2013 Official Mountain Running Team Nutrition Sponsor
Product: Honey Stinger--Stinger Waffle
Reviewed by: Andrew Fast
Activity: Long runs, Long
rides, Runs after ocean swims, Runs after pool swims.
Abstract: I gravitate toward advice from people who have more miles than I could ever dream of accumulating. Take Tim for example, a training mentor of mine who’s in his sixties--Tim (once an Olympic cyclist and collegiate runner) trains in Italy and various other scenic countries because the sport of endurance is part of the culture and the terrain is good.
When Tim saw me eating a Stinger Waffle he said: “Of course!”
Ironically, on a training ride in the hill country of Texas one spring morning Tim rolled out of a gas station with pockets full of a less organic version Stinger Waffle--but more or less the same idea. He said in Europe he lives on gel filled pastries that pack well; which is essentially what you’ve created here.
In trail running or cycling for long distances the gut goes through a series of phases and then there is heat, dehydration, and a slew of other variables that make race nutrition a volatile topic. I tested the Honey Stinger product during an epic week (5+ hour runs, 8+ hour rides, ocean swims), and feel very strongly that there is a demand for Stinger Waffles because it fuels athletes working at or near threshold for long durations that need slower digestion of nutrients than a gel or gummy can deliver. Ultimately, I am proud to have this company as part of the Team kit.
Key Features & Benefits:
-Semi Solid: Chewing and enzymes secreted as a result of chewing are crucial on long days. Until recently: athletes go into a running, mountain gear, or cycling shop and have limited mediums to choose from when it comes to absorbing nutrition while working at threshold. It’s either powder to dissolve in water or gel or gummy, but I think the potential for refueling can become way more creative; Stinger Waffle is a creative semi solid that absorbs into the gut well.
-Fat/good ratio: Tying in with slower digestion, lipids(fats) are essential! Our body metabolizes fat like diesel. With 7g per serving, the Stinger Waffle is a more realistic ratio of fats and carbohydrates for folks going out for 5+ or 10+ hour days. After about ninety minutes our glycogen stores get depleted. If it’s a really long day, there needs to be fat in the fuel source to even-out the spikes that sugar can cause.
Conclusion:
I’m overjoyed to be affiliated with a company so ahead of its time. Honey
Stinger, as a brand, is a group of folks I admire for several reasons: natural
and organic, new concepts, and letting athletes drive the direction. All of the products taste great and work at any stage of the race.
