So I’m riding in a group this morning here in Florida and hear Ironman WTC wants to get rid of Gatorade and bring in another drink. Wow the best drink (not to mention easiest to get) in the world on course no longer, it must be a money deal. Certainly not thinking of the athletes. Even to me being a newby it doesn’t make sense.
I would welcome anything that is not laced with HFCS!
When it comes to money things can always change - and have in the past. One year…was it 96 or 97…the drink on the course in Kona was a brand new product called ORS (oral rehydration system) from MetRx. No one racing had tasted this stuff until 3 days before the race. I think it was on the market for about 9 months and then it evaporated.
Gatorade is not a lock with WTC it’s just another big money corp with a current contract. That could change anytime.
I would welcome anything that is not laced with HFCS!
HFCS. so why the big campain against it…all the maltodextrin u see i other drinks is used by your body just as fast. they are both high glycemic index sugars. the fact that malto is a long chain means nothing
Maybe WTC will sign a deal with Infinit. That would be good.
Purely my own speculation, but if this rumor is true that the bidding is open – I bet Accelerade will put in a good push. Maybe it’s just been here in SoFla, but I’ve seen a huge marketing push in the past year or so. We shall see I guess…
“Maybe WTC will sign a deal with Infinit. That would be good.”
… and then we could all put in our special requests for our optimal customized formula 
Gatorade is clearly a big player in the endurance market… I would imagine if this happened they would seek other sponsorship… potentially opening the door for new race organizers.
Ugh. I hope not. Although they do seem to be throwing marketing dollars around recently. I’m sure it will come down to a $$ decision on the part of WTC/NAS, but I think that would be a bad move. A lot of people cannot handle the protein, and those that have tried it know that there can be additional issues with it in the heat.
Infinit already has a presence at some IM expos. While I think Gatorade is the most universal and therefore the most logical choice, Infinit would be my second choice for on-course use.
EDIT: Accelerade also contains milk products (whey protein), per the company’s website. Those of us who are allergic/intolerant/sensitive to milk products will really be screwed. Their website suggests ‘consulting your physician,’ but I know for me, if there’s a CHANCE it’s going to screw up my stomach, it definitely will during an IM.
I signed up for IM-Moo because they use Gatorade. The last few HIM’s I did used the Infinit and it was terrible. Mostly due to volunteers mixing it wrong. Racine was the race and I grabbed an infinit at the first aid station. It was mixed so strong (like 80% mix 25% water) that I vomited from it almost instantly. Pretty much ruined the entire rest of the day. I can handle Gatorade all day since it is so available and I am used to it, they better not change!!! KEEP GATORADE it works and it is the best !!!
the drink on the course in Kona was a brand new product called ORS (oral rehydration system) from MetRx.
Who was the marketing genius who came up with that name?!
It’s a good thing they specified it was oral…
the smart money would be on Powerbar
.
Coke never goes out of style! : )
You’re probably right. WTC would be smart negotiating a deal that puts PepsiCo up against Nestle.
After its great success in Kona, it was renamed ORS -oral regurgataion system.
the smart money would be on Powerbar
Good call. Have you tried it? I’ve never had it.
I’m a fan of accelerade. I have really weird taste, though. I need something with a strong flavor. Lightly flavored drinks with glutamine make me gag.
Jodi
Some manage to make use of gatorade but I find it should stay put in commercials with basketball stars and targeted at weekend warriors who wouldn’t know the feeling of exhausting their glycogen stores if it smacked them around the face. It’s junk sugar, I think no better than coke except doesn’t taste as good. If you’ve ever spewed your guts up during a race or lost time even with a diluted mixture as your body repusled that swill, you’ll probably appreciate better products like Hammer’s Heed, which is subtle and not in your face like sucking sugar cubes.
Oh man, I’d take gatorade over Heed any day. Heed tastes like ass!
At IMLP they were serving grocery store brand “cola”.