I have been using pre-workout drinks before runs and cross training for
almost a decade now. They are usually
filled with artificial flavors and ingredients that sometimes don’t agree with
your body. One of the first products
that I was using was called Superpump250, but we used to call it “Superdump”
because it was almost guaranteed that within 15 minutes, you would end up in
the bathroom. I believe it is because of
the high levels of magnesium, but I could be wrong. I’m sorry for putting that image in your
head, but I promise there is a reason for sharing that with you.
There are a lot of supplements out there, some are all natural, some
are not. I recently ran the American
River 50 Mile Endurance Run. It was my
first real trail ultra of that distance and because of my Plantar Fasciitis, I
had to reduce my training before the race.
I went into the race undertrained and the weather did not help the
situation. My energy level was great
until I reached mile 25 where it started to dip. The reality is that caffeine could have
helped me, so a few aid stations later I drank half of a Red Bull. While I did get a boost of energy that really
helped me, the extra ingredients and liquid made for a little sloshing in my
stomach. Later in the race, I popped
some Run Gum into my mouth around mile 41 and
got a boost of energy without all of the extra junk that they throw into energy
drinks. It was great to have the energy
without the sloshing stomach.
Run Gum was developed by Nick
Symmonds and his Coach, Sam Lapray. Nick
won 7 Division III NCAA Titles and 6 USATF Outdoor National Titles while he was
studding at Willamette University in Oregon.
Nick also made the Beijing (2008) and London (2012) Olympic teams. Nick studied Biochemistry in college and
used this background and experience in training to figure out what chemicals
the human body needed to perform at its best.
What Nick and Sam found out is that most methods of delivering
stimulants to the body required drinking large quantities of liquids. In order to achieve optimal performance, they
needed to eliminate water, acid, and slow down absorption. During a track workout, they came up with the
idea of using gum as a delivery vehicle for the caffeine.
Run Gum has caffeine, b-vitamins, and
taurine. With Run Gum, the stimulants absorb 5 times faster
than if you were taking in a liquid form.
It will give you energy fast, without bloating that can often happen
with drinking energy drinks.
Run Gum is sugar-free and has zero
calories. Each pack of Run Gum contains two pieces of gum. Each piece of gum consists of 50mg of caffeine
(roughly half a cup of coffee). It is
recommended that you take one piece for moderate energy or two pieces for
maximum energy. I consume caffeine on a
regular basis and had no issues with taking two pieces of the gum. If you are sensitive to caffeine, you could
always take half of a piece of gum at first.
Run Gum comes in Cinnamon, Fruit, and
Mint flavors. They even have a Kickstarter
for an Extra Strength Run Gum that has double the amount of caffeine. Check it out if you have a chance.
I have tested Run Gum during runs and
even during the day when I am exhausted.
Most of my long training runs are at 3:30AM, meaning I am waking up at
3:00AM. I usually get really tired
around 6:00PM and Run Gum has really helped
me stay awake to spend time with my wife after the kids go to bed. It is the one time of the day that we get
some peace and quiet, so giving up that quality time with her is not an
option. I will say that it does have
little different consistency than regular gum.
It really isn’t too much different, but just something to know. The
taste is good with all three varieties, but the fruit is my favorite.
I had a chance to do a Q&A with Nick. Here it is:
Q: What do you feel is your
biggest accomplishment both in your running career as well as outside of
running and why?
A: My biggest
accomplishment in running, in my opinion, was running a personal best at the
2012 Olympic Finals. I didn't win a medal there (finished 5th), but I was able
to perform my best at the highest level of competition. That's all you can
really ask of yourself as an athlete.
Off the track, I am
extremely proud of Run Gum. It takes a lot to bring a new
product to market and Sam Lapray (my coach and business partner) and I were
able to do so during the peak of my pro running career. That was back in 2014.
Since then we have been able to fuel and inspire millions of people!
Q: What was your primary reason
for developing Run Gum?
A: I used to drink a lot of
energy drinks. I loved the way they made me feel from an energy standpoint, but
they really hurt my stomach. All that carbonated water, sugar, calories, etc. I
didn't want any of it, I just wanted the stimulants. So, I dehydrated an energy
drink, took the stimulants out of it and infused them into a piece of chewing
gum. The chewing gum delivers the stimulants to the lining of the mouth which
offers much faster absorption times. Try it for yourself, if really wakes you
up quickly!
Q: Where do you see Run Gum
going in the next year, 5 years, and beyond?
A: We are growing so fast
it's hard to say. We just launched nationwide with Vitamin Shoppe and will be
announcing another major retailer this summer. Run Gum competes directly with energy drinks and energy shots, so really we
fit in almost any grocery or convenience store. In the near future you will see
Run Gum at every checkout stand in America.
Q: What is your next big goals,
both in sports and in your personal life?
A: I think most of my
athletic goals for the next few years will be more mountain focused. In terms
of my personal life I'd like to continue growing Run Gum and one day start a family.
Q: What things do you do that
make you the happiest (where do you find your happy place)?
A: Being
active outdoors! I honestly love anything that gets me outside: hunting,
fishing, surfing, hiking, fishing, running, biking, you name it.
Q: Who is the most inspiring
person (dead or alive) to you and why?
A: My
business partner (and former coach) Sam Lapray inspires me. He works so hard
and deserves all the success that has come his way. I've known him for nearly
two decades and during that time he has been coach, business partner, mentor,
and best friend to me.
Q: If you could give a new
runner one piece of advice, what would it be?
A: Don't
take everything so darn seriously! Runners are some of the most neurotic people
I have ever met. I say that having been one myself. I started running best when
I didn't worry about everything so much. It's ok to have a cheeseburger, its ok
to have dessert every day, its ok to drink a beer.
Q: What do you think the key to
running longevity is?
A: Having
fun! Running should be something you look forward to each day. My morning run
is one of my favorite parts of each day.
Q: Do you have any pieces of
running gear that make a huge difference in your running (favorite shoes,
clothes, watch, etc.)?
A: To be honest, no. One of
the things I love most about running is that it requires very little gear. I do
start every workout with a pack of Run Gum!
Pros:
2
pieces = one energy drink or cup of coffee
Caffeine,
taurine, an B-vitamins without excess fluids
Convenient
packs that you can take in your pocket
Can
use during activity or throughout the day
Shouldn’t
make you jittery (caffeine sensitivity people excluded)
Stimulant
effect happens extremely fast
Run Gum’s Social
Media Links:
The thing I really love about Run Gum is the simplicity of it. You can just take it before your workout or
throw it in your pocket for a mid-activity pick-me-up. The amount of caffeine is perfect for most
people and you can pick your serving sizes with one piece or two. You can get Run
Gum in 12-packs for $22.49 on their website or at a location near you (click here for locations)
including REI, The Vitamin Shoppe, and local run stores. Nick is working on making Run Gum available elsewhere as well. It is a great product and has helped me out,
both during my activities and during my daily life. Have you tried Run
Gum yet? I would love to hear what
you think. I am thrilled to have a
chance to work with Nick Symmonds on the Q&A and hope you like it. He is a really cool guy and I loved learning
more about him.
Note:
I received this product in exchange for a review. The review is my
personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular
opinion of it. I am not a doctor, so
please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.
