Product Review: Endurolytes

By David Murphy

Every marathoner dreams of running the Boston Marathon. My dream was met with disastrous results because long before the finish line my electrolytes ran out.

I was cruising along with some running buddies with my pace chart on my wrist. All of us were aiming for a 2:45 pace and felt we had trained well to hit that target. We were chatting and discussing how crazy it was to be racing through crowds of cheering people.

Then it happened, I got the worst cramping in one of my calves. After pushing through it for a few miles I had to stop and use a curb to stretch out the hardened knot that had formed. To

spectators I must have looked like I was finishing an ultra marathon because I could hardly even walk. I forced myself to continue and was fine for about a mile and then both my legs cramped up all the way from the calves to the upper thighs. It was excruciating. For the final miles I had remaining I walked or ran-hobbled like an old man who had never run a day in his life. Those of you who have experienced this know how devastating it is to your race and destructive to running motivation. Understanding what happened that day and finding a proper solution revived my spirit and brought renewed confidence.

What is it? Hammer Nutrition has a product they debuted several years ago called Endurolytes. Used by bikers for years they are a gel capsule that is taken with water while you are running. I have been using Endurolytes for the last year and it has been a miracle. I have not had one cramp since. Cramping is your body's final warning signal that you’ve used up your electrolyte stores. However, your performance i

s deteriorating and you are slowing down long before you feel the slightest twinge of a cramp. Your body can ingest a maximum of 150-200 calories per hour during exercise; it can, however, use (via sweat, muscle enervation and mental functioning) a limitless amount of electrolytes. Endurolytes are a mix of these vital electrolytes, easily delivered in pill form.

How it works: To keep your body's muscular, digestive, nervous, and cardiac systems firing on all cylinders you need a consistent supply of all electrolytic minerals, not just sodium and potassium. In fact salt tablets or too much sodium is counterproductive and can cause swelling. Plus, in many instances, you require greater volumes of electrolytes than any sports drink or gel can provide. That is why Endurolytes fulfills such a crucial component of your fueling by supplying your body with a balanced, full-spectrum, rapidly assimilated electrolyte source, allowing you to meet your widely vari

able electrolyte needs with tremendous precision, hour after hour, no matter what the weather throws at you.

When to use: I mention weather because as I reflect on the race day it was about 70 degrees at the start and got up to 80 before I finished with normal East Coast 80% humidity. I was obviously unprepared for this. I recommend that runners take Endurolytes whenever their workout will extend beyond 1 hour, the temperature is above 70 degrees, humidity is above 70%, or you are going to be running in temp or humidity 10% more than you are accustomed to. Endurolytes are not just for cramping. Endurolytes aid peak performance by giving optimal electrolytes to keep your muscles firing and other nervous responces operating smoothly. Personally I take one capsule every time I use a Roctane. For severe cramping it is recommended you take more, 1-6 per hour and possibly some before or after the race.

Ease of use: Endurolytes are very easy to take with you. They go down tasteless, without any of the offensive taste problems of Gu-like supplements. Also don’t do what I did one race and put the pills unprotect

ed in the sports pockets of your shorts. The first few will be fine but after that the sweat from your body will dissolve the pills with ease. All you will be left with is a mush of salty solution in your pocket. The best protection is to store them in an accessory belt if you run with one, or prepare them in the most basic of plastic sandwich bags, the very thin ones with no ziplock and then put the whole thing in the pockets of your running shorts. For those of you who would rather have a non-pill solution it does come in a powder form that you can mix with water and carry that as you run. This will have a flavor but will give the same performance.

Ingredients: Endurolytes contain proper ratios of chelated minerals which provide proper absorbtion. Chelation is the process of bonding each mineral to an amino acid. Bonding makes mineral digestion and assimilation easier.

Endurolytes contain these minerals:

• Calcium – most abundant mineral in human body
• Magnesium - When calcium flows into working muscle cells, the muscle contracts, when calcium leaves and magnesium replaces it, the muscle relaxes
• Potassium – Chief Cation within all muscle cells
• Sodium – Chief Cation outside the muscle cells
• Chloride - Necessary in maintaining the osmotic tension in both blood and extra-cellular fluids
• Manganese – Necessary in trace amounts for optimal muscle cell enzyme reactions for conversion of fatty acids and protein into energy
• Pydroxine HCL - Coenzyme that performs in 60 enzymatic reactions involving metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and protein
• Tyrosine - Amino acid, which has been added because when blood plasma deficiencies occur during extreme endurance events, low thyroid and low adrenal production result

Pricing: Endurolytes come in two differently sized packages. The first is a sample pack with 4 pills in each pack. These are good for first timers who just want to try them to see how they work. You can pick these up for a mere $1.50. After you find out that you love them (which I am absolutely sure you will) Endurolytes come in bottles for those using them more regularly. Bottles have 120 capsules and are affordable at $25. A perfect low cost addition to your training program.

Find your balance. As with all sports nutritional products you have to find the correct amount and frequency to take them so you have the optimal production. Every single body is physiologically different and thus handles nutrition differently. Test out how many you need to take to get the best results. I’ve raced with increased confidence since using Endurolytes. Don’t let cramping and muscle fatigue keep you from having an enjoyable race. Use Endurolytes!

Product Review: Wrightsocks

Like many kids I began seriously running in high school, and I didn’t quite understand the necessity of using proper running socks. I figured all socks were equal. My opinion soon changed as I ran more miles. My Costco cotton socks were just not made for running. I didn’t care much about that at the time because I was still just 14 and if I needed more socks, I relied on my parents to buy them. Once I got my own job, I had to buy all my running gear, and I realized that my meager income couldn’t keep buying cotton socks that got holes in them within a month, were uncomfortable, and gave me blisters. I was frustrated because socks seemed to be such a small thing. I wanted to focus on running, not on whether my socks fit. Unfortunately it wasn’t until my senior year, when I found a simple answer, Wrightsocks.

Wrightsocks were recommended from a friend who gave me a free pair to try out. I had seen them, and thought it would be nice to own a pair but thought technical socks were too expensive. Obviously, when the opportunity to get a free pair arose, I jumped on it. I haven’t been disappointed. Since then I have bought other pairs to supplement, but I still own that original pair of Wrightsocks. They don’t even have a single hole in them (with running 10-12 miles a day), I haven’t had a blister on my foot for over 5 years, and I have finally found that simple answer.

Here is what Wrightsock’s website says about their product:

In competition, your feet are subjected to extreme stress. As your body heats up, your feet get wet, hot and chafed. The combination of moisture, heat and friction often leads to painful blisters and discomfort that keeps you from performing at your peak. How can you eliminate this problem? WRIGHTSOCK Double Layer Socks are the answer!
WRIGHTSOCK Double Layer construction coupled with the most technically advanced fibers, delivers the blister protection that you need. They provide year round comfort and performance with a no blister- guarantee.

WRIGHTSOCK Double Layer delivers their no blister promise through a three-part system:
1. Moisture Management: The Dri-WRIGHT inner layer wicks moisture off the skin better than any other fabric. The Result... your feet stay dry.
2. Temperature Regulation: Staying dry means staying cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The Result... your feet are more comfortable.
3. Friction Reduction: Interaction between the inner and outer sock layers absorbs friction that is normally transferred to the skin. The Result... skin shear is eliminated.

Here are some more Facts:

1. Patented 3rd attachment keeps socks aligned.
2. The outer layer is construced of fibers specific to the activity.
3. The inner layer is always a smooth, undyed, hydrophobic surface against the foot. PATENTED!
4. Friction and shearing forces, created by rigorous activity, are absorbed by the interaction between the inner and outer layers of the sock instead of being passed on to the outer layers of the skin. The result is less blistering.
5. Color coded toe seams for easy size matching.

6. All Wrightsocks available at 26.2 Running Co. are priced at $9.50.

I recommend this product to any runner. Whether you get blisters or not, the Wrightsocks brand socks are the most durable sock in the industry, and it will truly help any runner not deal with the nagging foot irritation.

Michael Felix

Product Review: The Stick

In 2006 I ran my 3^rd Boston Marathon and discovered the most amazing running invention called The Stick. I thought it was a gimmick at first. I was at the expo the day before the race. Walking past a booth a man named Patrick with an Australian accent coaxed me over so he could rub out my calves with his yellow handled stick with white round beads. Oh, the pain!!! He told me it targeted knots and I believed. The next day I ran a negative split marathon and felt great at the end. Of course this was mostly due to the months of training I’d done previous but deep down inside I also had to admit my calves had never felt this good after a marathon. I was converted!

The stick is made by Intracell Technology and has been used and endorsed by top athletes in almost every sport. It has 1 inch wide spindles that spin freely around a semi flexible core. By rolling the stick along the muscle tissue it warms, relaxes, and works knots out. It flexible core and spindles wrap around and contour to the muscle targeting and reducing trouble spots without bruising.

This type of deep tissue massage releases knots or trigger points removing lactic acid and allows increased blood flow to stimulate healthy muscle growth. In simple terms; Muscle knots don’t allow the muscle to flex or work properly. This can affect other muscles around it or strain its connective tissue. No matter how great your workout is, a muscle with a knot isn’t going to strengthen and repair as well as a healthy relaxed muscle.

What makes it so special?

When I was in college our coach once a week would have us give deep tissue leg massages to each other. We’d slop lotion on our calves and with sometimes intense pressure run our thumbs up the leg of our poor running partner. It was excruciating but did the trick. We always left feeling like our legs were more relaxed and springier. The stick does this same thing without lotion, without a partner, and better and more precisely than our clumsy thumbs!

I’ve heard of other people using a rolling pin which does work to some degree but has drawbacks. Rolling pins don’t contour to the muscle. Therefore they can bruise and flatten out the muscle without releasing the knot and causing unneeded pain.

The stick comes in a variety of sizes and stiffnesses. I prefer the marathon stick 20” long (yellow handle) which is more flexible than the original stick for my calves. Marathoners typically have leaner muscle and not as much therefore the stick doesn’t have to penetrate as deeply to be effective. This flexibility allows greater muscle contour as well.

I also have enjoyed the original stick 24” long (blue handle) because it is longer for working back muscles and is stiffer for glutes, IT bands and quads. The Travel stick 17” long (red handle) has the same flexibility as the original but is shorter for ease of packing.

Here is what Intracell’s website says about their product:

Athletes in all sports and at all levels can benefit from the Stick. Many thousands of high school, college, university and Olympic athletes follow the lead of numerous professionals including: New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres....
Some Stick benefits include:

• Warms muscle without expending vital energy stores
• Performs both general and segmental stretching procedures
• Removes trigger point barriers to peak athletic performance
• Enhances strength, flexibility and endurance
• Accelerates muscle recovery and relieves pain

Speed, Strength and Endurance
Emphasis on flexibility training by most athletes is almost non-existent. However, flexibility is crucial for developments in speed, strength and endurance. The usual approach to flexibility is less than optimal since muscle rarely stiffens uniformly. Typically, isolated segments of muscle become chronically shortened. Intracell Technology allows an athlete to perform general stretching as well as segmental stretching procedures with a high degree of precision.

Growth, Repair and Glycogen
Restricted blood flow to the muscles following exercise hinders muscle growth, muscle repair and glycogen repletion. Blood flow restrictions are due to generalized muscle tightness and barrier trigger points. Intracell Technology relaxes tight muscle to enhance muscle growth, repairs tissue and augments glycogen repletion following heavy exercise.

Enhanced Lactic Acid Removal
During exercise, lactic acid can build to critical levels where optimal performance is sacrificed, Intracell Technology expedites the discharge of lactic acid from your muscles and encourages its conversion into glucose by the liver. Intracell Technology appears to be very promising in the arena of enhanced sport performance. Look for more research along these lines in the future.

Comparable Products:

Foam Rollers: These do a great job as well with rolling out and relaxing muscles tissue. I find them harder to use on my calves but a little easier to use on my IT bands if I have ample floor space for laying down.

Pro-Tec roller Massage: A mix between the stick and foam rollers. The spindles are wider and have foam on them. I felt like this product was a knock-off and was inferior.

Pricing:

• Original Stick: $42.50
• Marathon Stick:$31.95
• Travel Stick: $27.50

I recommend this product to all runners old and young, elite or just starting. Using it decreases recovery time, decreases injuries, and aides recovery from injuries. It is my favorite running accessory!

David Bell

Utah Elite Racing Team

We have some exciting news this week!

We'd like to announce our partnership with the new Utah Elite racing team which is making its debut today!

We've been wanting to create a team that could help support those runners throughout the area that are consistently dedicating a large part of their lives to reaching high levels of performance. After a lot of work and negotiation, we've helped create the Utah Elite racing team which will eventually include 12 men and 12 women from around the state. We have a 2-tiered qualification system based on performance which dictates the amount of swag the runner will receive. We're very pumped about the amount of gear and other perks that the store has been able to offer for those on the team including shoes, singlets, shorts, jackets and more.

If you'd like to apply and/or check out more information about the team go to 26.2running.com/racing-team and let us know what you think!

Steel Days 5k

Congratulations to our 26.2 sponsored race winners! Early this morning they competed in the American Fork Steel Days 5k.

Austin West (left), a senior at American Fork High School, finished 1st overall with a time of 15:42. "I like the course and 26.2 has quality running shoes and gear for everyone"-Austin. West also competed on our Wasatch Back team and was a key component to our 2nd place overall finish.

Lindsey Dunkley(left), former BYU All American, finished 3rd overall and 1st in women's overall with a time of 16:34. "I love to do races in the community especially this one since I live here and the support is great. It was fun to see such a good turnout today and fun to watch so many other good runner's compete." -Lindsey
Also a congratulations to our beloved store owner, Dave Bell (right), and employee, Kacee Houle.

Bell finished 1st in his age group/10th overall and Houle was 1st in her age group and the 2nd women finisher.

Staff Spotlight

We are so lucky to have such a fun and talented staff here at 26.2, we decided it's worth some spotlighting! Plus, we want to make sure you know we're all running nerds just like you are! And to reassure you that we know what we're talking about because, let's face it, we've had those injuries, run in those shoes, competed in that race, etc...

So, to kick off our staff spotlights, we are pleased in introduce...drumroll...Alden Bahr! Alden was the winner of the Freedom Run 10k on July 5th, in Provo. He won the race in a time of 31:52, finishing 23 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Way to go Alden!

A Provo native, Alden ran for Mountain View High School, and even garnered a State Championships team title while he was there. He competed a year and a half for Brigham Young University, (and was named Freshman of the Year in the Mountain West Conference), before serving in the New York, New York South mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He returned to BYU's team last year, placing top ten in the Cross Country MWC Championships, and helped the men's team take 17th place at NCAA Cross Country Nationals. He also made the NCAA Track and Field Regional meet in May, competing in the 10k.

Alden is majoring in Spanish and has plans to go to medical school after graduation.

You can find Alden working hard in the 26.2 Provo store, or running around town, of course. Keep up the good work Alden!

Workout Wednesdays

With the start of July, we are now in the midst of road racing season. This is the year to break away from those old PR's and set some new ones! The best way to do this- speed workouts. That's why we host "Workout Wednesdays." It doesn't matter what level you are at. We have workouts that will be specific to you. The workouts consist of various things such as intervals, fartleks, and hill repeats. This is the perfect place to get in a great workout, ask all your running and training questions, meet other local runners, and enjoy getting into great shape!

Come join us Wednesday mornings at 6:45 a.m. at the *American Fork High School Track to...

"Run with the Best!"

(26.2's own Mike Felix workin' the track!)

*510 North 600 East, American Fork 84003
(We meet at the starting line on the track)