After running my first Ultra this June I realized how good I felt eating real food to fuel my body during a race. So I was thrilled to receive a box from Pocket Fuel right before we made our big move across the country, as I am always looking for convenient ways to bring food on a run.
What is Pocket Fuel?
Pocket fuel is a 100% Natural Energy “Whole Food” product. They are Gluten free and Vegan, so called “Nut butters with a kick”. The Nut butters (Hazelnut, Almond and Peanut) are the base and are blended with a wide variety of seeds and dried fruits. PocketFuel delivers a balanced combination of simple and complex carbohydrates. The protein and fiber in the nut butter slow down the delivery of the carbohydrates, giving you sustained energy. Pocket Fuel also contains electrolytes: sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca++), magnesium (Mg++) and chloride (Cl-). Instead of sweetening with refined sugars, they use organic evaporated cane syrup. The difference between refined sugar and evaporated cane juice, according to the company, is “Refined sugar is cooked and becomes acidic. Organic evaporated cane juice is air dried to preserve its nutritional benefits”. Pocket Fuel is also packed with “good fats” or monounsaturated fats, which are good for you. The company also mentions that “Fat provides the main fuel source for endurance sports. Even during high intensity exercise, where carbohydrates are the main fuel source, fat is needed to help access the stored carbohydrate (glycogen)”.
What I thought
I am three weeks into my marathon training, so I have had the opportunity to try a few of the delicious Pocket Fuel flavors. On my long run a few weeks ago I grabbed a Chunky Coconut Cherry
This and the Crunchy Banana Blueberry were my favorites flavors. If you are a chocolate lover try Chocolate Haze or Chocolate Espresso. I ate the 1.8oz packet along with a whole wheat bagel before my run and then another 45 min into my 14 miler. I was doing a “Steady State” long run at around a 7:45 pace, which for me is a tough run, especially in the heat, and around mile 12 on these types of workouts I am really get fatigued. I was thrilled when I felt a surge of energy after taking my second one 45 minutes into my workout. It took about 15 min. for me to feel the subtle kick of energy. I finished my workout tired, but I finished and hit my my target pace with effort but not exhaustion. I generally need much more sodium than Pocket Fuel offers in their pouches, so on this workout I drank 26oz of Nuun hydration. The combination worked for me. I will continue to use Pocket Fuel on my long runs. I really like the fact that they have a resealable cap so if I want to eat half I can save the other half. I should also note that my kids loved them as well. I brought them to the beach one day and served it with apple slices for a super heathy “whole food” snack. They loved sucking the nut butter out of the pouches. Remember to “Squish and Squeeze” the bag to blend the product before consuming.
If you are looking for an all natural way to fuel your runs, look no further. Pocket Fuel is available to purchase online and through some retailers. Find out more about how to get the product right HERE.
All of these opinions are my own, Pocket Fuel gave me samples of their products but I was not paid and they were not guaranteed a positive review.
What do you use to fuel your long runs?
