Product: nuun Performance – $20-24.00
It is no secret that since my running had to take a back seat while I worked on healing and re-training my hip(s) to work differently, more efficiently, and better after my right hip suffered a hip labrum tear in 2015 and my left hip’s hip flexor basically ended up paralyzed in early 2017…my body’s old nutrition/fueling while working out/running has stopped working.
When I came back from the hip labrum tear, I had immediately gone back to using Gu as my primary source of fuel. But my stomach didn’t like it at all. I did some research online and found Tailwind…which worked at first, but soon left me feeling sick and with stomach cramps. Back to the drawing board and those crazy internet searches. U-Can was next. I heard amazing things about it. I bought a sample pack and…this really upset my stomach to the point I was near puking on a 20 mile run before the Kauai Marathon last year. I reached out to some friends at running stores and distance running groups and did a quick trial on a few different fuels. Sword, Skratch, huma (chia) gel…all of which did absolutely nothing to help my body feel energized during a distance effort. In fact, I almost threw the huma gel back up because of the chia texture. I was throwing out a Hail Mary and had someone introduce me to Hammer.
I didn’t have long to test Hammer in the field before heading to Hawaii…but I did what I could. Hammer gels and the Hammer Heed (which is a powder that gets mixed in the water). They worked well enough for sure…and while I struggled with the marathon (mostly due crazy mountains and hella heat), it got me through.
After that, I was running shorter distances and had no need for the endurance fuel at the time. Then the hip flexor thing happened on January 1 (NO JOKE), and I was out for over 2 months with that. Training for a couple of upcoming half marathons finally kicked in with me way under mileage…until last weekend, when I finally did double-digit miles – 10 miles with some hills!
Lo and behold…just after that, as I’m gearing up for half marathons this summer and prepping for Chicago Marathon training to kick in around the end of June/early July…my favorite electrolyte drink company, nuun, releases their own version of endurance fuel. And without any hesitation…I ordered it.
Why was I so quick to jump on the order? Well, for one thing, I am a nuun ambassador. So, it’s always nice to try products that I support anyway. AND I have been a user of the nuun electrolyte tablets since 2012. The nuun Energy Cherry Limeade will forever be in my fuel belt when I run half and full marathons. And, the now defunct, nuun Active Kona Cola (can we bring this one back?!), was my absolute favorite flavor they created. I gave up drinking sodas back in 2013 when marathon training began…and it was the perfect supplement. With such great success with nuun (all products, except the nuun All Day flavors, which I no longer see on the Web site, so may be defunct now too, are gluten free), I figured I could justify purchasing the new nuun Performance and give it a try. I ordered them the day they were released…no hesitation.
They offer the new nuun Performance in two flavors and two different forms. Both powdered. The flavors are Blueberry Strawberry and Orange Mango. You can either order these in a box that contains 12 sachets, or in a 10 ounce pouch (that makes 32 8 ounce servings). The sachets retail for $24 and the pouch is $20. So it’s just preference. But as I travel for most of my races, it was easier for me to spend the extra $4 for the ability to toss a sachet or two in my luggage than have to pack an entire pouch or measure it out into baggies and hope that they don’g explode with the change in air pressure on planes.
I tested the nuun Performance out on my 8 mile run yesterday. I know that isn’t really that long of a run, but with 2 weekends and 3 races in my future, I didn’t feel that I needed to run 11 miles with the group. But, I figured if I fueled halfway through, it would give me some idea of what to expect. The real trial will happen this coming Sunday as I run the Disney World Dark Side Half Marathon.
So…how did it go?
I decided to try the nuun Performance Orange Mango first. In 2 cups of water, I mixed the powder from the sachet and let it dissolve. Into my fuel belt bottle it went and I was set to try it out on my run. It was a rather warm morning too, so I figured this would go a long way on telling me how I react to it. I set out on my run, and shortly after hitting that 4 mile mark…I tried it out.
How do you use nuun Performance? This endurance supplement was created for you to drink during intense or long workouts (>90 minutes) to stay hydrated and perform your best. It was formulated using the newest science on how your system performs under stress. nuun formulated a precise combination of electrolyte + carbohydrate ingredients, in quantities to be fully absorbed, for improved hydration and reduced stomach distress as compared to other leading sports drinks. Also, being in powdered form allows you to make exactly as much as you need each time. What’s even more important to me is the ingredients. nuun Performance uses only clean ingredients, such as dried fruit powder, not fruit flavor + fillers. And it is certified non-GMO!
So, how did it go? Did it work for me? In a sense…YES!
The nuun Performance is light, both in texture and flavor. You would think you simply dropped one of those tablets for their Active/Energy/Vitamins varieties into the water. The flavor was also light, which I appreciated, simply because I don’t like to be overwhelmed with flavors while I’m running (especially long distances), but I like to have a break from plain water. This did it. The powder dissolved perfectly and didn’t have that chalky flavor other performance powders I tried have. I was impressed. And the best part…no stomach issues!! Not a single one. I was beyond impressed and hope that this continues to hold as I build in more endurance races into my schedule and begin training hardcore for my go at the Chicago Marathon this fall.
Let’s discuss the ingredients in nuun Perfomance. Check out the screen cap of the nutrition and ingredients for this amazing endurance fuel:
Here is a list of nuun Performance active ingredients:
- sodium: 380 mg
- potassium: 200-210 mg
- magnesium: 20 mg
- calcium: 15 mg
- chloride: 80 mg
- 15 grams of carbohydrates
And…here is a helpful table of guidelines for use of this new, amazing product!
It is, honestly, impossible to run long distances without fueling your body at some point during the activity. While there are a lot of options out there, I was very impressed with the new nuun Performance. I have a sensitive stomach, especially during intense activity, but this was gentle and light and…perfect if you ask me. I can’t wait to use it more and more during my training.
If you’re looking for new fuel options or are just starting to seek out endurance fuel…give the new nuun Performance a try.
You can order it here: https://nuunlife.com/shop/nuun-performance/
The Celiathlete 