Energy Drinks

[Mikeyboy58]

Would like to know if any of you use energy drinks or supplements before or when running, and if so which ones.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

Nothing for me. I just eat a balanced diet and drink well all the time (Well, that’s the aspiration anyway!)

You really don’t need energy drinks/gels/supplements for c25k. Anyone who tells you that you do is probably selling them.

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I love your answer MissUnderstanding, the balanced diet, this time of year my balanced diet is heavy on the chocolate, heavy on nothing much else, so well balanced 😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

No, I drink water on any run over an hour, other than that nothing

[Mikeyboy58]

Thanks for the replies I will continue to hydrate with water, just didn't know if there was any benefit with sports drinks for C25K.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

As previous 2 replies .

Certainly nothing needed for Couch to 5k.

Not even water if you are sufficiently hydrated

[Mikeyboy58 in reply to Instructor57]

Yes I have found the benefit of proper hydration pre run over weeks 6 and 7 and not having to carry water. It's all a learning curve 😉

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Mikeyboy58]

Absolutely,

[DragonlovingLFC]

Water while running even when I was running half marathon. Then I would have High 5 chocolate recovery drinks.

[mrrun Graduate]

Balanced diet and daily hydration (water) is all you need for C25K. Once (if) you start more serious training, say marathon, then the game changes and supplements will come into play, including hydration drinks.

[nowster Graduate]

As others have said, you don't need anything for a typical Couch to 5K run session. Just make sure you're eating normally and drinking enough during the day.

You won't need any fluids with you either unless it's a really hot day.

People only need energy drinks or similar when they're doing an activity that will deplete the body's glycogen stores, and that usually only happens once you've been active for more than between about an hour and an hour and a half.

And doing a typical C25K session will not burn much in the way of calories, just the equivalent of a few digestive biscuits.

[Roxdog Graduate]

No I never have and never will. The research suggests that energy drinks/supplements aren't necessary unless you're an athlete or competing in long races.When I did long runs, I drank coconut water. I researched various foods etc and concluded that a fair bit of protein would be important. My impression is that unless you're doing long runs, you just need to keep hydrated with good old water!

[StuartMcIntyre]

(M54 fairly fit) I also don't run with water for this length of exercise as don't like carrying anything when running; if it's hot I sometimes drink a smallish amount of water before the run and make sure I have water ready for me when I finish.

However even though my own experience and the consensus here is that just water is fine (and even that is not needed during this length run) - you should also take into account your own physique and circumstance (and perhaps, what motivations work for you to get you to stick to your routine).

[Freecloud Graduate]

Take a couple of jelly babies on the run, it's amazing how long one lasts if you just leave it at the side of your mouth. Then have a drink of water at end before or after your stretching.