A hiker friend suggested I try Emergen-C Electro Mix as a electrolight supplment. Curious if others have tried it for running? I personally have a VERY hard time keeping anything from "coming back up" other than water when I get above 14 miles (even diluted gatorade/powerade...)

Dave

Dave,.
I tried the Electro Mix years ago and had minimal results for someone who sweats a LOT!! I've had better results - purely from the electrolyte standpoint - with products like Hammer's Endurolytes. Another GREAT product is NUUN. It's relatively mild in taste and works very well for me in all conditions, (running, biking etc.) only for the electrolyte component. Neither of these products will provide any "Fuel" in the way of carbohydrates. Strictly mentioned for electrolyte replacement only.

If you have trouble keeping the Gatorade/Powerade down, it might be because of what's in it. Also, if you have to dilute it, how much of it do you have to consume to get the intended benefit? I switched to Hammer HEED years ago to alleviate the G.I. issues. Now I seem to keep coming back to the combination of NUUN and Hammer Gel. Longer events I mix other fueling combinations. Try some experimentation. The products above are not overly expensive when I look at the results they render, but more often than not, cheap products will render cheap results.

Doug

Great feedback. I too sweet more than should be humanly possible: it's been a serious problem for me on all 3 of my marithons

I'll give NUUN and Hammer a try

You guys are the best!

--Dave

I will second the Endurolytes...they are amazing.

5 years ago or so I was getting towards the end of a 70 mile ride when I came up a very small hill...my legs cramped so badly I literally couldn't bend my legs anymore. Since then I have been very serious about my water/electrolyte levels. I started using the endurolytes and have literally never had a problem since, even when I was in AZ for a few weeks running in the high 90's.

I usually take 1-2 right before I start my activity and then 1 every half hour after that (unless it's ridiculously hot/humid then I might up that a bit). That said, if my activity is less than an hour I normally don't bother...

That's about the same protocol I use depending on what the temps are going to be. If you can keep on top of it, you never even have to give it a second thought. I got behind at Pac Crest this weekend, and with about 8 miles to go I had cramps so severe I thought I'd have to give it up. The electrolytes just hadn't kicked in yet. I was cramped in both legs at mile 50, but knew that if I stopped, I wouldn't be able to get off the bike anyway. Fortunately I motored along and felt good enough to "jog" in to T-2 and finish the run by mostly walking.