Strike Force Energy Running Fuel

After much extensive testing I can now give my official results and recommendations for Strike Force Energy with science!

DISCLAIMER: These are the running specific recommendations.

As a morning squirt to get you going mixed as the packaging says if great!  Buzzed!

But when it comes to drinking on the run…

After several strike missions…

Destiny style…

Ok more of running around my block and on the local trails I have concluded with total-almost-maybe-opinion that one pack in 64 oz (2 quarts) makes the ideal running drink.  

This worked great as it was dilute enough to still be hydrating but had enough flavor to make it not boring old water.   Plus the Caffeine was spread out to give a nice caffeine climb and gentle taper vs the usual pop and fade of stronger caffeine doses.  

Plus this makes them last for ever!  

10 packs per container.  

One pack makes 2 quarts.  

32 oz per quart.

For a total of 640 ounces.

With the average water bottle being 20 ounces.  

That's 32 bottles filled per box of 10!

Each box is $9.99.

That's 31.2 cents per bottle!!!

By the power of math!

Put it in the fridge.  Chill and serve... into your favorite running bottle and enjoy

Original is still number one for this application with Grape being a close second. I found that the Lemon and Orange had an odd flavor that somehow became weirder when it was diluted…

So next time you are going out on a run with the Bro’s or the Joe's

Make a couple pitchers of Strike Force energy so you can save your day!  Remember knowing to half the battle, but possession is nine tenths of the law!

Again a big thanks to Sean for his service and for providing our materials for testing.

Really enjoyed it. But for now..I gotta run!

Clif Shot Double Espresso

Clif Shots!  I'm a gel fan.  They are one of the easiest fuel sources to eat and store while on the run.  I do tend to stay with the GU crowd mostly because that are easy to find.  But I'm always looking to branch out and try new things.   

So first thing I love is the litter leash!  What a great little method to keep the tear top from falling off.  

Second is the flavor.  I love coffee.  

And what is the best form of coffee?

And what's better than one?  Well two for starters…

Twins!!!

Double strength.  Twice as good right?  Well in this case yes.  I really like the coffee taste as a prerun fuel.  I will say that on a hot day this might not be the best flavor but as a quick wake up and fuel up this is about perfect.

So for that extra motivation in the morning I recommend the double espresso!  Just wish it had a Starbucks logo on it…

Enjoy prerun!  Expect awesome run!  But for now I gotta run!

Clif Blok Salted Watermelon

The last of the Gelatinous Cubes rears its head….

Salted Watermelon!!!!

And how do you stop rogue attacking watermelons?

With Gallagher!

Now it's a gel…

So I really liked these.  Being in the south there is a definite appreciation for Watermelons.  And the hint of salt on a sweet watermelon really does make the taste just pop.  

As with all gels and Bloks I find that the flavors are just muted.  Not watered down just muted.  Flavor is there but all the “sharp” edges of the flavor are blunted.  

I think I might like these a little bit more than I should just because of the living in the South bias.  

Ok so here is the final standings for the Clif Bloks….

So in Fourth place…

Ginger Ale. Good but just not as refreshing as it could have been.  Wanted a crisper ginger taste.

Third place….

Tropical Punch!  Nice fruity, fruit snacks like flavor.  Just right and probably the best all around for everyone.  But not for me…

Second place…

Salted Watermelon! Sweet, salty, refreshing taste of the south.

And of course that leaves first place…

Spearmint!!!!  I am totally partial because I love spearmint!  But you can't beat cooling mint on a hot summer run!

The flavor they need to make is Mojito!!!

Until they make that ultimate Blok for me I'll have to settle for Spearmint, but for now gotta run!

Clif Tropical Punch Bloks

In the quest to conquer the gelatinous cubes I meet my next challenger.

So when it comes to tropical punch lots of things come to mind…

Or this guy…

But what I really want is something that tastes like this!

This is what I really want. Did I get it?

No but it was good.  Very generic tropical flavor but still good.  Pleasant, nothing outstanding, but nothing bad.  Really reminded me of fruit snacks for adults.  

So the ranking so far is…

1st Spearmint

2nd Tropical fruit

3rd Ginger Ale

Which one will be the final winner?

The stunning conclusion soon!!!

But for now, gotta run!

Clif Ginger Ale Bloks

More of the gelatinous cube saga!

Today's flavor foray is Ginger Ale. Who doesn't love Ginger?

And who doesn't love ale?

As long as the ginger isn't too strong…

So refreshing ginger ale in a cube form.  Would it be great and settle the hot cauldron that is the running stomach on a summer’s day?  

The answer is yes!

I found the ginger ale Clif Bloks to be very satisfying indeed.  Very since mello flavor. Not too sharp, in fact I actually wish it was a bit more tangy.  But then again the hot belly does not like anything too dramatic. And even with the anti nausea powers of Ginger I wouldn't want to take the chance of puking from too tangy ginger.

So I will have to rank ginger ale behind Spearmint for now.  Both have nice herbal properties from their flavors I just have mint bias I guess.  

So the leaderboard is as follows…

1-Spearmint

2-Ginger Ale

Who will be the winner?  Find out soon! Same Blog time, same Blog channel!

But for now...gotta run!

Clif Spearmint Bloks

So when I think of gelatinous cubes I think of old D&D monsters.

But after getting some Bloks from the fine folks at Clif I'm rethinking that.

So the first flavor I'm trying is spearmint…

I love spearmint… tastes like

So as with all running foods fake reviews can eat them on the sofa… but I eat mine in the run for that more authentic run induced taste experience.  And in the case of the Bloks as how to eat them.

Well for starters don't try to tear open the pack all the way and eat them with your sweaty hot fingers.  Sticky mess from hell and the packaging of the Bloks is made from Spiderman's webbing.  Trying to tear it on the run was comical I'm sure to any observers.  

Then I realized that I had to use the Mentos method.  

Just tear the top open and squeeze thumb shoot them in your mouth!  I could even stop and put the package back in my pocket with little mess by folding down the top.  

So here are the facts…

And here is the opinion….

Really good.  Loved the cool spearmint on a hot summer run.  The gel blocks tasted very natural, like grandma had made them out of some kind of runner's jam preserves.

No GI upset even on a hot weather running stomach.  Not melt in your mouth but still very much like Jell-O.  And there's always room for Jell-O.   

So far this is the favorite in the gel race. Spearmint is hard to beat for me but we will see what tomorrow holds with the next Blok… but for now, gotta run!

Clif Cornucopia

Here is the bounty I received from the fine folks at Clif. A veritable Cornucopia of fuel and treats.  Individual reviews to come soon. 

The Fourth Day of V

Happy Quattro de Mayo!!!

So today is the final day of drink and gel pairings...

And it's a strange one, Ginger Twist

And Mountain Berry

Let's start of course with our pre run snacky time!

Mountain berry.  This was a true stand out this festival.  It tasted like all the best jams at an IHOP.  Like a could pour this stuff over my crepes!

It was like a slightly tangy jam taste. Really good. It was almost like that elusive lingdon berry jam.  Just tart enough to get your brain awake but not enough to get the acid up in your stomach.  Super good!  Already declaring it the gel winner this festival!

The next was the Ginger Twist.

So I was really worried about this one.  I love fresh ginger with my sushi, my wife taught me that one.  But I was worried about the ginger being too strong...

Yep that's too strong.  I really want this Ginger...

So can Vfuel make a smooth Ginger?

Well the short answer is kind of...

Just like the Black Cherry Cola it has that watered down flavor.  It does have a very fresh taste which almost makes it worse since it just emphasizes the watering down.  This might be a great tool to keep  in your aid station kit for days you are having a little GI upset.  We all know that ginger is good for stomachs.

If I were evaluating the taste as a stomach aid I would say its great!  But a running fuel the ginger just lingered flavorwise a little too much in my mouth but in a thinned down way.  Ginger flavor needs to be kicked up a bit but then might cause some acid reflux on the run by being too spicy.  

So the drinks are all downed and the drinking portion of the festival ends...

Here are the final drink standings 

The winner in first place is the great Tangerine Cream!

In a very close second it's Cool Lime

In third place it's Black Cherry Cola

And in last place it's Ginger Twist...

I'm going to save the final gel rankings for tomorrow but Mountain Berry is way out in front!

Unless any of these GU flavors win out...

Those are some long shots for sure...

Ok guys, see you tomorrow, until then.. gotta run!