BY STEVE BORN
During my ultramarathon cycling career, I made some big mistakes attempting to resolve heat and electrolyte problems. I did everything from indiscriminately tossing down sodium tablets to guzzling almost every sports drink ever created. For my all-time greatest disaster, the 1995 Race Across America is, without question, the clear winner. I was in peak physical condition, but I was not prepared for the extreme heat I encountered during the first day through the Mojave Desert.
I became dehydrated and electrolyte depleted and ended up in the hospital, where they reconstituted me with eight liters of IV fluid! My Race Across America never made it across California. Just a few hours of inadequate electrolyte and water intake wiped out months of training. I can laugh about it now (“I did history’s most expensive double century!”), but I can promise you it was no laughing matter at the time.
You may never bike through the Mojave Desert in summer, but you will encounter debilitating heat and humidity at some point in your training or competition. However, it doesn’t take severe weather stress to prove that electrolytes are as vital to performance as the calories you consume for energy and the fluids you drink to stay hydrated. You may have heard us say this before, but it’s true: electrolytes are comparable to the motor oil in your car. They don't make the engine run, but they're necessary to keep everything running smoothly. Proper functioning of the digestive, nervous, cardiovascular, and muscular systems depend on adequate electrolyte levels.
Bottom line: To avoid cramping and ensure the optimal functioning of vital bodily functions, your fueling regimen should always include consistent replenishment of these essential minerals.
To make that happen for every workout and race, look no further than Hammer Nutrition's superior electrolytic mineral formulas—Endurolytes, Endurolytes Fizz, Endurolytes Extreme, and Endurolytes Extreme Powder. These four products are balanced, full-spectrum electrolyte formulations designed to:
- Fulfill the body's electrolytic mineral requirements
- Optimize multiple bodily functions
- Enhance endurance performance
- Help you avoid the unpleasant issues associated with electrolyte imbalance
Endurolytes - Our original full-spectrum formula, supplied in capsules for greater flexibility with your dosing. The modest sodium chloride (salt) content complements a healthy, low-salt diet.
Endurolytes Fizz - If capsules aren't for you, Endurolytes Fizz is an easy answer. Add these rapidly dissolving tablets to your water bottle to create a delicious, sugar-free, full-spectrum, effervescent electrolyte drink.
Endurolytes Extreme - Designed for harsh conditions, high heat, the unacclimatized, and those with elevated salt needs, this formula, supplied in capsules, offers three times the sodium chloride and potassium content of standard Endurolytes. Despite the sodium chloride increase, the Extreme formula maintains a complete blend of electrolytes.
Endurolytes Extreme Powder - All the benefits of Endurolytes Extreme capsules in an easy-to-mix powder. Endurolytes Extreme Powder dissolves quickly and completely, leaving a subtle, natural watermelon flavor. Consume it in water alone or add it to your liquid fuels according to your unique dosing needs. The mild flavor makes it easy to drink all day, while the lack of residue makes it perfect for hydration packs and bottles of any form.
HEED – Also consider Hammer Nutrition's superior sports drink. In addition to 110 calories per scoop, HEED contains the same number of electrolytes found in one Endurolytes capsule.
No matter your weight, body type, fitness level, or what the weather throws at you—even in the Mojave Desert in the middle of summer—one of Hammer Nutrition's Endurolytes products has you covered! If you need assistance determining which one is right for you, just give us a call.
