Rock ‘n Roll Chi is just days away now, but I’m really excited about some of my other races this cycle.

And one of those races is Hood to Coast with Nuun! FORTY DAYS AWAY, DUDES!

Hood to Coast with Nuun!

I fell in love with Nuun after seeing several people tweet about it when I first started running regularly. I was training for my first marathon and knew I needed something with more electrolytes during the hot summer. The small tubes are easy to throw in your gym bag or purse. And adding a tablet to a glass of water and waiting for it to fizz is fun. I bought my first few tubes at Fleet Feet and gave them a try, without realizing how addictive they’d be. I’m pretty sure it would be impossible for me to be dehydrated during my training this summer because I can’t go a day without it (it’s that tasty.) I’m not a particularly “salty sweater” but I know it’s important to keep my electrolytes balanced while training in the heat.

I had a tough workout on Tuesday morning. 1 mile repeats in 93% humidity and 72 degrees at 6 AM (it wouldn’t have been much better if I ran at 4 AM or 5 AM…). I’m not sure how I managed to do this but I ran 4 x 1 mile faster than I did during my last training cycle. 6:19, 6:26, 6:21, 6:20….in those conditions. I managed to end each mile near a water fountain to splash cold water on my face but I was struggling even during the cooldown to hold it together.

I felt like I might has well have gone swimming instead of running because it was so muggy out there. (And if you saw me afterward, you probably would have though I did go swimming!)

Within 3 hours post-workout, I drank at least 36 ounces of water and Nuun. No rest for the weary!

After trying almost all of their flavors, my favorites are citrus fruit and watermelon. (I have yet to try the caffeinated Cherry Limeade! I’ll be making a purchase soon…) I consistently drank Nuun before my first marathon and didn’t have any hydration issues despite high temps the last 10 miles or so. I will take Nuun over Gatorade any day, especially because you don’t have to deal with that lingering sugary taste in your mouth. Nuun sells single tubes or 4-packs.

Hood to Coast will be my first official relay.

I’m already having visions of naps in vans, makeshift showers (AKA baby wipes), and handoffs with my teammates.

I’m Runner 11 in Van #2 for Team Lemonade, so I’ll run a total of 16+ miles (which will be perfect to slot into my marathon training cycle). Jesica D will hand off to me and I’ll hand off to Holly.

{For those of who you have run Hood to Coast before, what tips do you have for me? Which leg was most difficult for you? Is there anything you would have done to make your experience more enjoyable?}

Have you tried Nuun before? Have you struggled with hydration in your training? What’s your favorite Nuun flavor?

FREE TUBES! 4 Pack Giveaway

Nuun is providing a 4-pack of any flavor to the winner of the giveaway. Just a click away! (and you can enter to win everyday until July 18th when a winner is chosen!)

If you don’t see “Enter Here” above, you can enter by clicking this link—>  a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can continue to enter the giveaway until Friday, July 19th. I’ll be contacting the winner by Saturday, July 20th! 

And if you don’t want to bother with the giveaway or you want to buy some this instant, Nuun is offering a 15% discount with Code: hydrateHTC valid on all purchases (so you can use it multiple times) through September. All product information and flavors are here!

Nuun is providing the 4-pack free of charge to the winner of the giveaway. All opinions are my own.

 

 

-J