I live in Ontario, and GEF is still not available in Canada. I spoke with a representative at Gatorade Canada and was told that it could still be a while before they can sell it in Canada. I’m doing Steelhead again this year, so I’d like to get my hands on some GEF to get used to it during training. Gatorade USA and various mail order companies in the US will not ship the product to Canada. Last year I drove into Detroit and managed to buy some at a Target store, but this year I have been to a variety of stores in SE Michigan and none of them have even heard of it. Any suggestions? Based on how difficult it seems to be to buy GEF I’m wondering why Ironman is sticking with it for their races.
Have you had any luck with the “Find Gatorade Enduance Formula Near You” link on Gatorade’s Endurance Formula website, http://www.enduranceformula.com/ ?
Dave, to get myself “used” to dealing with Gatorade Endurance formula, I just take regular Gatorade powder that you can get in Canada, put 2.5 scoops in a 710 mL bottle and then I add almost a teaspoon of table salt. This should adequately prepare you for the real thing on race day.
I have never gotten a good answer to this question but I will try again on this thread. Has anyone trained with regular Gatorade (ready mixed bottles) only and then raced with Endurance? Does anyone know what the implication/dangers (if any) would be of doing so?
Regular Gatorade tears me apart during training much more than the endurance formula. I can only assume the added sodium in GEF acts a buffer to the high fructuse content of the regular formula. I would assume if you can tolerate the normal stuff, you should have no problems with GEF.
If you tell me what kind and sizes you want I can start shipping it to you from the us…per a small handling fee. I can either list it through ebay or we could use paypal. I have tried it and like it. I am on cytomax right now and may move to GEF
caused a problem for me at the Chicago marathon a few years back. At the time I did know that GE existed and just thought it tasted funny. It was much rougher on my stomach than the regular. Now I mail order it and train with it and have no issues.
Thanks for the link to the store locator. The only store that it comes up with in the Detroit area is Farmer Jack, which is about the only place that I didn’t try. I will try there.
Online triathlon stores such as Trisport specify in their shipping policy that they no longer ship nutrition products outside the US as they have too many shipments turned back by Customs. I have not checked Performance Bike. When you say that they ship to Canada do you mean specifically nutrition products like GEF? Also thanks to the poster who offered to send me some GEF. If I don’t have any luck at Farmer Jack I will get back to you. However, GEF is not approved for use in Canada so Customs might send it back. Have to love our governement protecting us from salty drinks
I am currently following Dev’s suggestion about adding salt to regular Gatorade. I add half a capsule of lavasalts to a bottle and a little extra sugar which brings the sodium, potassium, and sugar up to about the correct level. However I have heard from a couple of people who have had stomach problems with GEF at races, so I figure its worth the extra trouble to train on the real thing for a while.
The funny thing is the other day I was in LP and went to the LBS. Saw that big jar of “Endurance” and bought only to realize once back in Canada it was Powerbar Endurance & not Gatorade Endurance… DUHHHHH
However they seem somewhat similar… so I guess that will do
Yeah … I do powdered Gatorade at home and stop at gas stations for ready mix on my long training rides. If they don’t have it, I buy Coke or PowerAde or whatever else. One day I stopped at this natural foods place in the middle of nowhere and bought mango juice for the rest of my ride. Expensive but yummy!
In races, I drink whatever they have on the course which is generally GEF at US races.
Some people seem to be really sensitive to what they drink - I guess you’ll know if you’re one of those people and in that case, I’d find EF sufficiently different to worry about training with it. I am very lucky that as long as it has sugar and water in it and I nail the right number of calories/hr, I am happy
Farmer Jack seems to be the only place in SE Michigan that carries GEF. Did you try variety stores/gas stations? I’ve gotten it there the odd time.
Currently, I have yet to find a supplier to ship GEF to Canada and that includes any dealers I deal with at work.
I bribe anyone I know going to the states to smuggle it back for me. I have 6 bottles left!
I didn’t have a problem going from Gatorade to the Endurance. I also can’t stomach any type of E-Load, Cytomax or Heed, they all give me gut rot! (funny that it’s not the Gatorade!)
I’ll head back to Detroit and try a Farmer Jack. Are you around Windsor Irongirl? If so I could try and bring some back for you.
Nutrionpro had a table set up at the Guelph triathlon, and the owner claimed that he was going to be getting GEF in stock and would be able to sell it mail order. However this does contradict the last email that I got from Gatorade Canada.
good idea to train with it. i am one of those people who have had major problems drinking GEF while racing. i normally use regular gatorade in training and never had a problem training or in any IM until '05. it didn’t dawn on me until my buddy got really sick at CDA this year and was complaining about the drink, that the light bulb went off in my head, that my stomach upset / puking issues at LP in 05, CDA in 06 and Wildflower 07, were probably all caused by drinking it during the race.
i wish IMNA would go back to serving regular Gatorade, or it’s Infinit for me from now on.
I have purchased GEF numerous times from Performance Bike. It is about 20 USD a can. Be sure that Performance Bike ships using USPS (this is a special request), otherwise you will get royally screwed over by brokerage fees with their standard UPS Ground service. I use GEF from time to time as it is used during races, however, I rely mainly on E-Load and Cytomax Energy which are IMO better sports drinks.
Good Luck with your training for Steelhead! We will be using Orange EF on the bike and Lemon-Lime EF on the Run. All “ready to drink” product, so the formula is “spot on” as it will not be mixed with water by the volunteers! Each aid station will have an Ice Box to make sure the Gatorade is cold during the race. Z
