Recovery Drinks (Read 1158 times)

Please forgive if this has been asked. I tried searching, but didn't see anything on point (saw stuff about gatorade, beer and chocolate milk, but I may need a bit more.) I'm running a 50K Saturday (taking it as the last big training run before Boston. Won't push it.) and am thinking a recovery drink would be helpful. Once, after a marathon, I used a PowerBar recovery shake. Felt good and was yummy. For some long runs in the fall while training for another marathon, I'd have a post-run shake of soy powder, milk, OJ, banana, frozen berries (blue, straw, or rasp) and yogurt. This is also on my breakfast menu most days. So, today, I stop in a certain vitamin & exercise supplement store looking for the PowerBar drink. Didn't have it, but I felt like I walked into a drug pusher zone. Guy immediately starts hawking me all this crap and talked about if I want to "take it to the next level" I might consider this, that or the other thing. One jug of powder was like 50-odd bucks. Seriously, I had a college buddy who could provide an "herb supplement" , nod, nod, and he was never pushy. I left with nothing but a dirty feeling. So, any recommendations, or bring along a Nalgene of my own making? (Trent: I already know you will say to take my stuff, because it is "real food.") I just don't know that it will have all what my muscles need for recovery. Thanks!

Well, if I make the aforementioned drink, I'd imagine within minutes of finishing. Then move on to beer.

Here we go again...(be kind Trent). There is a product called Accelerade that is a 4:1 carb to protein ratio that's good during long runs and after. It comes in the typical sports drink flavors, orange, fruit punch, etc. I personally have not used it. I make my own with water, dextrose, and whey powder. The Powerbar drink you wrote about has about the same formula as my drink. In my experience, drinking this type of stuff during long runs and after long or hard runs has significantly increased recovery and reduced muscle soreness. I do run a lot and without fail I consume protein with fast acting carbs after I run. There is no way I could do doubles 4 days a week without proper recovery nutrition. Trent recovers his way, I recover my way but I think we both recover. But I haven't tried his steel cut oats yet

Actually, I drank a load of Accelerade last year. It is hard to get down until you are used to it. I never had any GI issues with it. I cannot say that I noticed it did much for me over smoothies or even Cokes.

Actually, I drank a load of Accelerade last year. It is hard to get down until you are used to it. I never had any GI issues with it. I cannot say that I noticed it did much for me over smoothies or even Cokes.

I am doing a HM in two weeks and the official race drink is Accelerade. As I said I have never used it, but based on what you wrote I may need to try it out before the race.

As long as it has glucose and protein, I imagine you'll recover just fine.

Exactly. Dextrose is glucose which is why I use it. It has the highest glycemic load, which in turn creates the greatest insulin release, which helps get more amino acids in the muscle cells. And yes, kool-aid and eggs sounds nasty.

^^I have been preaching that for a long time. It's nice to see we have moved beyond simple Gatorade.

Accelerade - I like the way it tastes! I wonder if I've just been lucky enough to pick good flavors? Or is it that I use the premixed stuff? I bought the powered stuff, and I agree, that stinks, mostly because I can never get all the power dissolved. Unfortunately, I'm not sure they make the premixed stuff anymore. It used to be on the grocery store shelves. I heard somewhere that they may reintroduce it into health food stores, but I have no idea if that's true or not. Anyway, I highly recommend it - and maybe if it tastes like vomit to you, try some other flavors? Or maybe it just takes getting used to....