I put my comments into the supplied review sheet and will paste below. Great experience with HOTSHOT and the product has definately gained a permanent user in me. Highly recommend.
About me: 6' 185 pounds. Doing Tri for 5 seasons now. Strength is the bike. Weakness used to be the swim, is now the run. Usually do 3-4 Olympic races per year and one 70.3. This season, 3 OLY, 1 70.3, and first crack at 140.6 this November. Used HOTSHOT in train up for IM 70.3 AC and during the race. Will continue to use in final prep for IM Florida. History of bad cramping in quads a few miles into the run, and cramping in feet.
a. I used the product as instructed: Initially
b. I modified product use: Periodically I did not take the product before my workout. This was due to getting some early heart rate spikes during some of my brick workouts. However I discovered these were due to something else I had changed in my nutrition and not related to this product.
c. Taste: While shocked initially, I did like the taste. I am a fan of all things spicy/peppery. I guess when people told me there was some spice to the taste I brushed it off. I was wrong. The taste is definitely a shock and it really lingers. But I didn’t find it bad, and grew to enjoy the sensation during a long workout. I am EXTREMELY fussy when it comes to taste and consistency of supplements, and this passed my test. When cold, the taste is smooth and spicy and lingers a bit. When warm, initially it tasted harsh. Not unusable, just eye opening and lingered for a long time.
d. Digestibility: No issues. Had zero GI issues at all. For me the product went down like water. My stomach didn’t know anything had hit it.
e. Convenience: I’ll rate this easy to use, but difficult if you don’t think ahead. The plastic seal around the cap can be difficult to remove with sweaty hands while running. Yes, it can and should be removed ahead of time, but apparently I neglected to open the one I was using in the middle of the run in Ironman 70.3 Atlantic City.
f. Cramping: Experienced one or more bouts of muscle twitching
Comments: I will be purchasing the product for future use and will refine my use of it. It seemed to take things down for me one notch. So, if I took the product at the first sight of muscle twitching, the twitching went away. If I took it once I started actually cramping, it took it down to occasional twitching. I’m saying the product works, I just needed to get out in front of cramps a little better.
g. Cramp location: Quadriceps and feet
Comments: These two are my general problem areas. Feet on long runs (just behind the toes) and my inner quads on runs following a good bike effort.
h. Cramp intensity: Mild pain
Comments: While using the product the cramps, when they did come on, came on much slower and much more mildly. My history has been sudden onset of leg locking cramps in my quads. Using this product during my first long run/bike effort I noticed a considerable change. I took one HOTSHOT in the middle of the bike workout, then pocketed one for running. Around 5 miles into my run (later than I usually feel it), I felt a very slow onset of some twitching in my normal problem area. Took the second HOTSHOT and completed my day with no issues. I was impressed from the first use.
i. Cramp duration: Less than 2 minutes
Comments: As mentioned earlier, I will be purchasing and refining my use. When I would wait until cramping to use HOTSHOT, the cramp would subside within 2 minutes or less. Now that I better know how to use it (for me), I rate the relief as extremely fast.
j. Cramp frequency: Cramped once. Comments: Depending on the length of workout I would maybe get one cramp during a session. I didn’t use the product for every single workout, I reserved it for longer weekend efforts. I noticed during the workouts during the week that I wasn’t using it, I would get stiffness and twitches a lot easier.
k. Cramp outcome: Was able to continue training without stopping
Comments: I’ll reiterate my statement that for me, the product lessened what was happening by one degree. Easy to use product though, drank it on the run and kept on going.
l. Product effect on cramping: Cramp ceased soon after consuming product
Comments: The degree to which it lessened my discomfort, was very fast. This, I think, was a bit amplified by the flavor of the product. During long efforts, when I would get into that zombie like feeling, drinking this was like getting slapped in the face. It relieved my cramps and brought me back to alertness.
m. Perceived energy: No noticeable change
Comments: While I didn’t have an energy change per se, as mentioned above, there is definitely a ‘wake-up’ factor to the drink, especially when it’s warm.
n. Workout intensity: Sustained a higher intensity than usual
Comments: Especially for my runs, I noticed a higher intensity to brick workouts and the one race I used the product for. My previous cramp onsets usually led to slow jogging or walking, sometimes trying to hydrate the cramp out leading to bloating. I kept much higher pace and tempo on my workouts with HOTSHOT
o. Perceived effort: No Noticeable Change
Comments: Again, I was not increasing effort, but was getting better workout results because I was holding my pace instead of slowing to work out the cramps or slowing because twitching was setting in. I didn’t really notice any energy boost (though the product isn’t really marketed that way so I didn’t expect it).
p. Recovery: My recovery seemed faster
Comments: Using the product post-workout I was initially skeptical about, but I did notice a change. A few hours post workout my legs felt much fresher, and I woke the next morning with legs feeling like they did less than they actually did the day before.
q. Soreness: Less soreness than expected
Comments: Same as above, post-workout feeling was much better, and had much fresher legs in the morning to go back out again.
r. Other comments: Overall I highly recommend HOTSHOT. Some will not like the flavor initially, but I think you’ll get used to it (use it cold first, acquired taste). I used the product for my workouts leading up to my ‘B’ race for the year, Ironman 70.3 Atlantic City and was very pleased both in training and the race. I have had a history of awful quad cramps coming off the bike and into the first 2-3 miles of a run, and I experienced a significant decrease during this test period. I will be purchasing the product for future use in my remaining training for Ironman Florida, and it will be with me on the course.
I talk to myself because mine are the only answers I'll accept - George Carlin
About me: 6' 185 pounds. Doing Tri for 5 seasons now. Strength is the bike. Weakness used to be the swim, is now the run. Usually do 3-4 Olympic races per year and one 70.3. This season, 3 OLY, 1 70.3, and first crack at 140.6 this November. Used HOTSHOT in train up for IM 70.3 AC and during the race. Will continue to use in final prep for IM Florida. History of bad cramping in quads a few miles into the run, and cramping in feet.
a. I used the product as instructed: Initially
b. I modified product use: Periodically I did not take the product before my workout. This was due to getting some early heart rate spikes during some of my brick workouts. However I discovered these were due to something else I had changed in my nutrition and not related to this product.
c. Taste: While shocked initially, I did like the taste. I am a fan of all things spicy/peppery. I guess when people told me there was some spice to the taste I brushed it off. I was wrong. The taste is definitely a shock and it really lingers. But I didn’t find it bad, and grew to enjoy the sensation during a long workout. I am EXTREMELY fussy when it comes to taste and consistency of supplements, and this passed my test. When cold, the taste is smooth and spicy and lingers a bit. When warm, initially it tasted harsh. Not unusable, just eye opening and lingered for a long time.
d. Digestibility: No issues. Had zero GI issues at all. For me the product went down like water. My stomach didn’t know anything had hit it.
e. Convenience: I’ll rate this easy to use, but difficult if you don’t think ahead. The plastic seal around the cap can be difficult to remove with sweaty hands while running. Yes, it can and should be removed ahead of time, but apparently I neglected to open the one I was using in the middle of the run in Ironman 70.3 Atlantic City.
f. Cramping: Experienced one or more bouts of muscle twitching
Comments: I will be purchasing the product for future use and will refine my use of it. It seemed to take things down for me one notch. So, if I took the product at the first sight of muscle twitching, the twitching went away. If I took it once I started actually cramping, it took it down to occasional twitching. I’m saying the product works, I just needed to get out in front of cramps a little better.
g. Cramp location: Quadriceps and feet
Comments: These two are my general problem areas. Feet on long runs (just behind the toes) and my inner quads on runs following a good bike effort.
h. Cramp intensity: Mild pain
Comments: While using the product the cramps, when they did come on, came on much slower and much more mildly. My history has been sudden onset of leg locking cramps in my quads. Using this product during my first long run/bike effort I noticed a considerable change. I took one HOTSHOT in the middle of the bike workout, then pocketed one for running. Around 5 miles into my run (later than I usually feel it), I felt a very slow onset of some twitching in my normal problem area. Took the second HOTSHOT and completed my day with no issues. I was impressed from the first use.
i. Cramp duration: Less than 2 minutes
Comments: As mentioned earlier, I will be purchasing and refining my use. When I would wait until cramping to use HOTSHOT, the cramp would subside within 2 minutes or less. Now that I better know how to use it (for me), I rate the relief as extremely fast.
j. Cramp frequency: Cramped once. Comments: Depending on the length of workout I would maybe get one cramp during a session. I didn’t use the product for every single workout, I reserved it for longer weekend efforts. I noticed during the workouts during the week that I wasn’t using it, I would get stiffness and twitches a lot easier.
k. Cramp outcome: Was able to continue training without stopping
Comments: I’ll reiterate my statement that for me, the product lessened what was happening by one degree. Easy to use product though, drank it on the run and kept on going.
l. Product effect on cramping: Cramp ceased soon after consuming product
Comments: The degree to which it lessened my discomfort, was very fast. This, I think, was a bit amplified by the flavor of the product. During long efforts, when I would get into that zombie like feeling, drinking this was like getting slapped in the face. It relieved my cramps and brought me back to alertness.
m. Perceived energy: No noticeable change
Comments: While I didn’t have an energy change per se, as mentioned above, there is definitely a ‘wake-up’ factor to the drink, especially when it’s warm.
n. Workout intensity: Sustained a higher intensity than usual
Comments: Especially for my runs, I noticed a higher intensity to brick workouts and the one race I used the product for. My previous cramp onsets usually led to slow jogging or walking, sometimes trying to hydrate the cramp out leading to bloating. I kept much higher pace and tempo on my workouts with HOTSHOT
o. Perceived effort: No Noticeable Change
Comments: Again, I was not increasing effort, but was getting better workout results because I was holding my pace instead of slowing to work out the cramps or slowing because twitching was setting in. I didn’t really notice any energy boost (though the product isn’t really marketed that way so I didn’t expect it).
p. Recovery: My recovery seemed faster
Comments: Using the product post-workout I was initially skeptical about, but I did notice a change. A few hours post workout my legs felt much fresher, and I woke the next morning with legs feeling like they did less than they actually did the day before.
q. Soreness: Less soreness than expected
Comments: Same as above, post-workout feeling was much better, and had much fresher legs in the morning to go back out again.
r. Other comments: Overall I highly recommend HOTSHOT. Some will not like the flavor initially, but I think you’ll get used to it (use it cold first, acquired taste). I used the product for my workouts leading up to my ‘B’ race for the year, Ironman 70.3 Atlantic City and was very pleased both in training and the race. I have had a history of awful quad cramps coming off the bike and into the first 2-3 miles of a run, and I experienced a significant decrease during this test period. I will be purchasing the product for future use in my remaining training for Ironman Florida, and it will be with me on the course.
I talk to myself because mine are the only answers I'll accept - George Carlin