Hammer Gel

[.V.]

Anybody heard of this? Ever used it?

At our race yesterday bringing your own gatorade, poweraid, etc... wasn't allowed. You got water from them, Gatorade from them, and at the beginning, they handed out packets of hammer gel with some electrolyte replacement capsules. I wasn't familiar with the stuff so I didn't use it. Everyone else did - they call these comps "catered workouts". You pay for a hard workout and they suppliment you before and during, feed you after.

Anyway the hammer gel stuff - they said I was supposed to have taken a packet 10 minutes prior to the swim, another packet during transition from swim to bike, another during the 2nd transition, and the last one immediately after it was over. They said it kicks in for energy like rocket fuel and lasts 30 minutes to an hour.

I'm used to supplimenting just with protein before workout and dextrose/creatine/protein after workout.

Ingredients: Long-Chain Mlatodextrin, filtered water, apple concentrate, energy smart (fruit juice, natural grain dextrins), malic acid, sodium chloride, potassium, and some amino acids.

Worth using? Good for preworkout? Throw it away? Oh and each packet is 23 grams carbs - 2 grams sugar.

Hi Andy,

This is a standard item for runners, cyclists and triathalon dudes. I never could get into it and really never need it as the farthest that I go is 10k taking about 45 minutes. Some people swear by it. I do think that as you go over 1 hour, your body could use some carbs and that is essentially what this stuff gives you.

You don't need this stuff for your normal training, in my opinion. But you should use it the next time you do a triathalon. I thought you said that nothing was allowed and I was surprised. I should have mentioned it. Sorry.

[.V.]

I thought nothing was allowed either - it was nothing except for what they give you.