I was drinking tons water and Gatorade, eating bananas and other fruits which I thought was the best way to recover but it was obviously not enough. My muscles needed something to help speed up recovery because I was always feeling drained the next day and I am pretty active in sports. Everyday I am doing a different sport. In addition to long distance running and training for marathons, sometimes I swim run and weight lift in the same day. Then I’m biking, running and playing softball the next. So a few months ago, I decided to investigate a little into muscle recovery drinks and there are a few on the market. Endurox Accelerade, and Endurox Endurox R4 were at the top of my list. These products advertised that they help speed up muscle recovery, enhance rehydration,extend endurance, and reduces muscle damage.

Endurox R4 and Accelerade are made by the same company “Endurox”. They all use a very popular Carbohydrate-protein ratio (four grams of carbohydrate for every one gram of protein) also known as the 4:1 ratio. Endurox Accelerade is a formula sports drink that should be consumed during and Eurodox Endurox R4 (yes the product name is also Endurox) is taken within 2 hours after running.

During long runs, the body breaks down muscle to meet energy needs. After doing some research it shows that consuming Accelerade or Endurox R4, both carbohydrate-protein sports drink during running can minimize muscle breakdown. Carbohydrate is necessary to give you back the energy and protein is just enough start rebuilding muscle. Protein provides amino acids necessary to rebuild muscle tissue that is damaged during intense long runs. It can also increase the absorption of water from the intestines and improve muscle hydration. If you eat more protein than that, it has negative impact because it slows down all the benefits it would normally provide.

In regards to taste, Endurox Accelerade is more refreshing and tastes more like gatorade while Endurox R4 has a more cremier and thicker taste to it like a creamy smoothie. They both have a wide variety of flavours. For the Endurox Accelerade my favourite are Orange and Lemon Lime. I don’t really like creamy sports drinks but Endurox Endurox R4 Chocolate and Fruit Punch appealed to me more.

Both these products are great taken together for maximum results but it will work just as good to take just one. I suggest taking the Endurox Accelerade. It helped in my muscle recovery, improved my protein balance and also decreased the soreness I usually got after running so the next day I could perform at my max in my other sports.

Click to find recommended flavours of Endurox Accelerade:

Endurox Accelerade, 60 Servings, Lemon Lime Price $47.99 On Sale $38.39
Endurox Accelerade, 60 Servings, Orange Price $47.99 On Sale $38.39

Click to find recommended flavours of Endurox Endurox R4:

Endurox Endurox R4, 4.63 Lbs., Chocolate Price $54.99 On Sale $43.99
Endurox Endurox R4, 4.63 Lbs., Fruit Punch Price $54.99 On Sale $43.99

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1. What to eat for post race recovery
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I saw a runner carry little sugar candies like jelly beans, gummy bears or some nuts in their running pouches, so I tried it too.  One time I almost choked on these almonds I ate and rest of whatever I brought just ended up all over the road.  Another time, no matter how well I packed it, it was all drenched in sweat.  That was really gross.  I quit doing that and ended up running with no food.  As a long distance runner, I ran for hours on my training runs.  My body was running on empty and I felt it get more tired by the second.  So I decided to spy/check out what other runners used.

I saw these runners eat workout gels.  The benefits of taking power gels are many.  Energy gels are small, slide down your throat, can squeeze into any running pouch, well packaged and easy to open.   They are great for long runs to replenish your body with electrolytes that are lost through sweating.  They also contain carbohydrate sources that will give your body an extra boost and enhance your endurance performance.  Power gels are also great for the runner who feels their energy resource is depleted and needs an energy boost whatever their training mileage may be.  There are many brands of energy gels, the more popular ones are Clif Shots, Powerbar Power Gels, GU, and Carb Boom!. I’ve tried a couple and personally I like Powerbar Power Gel in Chocolate, Clif Shots in Vanilla flavour and Carb Boom! in Vanilla Orange.

There are some disadvantages of eating workout gels.  They make you really thirsty.  I have to take several sips of water after gels.  Power gels are hard to store while you’re running too.  They are designed to be finished all in one serving, but it’s too much for me.  I like to eat half of it and save the rest for later.  It becomes a sticky mess if I put it in any running pouch so I end up holding it in my hand.  Some power gels are really sweet, so I just stick to the normal flavours like vanilla or chocolate.   Powerbar Power gels are also pricey.   They are about $3 each which becomes costly if you run a lot.  You can also buy them in boxes of 24 which makes it more affordable.  Anyone have any favourites I should try?

If you run marathons or races that exceed 18 miles they typically set up power gel stations at the Mile 18 marker.  I never used to take them because I didn’t like the sweet dry after taste, but I tried one and now I grab a couple everytime I pass the marker.  Overall, Powerbar Power gels give me all the same benefits from drinking gatorade and more.  If you are a long distance runner or just need an energy booster, I definitely recommend running with power gels to achieve maximum running performance and to keep your body alert and your finish strong.

Related Running Tips:

1. What to eat during a race
2. Running Faster
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