

'07: 1324.5 | '08: 1561 | '09: 1810.9 run ~ 208.7 bike | '10: 1,000.3 run ~ 3513.5 bike | '11: 710.3 run ~ 4157.9 bike '12: 659.9 run ~ 3365.6 bike (100% benched by ortho last 4.5 weeks while in long-arm cast)

'13 Goals:

• DON'T BREAK ANYTHING!!!

• get within 5#s of 130#s (and stay there, gotdammit!)

• 1st olympic distance duathlon

• 1st Iceman Cometh mtn bike race

• Half Fanatic

• punch Type 1 in the junk

tuf_aint_enough

posted: 2/26/2007 at 12:16 PM

I echo the comments about tri-berry. Vanilla is also good...

PerfesserR

posted: 3/6/2007 at 8:43 AM

Clif Shot Bloks also have caffeine in some flavors--orange, cola, cran-razz, black cherry. Yes, I've definitely noticed a boost that was very welcome at mile 22. Also, Margarita flavor has extra electrolytes hence tastes kind of nasty (salty) to some people. I like them better than gooey gels. Sport beans also have extra electrolytes (over plain jellybeans) and are easy to carry and eat.

"Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"

"The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.

"They just couldn't believe that somebody would do all that running for no reason."--Forrest Gump

Boston Marathon 15 April

Big Sur Marathon 28 April

Bighorn 50 Mile 15 June

Tahoe Rim Trail 100M 20/21 July

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Fanatic #3965

posted: 3/6/2007 at 8:51 AM

I tried the Lemon Sublime GU this weekend and, thus far, it's my least favorite. No caffeine, either. I think I prefer the ones with buzzzz.... Smile

k

Kirsten

'07: 1324.5 | '08: 1561 | '09: 1810.9 run ~ 208.7 bike | '10: 1,000.3 run ~ 3513.5 bike | '11: 710.3 run ~ 4157.9 bike '12: 659.9 run ~ 3365.6 bike (100% benched by ortho last 4.5 weeks while in long-arm cast)

'13 Goals:

• DON'T BREAK ANYTHING!!!

• get within 5#s of 130#s (and stay there, gotdammit!)

• 1st olympic distance duathlon

• 1st Iceman Cometh mtn bike race

• Half Fanatic

• punch Type 1 in the junk

rockenmamaof5

posted: 3/6/2007 at 8:52 AM

I heart Cran Razz Cliff Shot Bloks!!

Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don't so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head." - Joe Henderson

RunChicRun

madness baby

posted: 3/6/2007 at 11:05 AM

I realized this weekend that there is a limit to how many shot bloks one can eat on a long race. Bring variety, that's my recommendation. Wink

deb

va

posted: 3/15/2007 at 5:46 PM

Good article... Eating Before, During and After Running by Shelly Glover

Jill_B

I fly.

posted: 3/15/2007 at 7:09 PM

Along time ago I took a running class tought by Shelly Glover (and her husband). She knows a lot about running.

Bring it on.

smalcolm

posted: 4/3/2007 at 11:13 AM

Has anyone tried Sharkies? I found these at REI and they taste great and are easier to eat than the shot blocks. Not sure how beneficial they are though.

~Sara
It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great. ~ Jimmy Dugan

tuf_aint_enough

posted: 4/4/2007 at 7:59 AM

Great article, Val123! I've shared it with my running group. Thanks for sharing.

Goo, gel, and all things sticky... (Read 1433 times)

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