Erin Henderson is no ordinary endurance athlete. She's a coach and distance runner who has been giving back in ways other than fitness. She raises 12 children (3 biological and 9 adopted) while maintaining a rigorous training schedule. We asked her to incorporate a regiment of daily supplements into her routine, and this is what she wrote:
"I just wrapped up my third week of running 85-90 miles a week with a lot of intensity built in, and I am feeling really good. I have had a few tired days (of course) but overall I am recovering and handling the mileage and training better than in the past. On top of that, a bunch of my kids have been sick the past two weeks and I have not gotten any of it (knock on wood!!!) :) With 12 kids there are always germs coming in and staying healthy is a top priority.
I have used all four products religiously the past month, and it turns out that there really could not have been a better month to test out a product that claims to help you stay healthy and recover faster. For the past four weeks I have run 82, 86, 86 and 86 miles AND in the last three weeks we have had two different "bugs" go through the house and leave kids sniffling, sneezing, coughing, feverish, and grouchy at varying levels. Let's not forget too that it is Christmas-time, which for a mom of 12 involves a whole lot of extra "to-do" on the to-do list.
I can honestly and truly say that I am feeling awesome. I have handled the mileage better than ever. I am recovering more quickly from tough workouts and long runs, handling the mileage well, handling the workouts well (and nailing the paces), and am having decent energy throughout the day too. In the past there have plenty of times where running this kind of mileage leaves me feeling pretty zombie-ish for much of the day, but that has not been the case at all. AND, (knocking on wood) I haven't had so much as a sniffle, even though I have been coughed on, sneezed on, had my water bottle "shared", been hugged, been kissed, been cuddled, etc. by sick kids, and basically have spent all day every day with my crew.
I am a believer in EnduroPacks."
You can hear more experiences of athletes who have incorporated daily nutrients into their training and how it benefited their recovery and performance.
Dehydration Results In Lower Blood Pressure And Slows Bodily Processes. Active individuals should be aware of the acute effects of dehydration on performance. With just a 2% loss of water in the body, heat regulation becomes impacted. With a 3% drop in body weight from water loss, muscle cell contraction is impacted. And at 4% loss, there is 5-10% reduction in overall performance that can last up to 4 hours.
We need to hydrate. But how can you hydrate and replace electrolytes without the harmful additives like sweeteners and artificial flavoring common in sports drinks that are harsh on your stomach?