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I've never used energy gels, bars or sports drinks other than the odd isotonic lucazade grabbed from the garage forecourt after a ride, but i feel that they have enough of a hit to help me get back to normal after sustained exercise to warrant a proper think about other energy products.
What I really want them for is rowing. I have recently started gig (ocean) rowing and have weekly races that last about 12 mins with the best part of an hour rowing to and from the event itself.
I carry a bottle of water with me that I will swig from after about 20mins rowing once we have got to the start line, and gulp from frantically once the race is over to replenish lost fluids. Once back to dry land, its customary to drink a lot of beer.
What would the STW collective recommend as a pre race snack (got to give me good energy for 1hr sustained exercise), a burst of something just before the flag drops and we race away in a frantic splash of paddles (15mins burst), and a drink to give me a boost and help me recover at the end.
Cheers.
pre - some slow release carbs, or sugar close to the event.
sugar after, some say protein, sakts etc too I guess, maybe a recovery drink
I wonder how long this thread will last before iDave gets a mention?
3 posts it would appear.
They won't help much during a race as short as 12 minutes. What you want to make sure is that you are fully "stocked up" before you start. So take a sports drink to sip on the way out. Maybe have something to eat on land. You may need to experiment with what works for you but for me its normally no later than 30 minutes before the race. Either an energy bar, generic supermarket cereal bar or banana.
One thing that might help you is a good dose of caffeine. You could try an caffeine gel on the way out or a caffeine drink. I don't find they work unless other sources of caffeine are limited (so no use if you are a heavy coffee drinker).