2015 Race Ready! USAT Tri license - USACycling license - All my HAMMER Necessities! Since I've been using Hammer Endurolytes, I've not had a single leg cramp! And with Perpeteum Solids, no more head fuzz on long rides! I finish off with Recoverite to get my system ready to workout again tomorrow. And my tasty Hammer Bars? Always with me for pre-ride fueling or extra calories during a ride/run without the stomach issues of other bike snacks. If you want results, order here: http://www.hammernutrition.com
Here's to a Great Racing Season for all my friends! 😃❗️ |
I did my first marathon before Gatorade was invented! Well, thank goodness things have changed! When I started cycling in 1984, we stuffed a banana and a couple of fig newtons in our pockets, rode like crazy for 5 or 6 hours, and dragged home feeling wasted. I finished every race with an intense headache, and the next day's ride was recovery. We experienced leg cramps far too often, and the outcome of a race could be altered by just that. Bonking was common, too, and not too fun!!
Well, fast forward to 2011, when I got serious about tris and bike racing again...only this time I had a friend who had some HAMMER gels on her when I got that familiar twinge in my quad. And within moments, I was fine, and running smoothly again ! I'd used HAMMER somewhat casually in the past, but now it was time to get serious and find which products would help me achieve my dreams: to podium at USACycling Nats. My competition (60+) is, for the most part, retired, so I need to make the most of every mile, which means RecoveryRecoveryRecovery !! We were buying all sorts of vitamins and supplements at the time, and we eat healthfully, but after switching to HAMMER, my workout results continue to surprise me! I ride in feeling good, even when I've slaughtered myself out there! I can maintain my focus and stay positive under challenging conditions. And my recovery allows me to do consecutive hard days, which gives me that edge I need! I have the energy I need to teach full time and ride about 17 hours a week. How many 60 year olds do you know who can say that?! In short, I feel good and train hard, and I do all the typical Other Stuff we all have to do.
So...below I will describe what I'm taking and why. I have been on this program for about a year and a half, after looking at HAMMERS extensive research. I spoke several times with their knowledgable staff, and we came up with a plan for me, and one for my husband, who can no longer workout, but for whom each day is like a marathon, due to his challenges and his pain.
My Favorite HAMMER Products :
Well, I’d have to say my Fav item is my PINK KIT! J Honestly, I LOVE the Voler fit, and I LOVE the PINK!! Love the feel of the lightweight windbreaker, the arm warmers, the vest. It’s Totally Me! So, of course, everything else possible is PINK as well: Pink cheetah toolbox, PINK zebra backpack, PINK snack bag,and I’ve added the HAMMER stickers on everything possible J
So - nutritionally - here is what I use daily, and why (also posted on my blog):
Workout fueling: an hour or so prior to riding, I take one Race Caps Supreme and one Mito Caps, and on long or intense rides, I take another dose about 11/2 hours in. The nutrients and anti-oxidants are said to increase endurance and improve recovery. I feel this to be the case. I keep saying how hard I can workout, yet how much energy I still have - it's not magic, it's HAMMER ! I always have my gel flask with me and I love to combine the peanut butter and espresso flavors. I will take a gulp about 15 minutes prior to a race or intervals for that boost, and again as needed on long or intense rides. My goal is to be sure I take it prior to getting that "fuzz-brain don't care feeling". The flask is great - no sticky shifting fingers, no wrappers, any amount I want ! For rides over 3 1/2 hours, I like something I can chew, so I always take along a Hammer Recovery Bar and/or PerpetuemTabs. Both work great, and none of the products give me any stomach issues, ever! No more gurgles or stomach cramps!!
Workout Hydration: ok, on to perhaps The Most Important Thing Of All: Hydration!! Unless it is a short workout, water is not enough! For me, anything over 1 hours means Endurolytes Fizz Tabs. HAMMER makes Endurolytes in three forms (capsules, fizz, and powder - Heed). I prefer the fizz tabs (love the grape), and always have 2-4 bottles on my bike. (Extra bottle weight is good for training, and if I need more water, I have it. I never make water stops. If I need more than 4 bottles, I add my camel-back and keep rolling.) how important is electrolyte replacement - read the news, read the research...it is simply critical! HAMMER has over a dozen articles on the subject of proper hydrating, and I have read them and tweaked my intake levels until I know what works for me. Everyone is different, and you need to experiment well ahead of an event to get it right. Naturally, your needs will be quite different in the winter than in the summer, so take the time, do a little research, and experiment on you!! Write it all down in your log book, or you won't remember what worked and what failed!
Post Workout Fueling: well this was new to me! I used to finish so worn down that all I wanted was a shower and a nap; my stomach was a wreck from the effort, and those bananas and fig newtons didn’t help! Now I take 2 scoops of Recoverite about 15-20 minutes after a hard effort. It is amazing how much better I feel both when I get off the bike and awhile later, after Recoverite. No stomach issues, which means I can eat a meal an hour or so later. If normal food is not available, I'll eat a HAMMER Recovery Bar, and eat later at home. (I don't eat any fast food and very little restaurant food.) Again, it is all about recovery, and the timing is pretty well spelled out in HAMMER's research. Makes sense to me, because it works!
Daily HAMMER Supplements:
Premium Insurance Caps: 3 am, 4-6 pm, depending on the length and intensity of the workout. Essential vitamins and minerals, plus antioxidants. Who doesn't take vitamins?? I just want to take the best on the market, and capsules are more fully utilized than tablets. And this dosage helps with recovery.
Race Caps Supreme: 1 am, 1-2 before/during most workouts, and 1 pm. The antioxidants are essential for recovery.
Mito Caps: 1 am, 1-2 before/during most workouts, 1 pm. With its combination of nutrients I can't pronounce, Mito Caps keeps the immune system up to par. Well the combo of working with kids and working out is a recipe for illness....unless I faithfully wash my hands All Day Long, and take Mito Caps!
Phytomax: 1 am, 1 pm. We eat a lot of fresh veggies, but I want to be sure we are getting the nutrients we need from that source (phytochemicals and enzymes that should be in our greens, but probably aren't, since grocery store life contradicts that).
Tissue Rejuvenator: 1am, 1 pm. I used to take 2-3 glucosamine products, but the HAMMER version is a much better product. The capsule means all of it gets assimilated, and the anti-inflammatory effect is achieved without typical stomach-harassing NSAIDS.
Boron: 1am. Restores hormone levels, which can take a beating from endurance training. I noticed the research also mentioned "preserves cognitive function" - well, then, I better take that one! Clear-headed, both on and off the bike, is a good thing!
Well, fast forward to 2011, when I got serious about tris and bike racing again...only this time I had a friend who had some HAMMER gels on her when I got that familiar twinge in my quad. And within moments, I was fine, and running smoothly again ! I'd used HAMMER somewhat casually in the past, but now it was time to get serious and find which products would help me achieve my dreams: to podium at USACycling Nats. My competition (60+) is, for the most part, retired, so I need to make the most of every mile, which means RecoveryRecoveryRecovery !! We were buying all sorts of vitamins and supplements at the time, and we eat healthfully, but after switching to HAMMER, my workout results continue to surprise me! I ride in feeling good, even when I've slaughtered myself out there! I can maintain my focus and stay positive under challenging conditions. And my recovery allows me to do consecutive hard days, which gives me that edge I need! I have the energy I need to teach full time and ride about 17 hours a week. How many 60 year olds do you know who can say that?! In short, I feel good and train hard, and I do all the typical Other Stuff we all have to do.
So...below I will describe what I'm taking and why. I have been on this program for about a year and a half, after looking at HAMMERS extensive research. I spoke several times with their knowledgable staff, and we came up with a plan for me, and one for my husband, who can no longer workout, but for whom each day is like a marathon, due to his challenges and his pain.
My Favorite HAMMER Products :
Well, I’d have to say my Fav item is my PINK KIT! J Honestly, I LOVE the Voler fit, and I LOVE the PINK!! Love the feel of the lightweight windbreaker, the arm warmers, the vest. It’s Totally Me! So, of course, everything else possible is PINK as well: Pink cheetah toolbox, PINK zebra backpack, PINK snack bag,and I’ve added the HAMMER stickers on everything possible J
So - nutritionally - here is what I use daily, and why (also posted on my blog):
Workout fueling: an hour or so prior to riding, I take one Race Caps Supreme and one Mito Caps, and on long or intense rides, I take another dose about 11/2 hours in. The nutrients and anti-oxidants are said to increase endurance and improve recovery. I feel this to be the case. I keep saying how hard I can workout, yet how much energy I still have - it's not magic, it's HAMMER ! I always have my gel flask with me and I love to combine the peanut butter and espresso flavors. I will take a gulp about 15 minutes prior to a race or intervals for that boost, and again as needed on long or intense rides. My goal is to be sure I take it prior to getting that "fuzz-brain don't care feeling". The flask is great - no sticky shifting fingers, no wrappers, any amount I want ! For rides over 3 1/2 hours, I like something I can chew, so I always take along a Hammer Recovery Bar and/or PerpetuemTabs. Both work great, and none of the products give me any stomach issues, ever! No more gurgles or stomach cramps!!
Workout Hydration: ok, on to perhaps The Most Important Thing Of All: Hydration!! Unless it is a short workout, water is not enough! For me, anything over 1 hours means Endurolytes Fizz Tabs. HAMMER makes Endurolytes in three forms (capsules, fizz, and powder - Heed). I prefer the fizz tabs (love the grape), and always have 2-4 bottles on my bike. (Extra bottle weight is good for training, and if I need more water, I have it. I never make water stops. If I need more than 4 bottles, I add my camel-back and keep rolling.) how important is electrolyte replacement - read the news, read the research...it is simply critical! HAMMER has over a dozen articles on the subject of proper hydrating, and I have read them and tweaked my intake levels until I know what works for me. Everyone is different, and you need to experiment well ahead of an event to get it right. Naturally, your needs will be quite different in the winter than in the summer, so take the time, do a little research, and experiment on you!! Write it all down in your log book, or you won't remember what worked and what failed!
Post Workout Fueling: well this was new to me! I used to finish so worn down that all I wanted was a shower and a nap; my stomach was a wreck from the effort, and those bananas and fig newtons didn’t help! Now I take 2 scoops of Recoverite about 15-20 minutes after a hard effort. It is amazing how much better I feel both when I get off the bike and awhile later, after Recoverite. No stomach issues, which means I can eat a meal an hour or so later. If normal food is not available, I'll eat a HAMMER Recovery Bar, and eat later at home. (I don't eat any fast food and very little restaurant food.) Again, it is all about recovery, and the timing is pretty well spelled out in HAMMER's research. Makes sense to me, because it works!
Daily HAMMER Supplements:
Premium Insurance Caps: 3 am, 4-6 pm, depending on the length and intensity of the workout. Essential vitamins and minerals, plus antioxidants. Who doesn't take vitamins?? I just want to take the best on the market, and capsules are more fully utilized than tablets. And this dosage helps with recovery.
Race Caps Supreme: 1 am, 1-2 before/during most workouts, and 1 pm. The antioxidants are essential for recovery.
Mito Caps: 1 am, 1-2 before/during most workouts, 1 pm. With its combination of nutrients I can't pronounce, Mito Caps keeps the immune system up to par. Well the combo of working with kids and working out is a recipe for illness....unless I faithfully wash my hands All Day Long, and take Mito Caps!
Phytomax: 1 am, 1 pm. We eat a lot of fresh veggies, but I want to be sure we are getting the nutrients we need from that source (phytochemicals and enzymes that should be in our greens, but probably aren't, since grocery store life contradicts that).
Tissue Rejuvenator: 1am, 1 pm. I used to take 2-3 glucosamine products, but the HAMMER version is a much better product. The capsule means all of it gets assimilated, and the anti-inflammatory effect is achieved without typical stomach-harassing NSAIDS.
Boron: 1am. Restores hormone levels, which can take a beating from endurance training. I noticed the research also mentioned "preserves cognitive function" - well, then, I better take that one! Clear-headed, both on and off the bike, is a good thing!