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The New Clif Shot

What seems like eons ago, I blogged about Clif Shot energy gels.

Since then, it only takes me about a mile to take down a gel during a race. But now, the product has been reformulated (and I guess I have been reformulated over the years as well, :D).

Clif sent me a sample of the new gel in the Chocolate flavor. I took it with me during a recent 15-miler and found it to be thick (perhaps due to cold) and rather tasty.

Sure, it was very sweet. Maybe too sweet for some (but not me as I am dying from fatigue already halfway through the run), but the chocolatey flavor was very palatable and not artificial-tasting at all.
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Comments

  1. Little Miss FitnessMarch 1, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    I have never tried these, but this chocolate one looks yummy! A great spring to your step. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 1, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    I don't know if I'll ever get used to clif shots. I still use them, but cringe everytime I do.

    ReplyDelete
  3. KaraMarch 1, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    You take it over a mile? Wow, I just down it as quickly as possible (I use Gu). I hate taking it so much, I can't stand dragging it out.

    Do you think the Clif ones are better than Gu?

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownMarch 1, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    How do you know when you need a salt packet or a gel/gu? I did a 10k this summer and still felt ok at the end but wiped. Fitness level or refuel station how will I know?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Julie DMarch 1, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    Hi! Thanks for the comment!

    I'm not an authority, but this is my experience:

    I think salt and GUs are refueling routines that you sort of learn by trial-and-error. Wish there was a definitive formula, but people differ so widely. In general, I'd say that a GU is more of a pre-race fuel before a 10K if you can't handle food in your stomach but need fuel. I would also say that anything over 8 miles probably warrants a gel.

    A gel contains about 100 calories, which is what you burn in a mile, but the point of them is just to send the sugar in the blood for quick energy rather than replenishing your calories. Definitely practice when them in your training... I can't stress this enough. You may find it takes a while for you to get one down, or maybe you'll have it in a few gulps. They should be taken in with a little water, if possible.

    As for salt, it's probably not necessary for runs under 15 miles, unless it's REALLY hot and you're sweating a lot. Then maybe once an hour. I certainly don't want to recommend taking salt if it's not needed (because we all know it's not good for blood pressure and such).

    Hope this helps.

    ReplyDelete
  6. dawn @ running the dawnMarch 2, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    i've heard some good things about the new clif ones...haven't tried it yet. still not sure what my favorite gels are. i do like that the powerbar ones are thinner and easier to swallow...

    ReplyDelete

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