Worried about hitting the wall during your upcoming marathon? It’s understandable that you might be tempted by the lure of energy gels to help keep you going during those gruelling 26.2 miles, but they might not provide the magic boost you think. It's time to ditch the sugary stuff and discover a better way to fuel yourself.

In this article, we dive into the science behind why energy gels shouldn’t be the first choice for marathon runners. We'll also explore a natural powerful alternative that can provide you with sustained energy without the downsides.

The Energy Gel Conundrum: How Many is Too Many?

How many gels do you need for a marathon? This is one of the biggest sources of confusion for runners prepping for a race. This isn’t helped by widely varying recommendations from fitness professionals, with some suggesting having a gel as often as every 15 minutes and others advocating for a more conservative approach.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

It’s important to remember that what works for one runner may not work for another. A lightweight runner with a high metabolism may need more energy gels than a heavier runner with a slower pace. Additionally, individual tolerances for different types of carbohydrates and electrolytes can play a role in how well you digest gels during a race.

The Downside of Gels

Energy gels can also come with potential health implications. For some runners, gels can cause digestive issues like bloating, nausea, or diarrhoea. The high sugar and maltodextrin content in gels can also lead to a blood sugar spike followed by a crash, leaving you feeling tired and sluggish.

Fuel Your Marathon More Effectively

Beyond the health drawbacks, juggling multiple energy gels during a marathon or half-marathon can be an inconvenience. Imagine a single drink that provides all the energy and hydration you need without the hassle. That's where Perple comes in.

Our Endurance Mix is a revolutionary all-natural drink designed to eliminate the need for multiple gels during endurance events. It's a carefully crafted blend of ingredients that provides sustained energy, hydration, and essential nutrients to help you perform at your best. This unique formula combines the power of:

• Complex carbohydrates: These provide sustained energy to help you maintain a steady pace throughout your marathon.
  
  
• Vegan branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs): BCAAs are essential building blocks of muscle protein, helping to reduce muscle damage and fatigue.
  
  
• Electrolytes: These minerals are essential for maintaining hydration and electrolyte balance, and crucial for optimal performance during long races.

The All-Natural Advantage

Developed at Oxford University and certified by Informed Sport, our science-backed all-natural recipe is a superior fueling solution that will optimise your marathon performance.

Sustained Energy vs Sugar Crashes

Unlike energy gels, which can lead to a spike in blood sugar followed by a crash, Perple’s Endurance Mix provides a steady stream of energy throughout your race. The combination of the right carbohydrates and vegan BCAAs ensures that your muscles have a consistent energy supply, helping you maintain a strong pace and avoid hitting the wall.

Enhanced Hydration and Electrolyte Replenishment

Our Endurance Mix is packed with electrolytes to help you maintain hydration and prevent cramping during your toughest workouts. Alternatively, many energy gels lack this vital hydration and electrolyte content, leaving runners susceptible to dehydration and performance issues.

Improved Muscle Function and Recovery

Our unique recipe also includes plenty of vegan BCAAs which are essential for maintaining muscle function and preventing muscle breakdown during endurance activities. This can help you sustain your pace and recover faster after the race. Unlike energy gels, which often lack BCAAs, Perple offers a complete muscle support solution.

Easier Consumption and Better Taste

We’ve designed our products to be easy to consume and enjoy. All of our mixes are available in convenient multi-serve cartons and come in a selection of refreshing (natural) flavours. Energy gels, on the other hand, can be messy, sticky, and difficult to consume on the go.

Cross the Finish Line with Perple

26 miles is nothing with Perple by your side. Browse our selection of mixes, and find out more about how we replace energy gels.