Category Archives: Nutrition

Improve Your Race Results – And Life – With Wilderness Athlete Mountain Mocha Gel

Written by Phillip Gary Smith
Published on

Need a way to get that win on a trail ultra? Need to pass that snowshoer whipping you to the finish line? Here's how: first, change your stinkin' thinkin' where past results have tainted your view of gels. You may have worn out stomaching something that wasn't providing the results you were promised, yet you kept at it until . . . until you stopped.

Gear Review: Honey Stinger Energy Bars and Energy Chews

Written by Ryan Alford
Published on

About a year ago, I was introduced to Honey Stinger Energy Bars via a set of samples I encountered in the mail.  I was an immediate fan.  I've never tasted an energy bar like the Honey Stinger.  Living up to its name, each bar is made with 30 percent USDA certified organic honey.  In addition, each bar includes 10 grams of whey protein, 22 vitamins and minerals, calcium and antioxidants.  When snowshoeing and trail running, they come in handy.  Because I loved the energy bars, I was eager to try the energy chews.  As it turns out, the chews kept my engine running in between energy bar consumption.  And both taste so good.

Gear Review: GU Energy Gels

Written by Derrick Spafford
Published on

Nothing is worse when out on the trails for a long snowshoe hike or run than bonking. Bonking comes as a result of running out of fuel to your working muscles by not taking in enough calories during endurance events. This can range from a simple inconvenience that makes your snowshoe outing a little less fun all the way to being downright dangerous in extreme cases if caught a long distance out on the trail in cold conditions. If your body starts shutting down and quits operating as efficiently as normal, you can also become more prone to hypothermia or frostbite by not being able to generate as much heat.

Gear Review: Gel-Bot

Written by Derrick Spafford
Published on

One of the most challenging things I've found about ultra running and long distance snowshoe racing is staying well nourished and hydrated. Taking in calories by way of energy gels is a very effective way of keeping your energy level topped up. However, the hassles of dealing with individual gel wrappers, in addition to the mess and impact on the environment, can make this less appealing. Throw in having to follow up your gel consumption with a slug of water and it's easy to see that you sometimes feel like you are spending more time fueling and less time actually enjoying your run.

Hydration Drink Review: Vital Action Performance Water

Written by Ryan Alford
Published on

I enjoy a good hydration drink.  Although, nowadays, there are several to choose from and most drink coolers are full of choices that are obscure.  Coolers are also full of mainstream brand hydration and energy drinks, like Gatorade and Red Bull.  But, the influence of hydration water drinks has caught on, especially with snowshoers.  Vital Action Performance Water is a drink that replenishes and provides that extra boost necessary before and after a day of snowshoeing.

Hydration Drink Review: Nuun for the Soul

Written by Ryan Alford
Published on

I've been a fan of hydration drinks for a long time.  However, I'm being too general. In the past, when I thought of a hydration drink, I thought of Gatorade. Nowadays, when I think of an hydration drink...I think of Nuun. But this isn't your typical hydration drink - it's the start of what I believe is preferred hydration while out on the trail.

Protein: Reviewed by Neal Henderson MS CSCS

Written by Robert Kunz - First Endurance
Published on
Snowshoe Magazine
Introduction: A protein is any one of a large number of organic compounds that make up living organisms and are essential to their functioning. First discovered in 1838, proteins are now recognized as predominant ingredients of cells, making up more than 50 percent of the dry weight of animals. The word protein is coined from the Greek proteios, or "primary."

The Complete Electrolyte Story

Written by Robert Kunz - First Endurance
Published on
Snowshoe Magazine
Introduction: Electrolytes, the mineral salts that conduct the electrical energy of the body, perform a cellular balancing act by allowing nutrients into the cell, while helping to remove waste products. Certain elements, sodium, chloride, magnesium, calcium and potassium, play a primary role in cellular respiration -- that of muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission. It is at the cell membrane where these electrolytes conduct electrical currents similar to nerve impulses. Hydration is the medium which aids electrolyte transport and is crucial for both the health and performance of the cell. Your hydration state is mostly dependent upon water intake or loss thru sweat but is also heavily influenced by electrolyte status.