Hammer Nutrition:  Hammer products are a favorite of endurance athletes because they are made with natural ingredients, are carbohydrate rich and do not contain simple sugars (i.e. they taste great and are easy on the stomach).  They have products for all phases of your training including pre, during and post exercise.  Currently in stock is their full line of energy gels, (including espresso and apple pie flavors), HEED electrolyte beverage (no sticky sweet taste), Perpetuem (designed for multi-hour training/racing days), Recoverite (think smoothie!) and Endurolyte tablets (cramp prevention on the go and before bed).  All are available in single-serving packages and some in 32 & 80-serving canisters.  Don't have your favorite flavor or size?  We'll order it for you.  
 
Sport Beans: Jelly Belly's has improved their famous energizing Sport Beans.  The new beans are now formulated with all natural flavors and colors, tapioca syrup (instead of high fructose corn syrup), as well as six fruit juices.  There is a new Berry flavor, a new Assorted pouch (a mix of Lemon-Lime, Berry, Orange and Fruit Punch) and a cool new re-sealable package (no more spilt beans)! 
 
Each package delivers around 25 grams of carbohydrates, a balanced supply of electrolytes, Vitamins B1, B2 & B3 to help burn carbohydrates and fat and Vitamin C to protect your muscles and cells against oxidative damage.  The "extreme bean" flavors, Cherry and Watermelon, also offer 50mg of caffeine (equivalent to a half a cup of coffee) for enhanced alertness, endurance and power output.  
 
Shot Bloks & Luna Moons: As an alternative to energy gels, Clif created the first chewable gel product (think "fruit snacks for athletes").  These tasty bloks come in 33 calorie cubes packed with carbs and electrolytes that make it easy to customize and track your intake.  Plus, the semi-solidness of the gel slows down digestion of the sugars (50% complex and 50% simple) which is better for Type II Diabetics.  Their new Fastpak contains two full servings of Bloks in an easy-to-eat and carry package.   Flavors include orange, strawberry, lemon-line, cran-razz, black cherry, and margarita (which has 3x sodium to ward off muscle cramps).      
 
Luna Moons are designed just for women: they are smaller in size than the Shot Bloks (5g vs 10g) and contain different vitamins and minerals that women's bodies need.  The blueberry flavor has more antioxidant vitamins like A, C & E, the watermelon has energizing B vitamins and Pomegranate has 50% of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C.  Each package consists of a single 100-calorie serving. 
 
Both Shot Bloks and Luna Moons are gluten-free!
 
Nuun:  Want to stay hydrated but not without more calories to your diet?  Nuun is the only sugar-free electrolyte drink that keeps you hydrated and recharges your depleted salts without the calories, mess or sticky-sweet taste found in other sport drinks.  What cool about Nuun is that it is a portable effervescent tablet that you add to your own water.  It fizzes as it dissolves (no mixing or shaking needed) and then becomes flat so you can easily drink it down. 
 
Each tube of Nuun makes 12 bottles (per serving cost is around 50 cents).  The flavors are crisp and refreshing and include: citrus fruit, tri-berry, lemon+lime, orange-ginger and cola (takes just like flat Coke!).  Want to try it?  Nuun now sponsors our Thursday evening track workout and will be providing free samples each week!
 

GU: Born in 1991, Gu was the world's first energy gel.  Their patented carbohydrate blend delivers high-quality, long-lasting energy in an easy-to-digest format.  The fruit sugar (natural fructose) provides an almost immediate energy boost while the maltodextrin is absorbed by your muscles to help maintain optimal muscle glucose levels.  There are also critical amino acids and antioxidant vitamins that neutralizes lactic acid and destroy free radicals so your recovery is faster as well.  Gu even contains chamomile (an anti-inflammatory), ginger (to soothe your stomach) and sea salt for a mineral boost.  Plus, when you purchase a case of Gu (any combination of 24 single-serving packs), you'll save 10%.  
 
Gatorade Endurance Formula:  This is not your ordinary Gatorade!  Gatorade Endurance contains 1.5 times the amount of sodium and 3 times the potassium of regular Gatorade, plus more chloride, magnesium and calcium.  The "saltiness" encourages you to drink more and helps speed those valuable electrolytes back to your muscles so they can continue powering you through your workout or race.  Many marathons, including Boston, Chicago, New York and Philly, serve GEF on course.  If you don't plan on carrying your own fluid replacement beverages on course, be sure to pick-up a canister so you can start training with it.
 
Accerlade:  Accelerade is the first and only protein-enhanced sports drink containing carbohydrate and protein in a patented 4:1 ratio. In addition to helping build muscle, protein serves an important role in improving aerobic performance including improving rehydration, extending endurance, reducing muscle damage and speeding muscle recovery. 

 

Researches think that ingesting protein while exercising minimizes glycogen breakdown which results in less muscle damage.  This means you can get back to exercise faster and feel stronger.  Accelerade is available in powder form (mix with water to create a sports drink) and gel form.   
 
Sun Valley Bars: An instant staff favorite!  Whether you want to improve your performance or your health, these new bars can help you reach your goals.  They are made with all-natural, whole-food ingredients like dried fruit, seeds, nuts and grains and contain no added sugar - just brown rice syrup and maple syrup which contains 50% complex carbohydrates.  The complex carbs and naturally occurring sugars are slow to enter the blood stream so they provide sustained energy versus a quick burst, making them a particularly good option for Type II Diabetics. 
 
They are also perfect for breakfast, in between meals and an hour before a workout.  With flavors like cranberry almond, peanut butter chocolate chip (my favorite!), chocolate chocolate chip, and goji lemon, they are tasty-licious and have earned 2 thumbs-up from the staffers!  Stash a few in your desk drawer or gym bag and be prepared for that next craving!

 
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This isn't a nutrition product, but I couldn't wait to tell you about it:
 
Balance Ball Chair: Make home (and office!) work more fun with this great chair that combines fitness, comfort and ergonomic back support.  The chair features a 52cm stability ball that sits in a frame with an adjustable support bar and wheels.  The slight instability of the ball engages more core muscles, making them stronger and improves your spinal alignment.  The ball can also be removed and used for exercises on its own.  I've had this chair for several years now and I love it!  Super comfy, supportive, lightweight and packable (for those going to college).

It is graduation time for our latest group of No Boundaries and 10k training program participants!  They have been a courageous bunch, training in heat, humidity and swarms of mosquitoes, but always, they end practice with a smile! 
 
We invite you to join us at the Old Wethersfield 5k and 10k races on Sunday, August. 30 (there is also a Family 5k Fitness Walk).  The races begin at 8:00am on the corner of Garden and State streets (in front of the Solomon Wells House).  Both courses take you on a tour of the historic streets to a finish-line sprint through the Wethersfield Cove. The races benefit the Intercommunity Mental Health Group.
 
Register online by August 22 and pay just $20 for the 5k or $30 for the 10k (students 18 years or younger pay $15 and $25 respectively).  After the 22nd, prices go up $5.  You can also register (and pick-up your packet) on race day from 7-8am in the rear parking lot of the Wethersfield Department of Motor Vehicles at 60 State Street. 
 
If you would like to join the "Fleet Feet Sports" team, indicate that on your registration and then come into the store to pick-up your team shirt.  Be a part of the fun!  You too walkers! 

Do you feel the need for speed?  Or maybe your workout routine needs a little spice.  Join Coach Schuyler each Thursday for a fun track workout.  

 

These workouts are designed for runners of ALL abilities.  The goal is to introduce you to different types of running (intervals, hills, tempo runs) and help you get stronger and faster.  This is your opportunity to get professional coaching for free - and meet some great fellow runners. 

Thanks to our hip staffers, we are now on Facebook! 

 

Become a "fan" of Fleet Feet Sports Hartford and be the first to know about new events, participate in interesting discussions and view great photos of our Fleet Feet Peeps in action. 

 

If you have earned a Fleet Feet shirt (either through joining one of our training groups or by doing at least five fun runs or track workouts), don't forget to send us a photo of you wearing your shirt in a race.  Your photo is worth $10 off your next pair of shoes! 

 

Check out our page by clicking here.