Anyone have any intel on HOTSHOT, a new anti-cramp product ? Or link me (I searched ST forum but couldn’t find anything). Thanks
formerly known as #ItsTheNerve. there may be more under that name
Took a shot during my omlympic race yesterday at mile 2 of the run as I could feel my legs starting to hurt.
It’s a bit spicey and took a bit for my stomach to digest but the legs felt great for the remainder of the run.
I have been testing it for a few months (mostly in road races) and have found that, if I take it right as I feel the first ‘twitches’ that typically precede cramps, they never come, so for me at least, it appears to be effective.
I got a box of it a few weeks before IMTX and used it during my last brick workout prior to raceweek. Had it about 5 mins before getting off the bike before a pretty hard 30 min run. Seemed to work well as I had some fatigue setting in on the legs and thought I would feel it on the run, but took the hotshot and pushed it on the run to see if I could get it to the point of feeling I might cramp. Never did. So I put on in my bento box and one in my run special needs bag. Never needed it on the bike, but figured I go ahead and use it as I started the 2nd of 3 loops on the run. As a previous poster said…it is SPICY. But I never had any hints of cramps at all during the run. I didn’t really push it until the final 4 miles though, and considering how good my legs felt afterwards, I probably could have pushed earlier. I don’t know how much the hot shot helped, but it didn’t HURT me physically, and may have helped me mentally. I can have a finicky stomach, but it didn’t bother me at all. I’d recommend giving it a shot (see what I did there?)
**formerly known as #ItsTheNerve. there may be more under that name **
Yes - that’s right. The had been working under that name for a year while they did some test marketing and a lot of field testing.
It’s based on some interesting science, whereby they found that, cramping was significantly diminished, when a certain sensor on the back of the mouth, was stimulated by a mustard seed derived spice!
I’ve not definitively tested, the product myself, but knowing what I know about the science behind cramping, and also their science, I think they may be on to something.
I’ve tried thier product at Oceanside earlier this year. They sent me a box if it and put me in thier beta program. I’m actually a little scared drinking it because it kind of upsets my stomach a little it’s very spicy and interesting taste. Usually I down it and it tastes fine but it has a super strong aftertaste with a mean kick.
I can’t say it eliminates my cranks but I think it has helped, however stomach feels uneasy after I drink it so I get nervous.
Im debating on drinking it this weekend at Boulder or taking normal pickle juice.
I get the science behind how it might stop a cramp that has started, but that science doesn’t seem to carry over to using one before you workout to prevent cramps during workouts.
My sense is that there is both an immediate effect, as well as a preventative one as well.
My sense is that there is both an immediate effect, as well as a preventative one as well.
I too went on the beta testing. I wanted it to work, but it didn’t seem to for me. I would do a fairly hard 3 hour bike workout, hard enough that my muscles would normally start to get crampy, but not so hard that I didn’t still have lots of energy. I drank one half way through, and at about 3/4 of the way through when my legs started going. They locked up horribly…lol. That same sort of scenario has happened twice in training with the product. And I was using mostly liquid nutrition, was not coating my mouth/throat/tummy with gels right before taking it.
I might still try it a few more times, but thus far, it hasn’t worked for me. 
Was trying to find references to research supporting this, but can’t seem to locate anything outside of the self-reported “field test” in the FAQ section of their web site. Anyone has a link to any peer reviewed studies on this?
**formerly known as #ItsTheNerve. there may be more under that name **
Yes - that’s right. The had been working under that name for a year while they did some test marketing and a lot of field testing.
It’s based on some interesting science, whereby they found that, cramping was significantly diminished, when a certain sensor on the back of the mouth, was stimulated by a mustard seed derived spice!
I’ve not definitively tested, the product myself, but knowing what I know about the science behind cramping, and also their science, I think they may be on to something.
Anecdotal , I know , but my sis and her Tough Murder posse apparently carry and use mustard packs - the small packs one gets at fast-food places…
My wife is a chronic cramper, it’s become a huge problem for her as she’s gotten older, and so far it’s the only thing she’s found that really works. (And spare me the lectures about she needs more fitness, etc. etc., she’s extremely fit and her cramps are not from exceeding her fitness level, in fact they interfere with day to day training.)
I gather it doesn’t work for everyone, but for a significant number of people it works really well. She was on their test program for a few months and got a lot of free product. Unfortunately that’s over, it’s very expensive and they don’t have any bulk purchase option so we’ve had no alternative but to suck it up and spend the $$.
i had some at mile 2 at my previous half. i had a good swim (by my standards), average ride (by my standards) but was off to a great run and feeling great. was ripping off low 7’s to start the first 2 miles and was holding back. it was hot, my legs were weak on the bike. i said f it and took the hotshot. by mile 3 i had to poop, by mile 7-9 i was walking/running because i was worried about shitting myself. i unloaded on the poor port o jon at mile 9, luckily i was probably still one of the top 10% of athletes to get there, so it was so fresh for me.
prob won’t take it again…
I used it again at MT 70.3 last week. Took a bottle near the end of the bike (about 20km from the end) kind of as a preventative, then about 10km into the run when the legs started feeling a little squirmy… By km 16 I was in bad leg cramp mode and had to alternate walk jog. So far this product has done nothing for me…ah well.
I used ItsTheNerve last year when they were handing it out at Kona. Its got quite the kick to it. I was already cramping by the time I took it and it didn’t do anything but make me nauseous. At that point, I was at a last resort with my cramping so I was grasping for straws.
I contacted them asking for more information and they just suggested that I take it before workouts and then during. I can’t justify it at that price. I’ve used pickle juice, in a similar fashion, in training and other races with better success.
I have used it a bit but not yet in a heavy duty race. I will continue to use it but the big problem is with the packaging. I have problems opening it at home and I cannot imagine opening it on the run and especially never on the bike. The package is ultra secure. I have informed the manufacturer of the problem. The have said yes, thank you but no action since then
I have used it a bit but not yet in a heavy duty race. I will continue to use it but the big problem is with the packaging. I have problems opening it at home and I cannot imagine opening it on the run and especially never on the bike. The package is ultra secure. I have informed the manufacturer of the problem. The have said yes, thank you but no action since then
My wife repackages it into these containers. Much easier than the fiddly screw top bottles it comes in. At a minimum you’d want to remove the shrink wrap before heading out on a ride or a run.
She also cuts it with a 50/50 mix of limeade, which cuts the really spicy flavor somewhat.