Ever been dehydrated?
Yeah, it’s not a good thing. These days, I’m careful about drinking enough water, but back in high school, I wasn’t. In fact, I remember collapsing in the dirt after one race on a particularly hot day. I never paid much attention to my fluid intake then. I often got stomach cramps when I ran, and I blamed it on the Sacramento Valley’s scorching summers, but it was probably due to dehydration.
So, yeah, drinking water and staying hydrated is important.
Recently, I received some Nuun (pronounced “noon,” according to the company) to review. I heard about the product because I read a ton of running blogs and my co-worker uses it, but I had yet to try it myself.
Nuun, described as portable active hydration by the company, are tablets that look to be about the same diameter as a quarter and the thickness of a SweetTart candy. Nuun comes in tubes of 12 tablets, and each tablet is dissolvable in 16 ounces of water. A perforated line down the center makes the tab easy to split in two if you only want 8 ounces of water.
I was given Nuun to test at the perfect time — last week, just before the Million Inch+ Run, so I had a nice, long distance to use it on. I hadn’t heard anything about Nuun causing tummy issues (there’s a reason for that…read on), so I felt it would be okay to try it out during what turned out to be 16.3 miles.
Nuun’s main purpose is to replenish electrolytes and salt lost during exercise. The company’s Web site also makes it clear that it is not an energy drink. Nuun is also sugar-free.
Here’s what the Nuun Web site says:
“What’s in Nuun?
-four essential electrolytes: sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium
-a nice, refreshing flavour to remind you to keep drinking
-a bit of fizzy stuff to ensure it dissolves quickly without having to mix or shake
-a smidgen of colour in the form of riboflavin (vitamin b2) and beet juice depending on the flavour
-a sprinkling of love
What’s not in Nuun?
–no sugar. we didn’t want to upset your gut or overwhelm your taste buds and wanted to give you more control over your calorie intake.
-no scary things (like crazy doses of caffeine) so you can happily drink nuun morning, day & night.
-no artificial colours – do you need neon green to hydrate? need we say more…?
Why no carbs?
the one-size-fits-all mentality doesn’t work in our active lives. we simply want to keep you hydrated… allowing you to focus on your gels, bars, bananas or cookies. anyway, would you pick a sticky drink over a brownie if you had your choice?”
You can read about the science behind Nuun here.
I was given three flavors to test: Banananuun, Tri-Berry and Lemon+Lime.
I tried Banananuun last Friday because I was curious about the taste. I didn’t run that day because it was the day before the Million-Incher and I didn’t want to overdo it. I was skeptical about a banana-flavored water drink. But I was surprised. I actually liked it! The banana flavor is very light. It’s not a rich, ripe banana-with-brown-freckles taste, it’s more like fresh, just-picked yellow-green (my favorite time to eat the fruit in the banana-ripening process).
For Saturday’s longest run ever, I stored a Lemon+Lime tablet in my fuel belt. Around Mile 9, I took it out, easily snapped it in half and dropped a half tab in my 8-ounce Amphipod bottle. I held on to the bottle while I waited the two required minutes it takes to dissolve. I thought that might bug me, but it didn’t. I was chatting with Linda, an inspiring 67-year-old Marathon Maniac, at the time.
Nuun is a little bit fizzy, but not carbonated like soda. I wasn’t quite ready for the spray when I opened the mouthpiece on my Amphipod bottle.
The Lemon+Lime flavor is quite nice. It’s a little like flat 7-UP, but not with the sugary, syrupy flavor. It doesn’t coat your tongue or leave an aftertaste. It is refreshing and is now my favorite flavor.
I didn’t finish the entire 8 ounces at once on Saturday. I drank half and put the pod back on my belt, then continued drinking every now and then as I felt I needed it until it was gone. I made a major mistake on Saturday and ran completely out of fluids around Mile 14. I still had half a Nuun tablet in my belt that I really wanted to use. I should have refilled both pods at the Mile 11-12 water stop. What a noob! Lesson learned.
Luckily, before Saturday’s run, I stashed a 16-ounce bottle of water in the minivan for after the race. Once the search party found me post-16.3 miles, and we walked back to the Odyssey, I dropped in a Tri-Berry tablet and let it dissolve as we made our way back to the starting line. Like the other two I tried, this flavor also is very light. I am not typically a fan of the berry-flavoring that goes into a lot of drinks, but this was different. Not sicky-sweet. Just lightly flavored.
And, I should note, I was definitely still hydrated after my 16-miler. Hungry, but not dehydrated.
GIVEAWAY!
The people at Nuun offered to give away a special gift pack of Nuun products. What you’ll win: 3 tubes/flavors of Nuun, a Nuun waterbottle and a pair of Nuun socks for athletes. You have three chances to win and the giveaway closes February 24, 2010, at midnight. Good luck!
1. Visit the Nuun Web site, here, shop around and then leave a comment telling me something interesting you learned or saw that you liked. (Required.)
2. Become a Mom vs. Marathon Virtual Running Buddy then leave me a comment, or let me know if you already are.
3. Tweet, Facebook or post this giveaway on your blog, and then come back and let me know that you did.
More reviews coming up: Jelly Belly Sport Beans, BodyGlide Liquified Powder and Champion Body Balance shirt.
70 comments
How did you feel after using the Nuun Saturday? Do you think you could tell it was different than water?Oh and totally a follower!
At their site I like that they pointed out that one tube of Nuun can cut down 12 plastic bottles, if you use a reusable bottle anyway! Cutting down on waste! That is awesome!
Linked you up!
Thanks for asking…I was definitely hydrated. Just updated that on the review. How could I forget to put that in there?
I love that this is a local company! How cool!Also, I noticed the lighter version of nuun (U – hydration) and the cucumber mint flavor sounds delicious. I'm not the biggest fan of really intensely flavored water, so it's right up my alley. 🙂
And of course I'm your virtual (and real) running buddy! 🙂
Know the product but just found out the orange-ginger flavor. Yumm. I am also curious about U Hydration.
I am your running buddy
put the link on my blog
Oooh, the orange ginger sounds fun!
I'm a virtual running buddy!
I like that because it doesn't have sugar in it that you can put it in your hydration packs without worrying about slime growing in the drink tube (for those of us that are less good about cleaning them out regularly).
I am a virtual running buddy 🙂
I was just on their website last week checking them out and was going to pick some up the next time I'm near a running store. What I found mildly interesting about the site last week was the fact that the bottles come in really odd sizes for 16oz tabs. Your comment about the tabs being perforated made the bottle choices make a little more sense, but there is still one odd duck.
I'm a buddy and I am linking you to my blog
I am already a running buddy!
I've never tried this!I linked you on my blog
I'm ordering some of the tri-berry. I hope it's yummy cause I don't usually drink on my runs (I gotta do MUCH better at that!).
I'm a follower!
I linked ya on my blog. 🙂
i love nuun! i checked out their website and i never knew there were so many different flavors!!! how exciting!
I think I need to try this stuff since the site says “your body will absorb nuun faster than the leading sports drink”. Tweeted this as well! And following!
I love Nuun!Just checked out the website… I didn't realize they now sell “Bigger Nuun” to dissolve in a larger water bottle. This would work great for me!
I'm already a follower!
I linked your giveaway on today's post!
I'm a follower!
Sounds like a great product. And free shipping on orders over $50? sweet. 🙂
I would like to try the berry flavor. I really enjoyed reading about the product.
I am a follower (but of course!)
I like that they also make the u hydration in mellow flavors, those flavors appeal to me much more…although the lemon lime sounds like something I'd like too.
I'm a follower…I mean, Virtual Running Buddy!! 🙂
And I linked to you on my blog!PS I'm having another giveaway, there are no rules about winning two in a row. 🙂
I keep meaning to try this, but I keep forgetting. For some reason I also thought that you could only buy very large packs(like 8 or 12 tubes), but maybe that was something else. I definitely want to try the Tri-Berry, Lemon+Lime, and maybe the Citrus Fruit. I think I'm either going to order some or hunt some down at the running stores 🙂
I am now a follower- Thanks for the great review and giveaway!
I really like the variety of unique flavors I saw and the concept of the product is really great. Also like that it's sugar free.
I'm a follower!
linking up on my blog right now!
Sounds like airborn but I think I'd like the lemon-lime flavor!
And of course I'm a virtual running buddy!
Also posted your review on my blog 🙂
HAHA, thanks for posting the correct way to say NUUN. i like the product but was never sure if i was saying it right! 🙂
I am a follower!
I learned that one little recyclable tube represents 12 LESS plastic bottles ever being made or used.
I posted this to my blog!
I am already a virtual running buddy 🙂
Their flavors are really interesting! I would be game to try any of them. I am looking into hydration options for this year other than Hatorade!
I've always hated the artificial coloring of electrolyte drinks (anti-freeze anyone?). But checking out nuun, I discovered the most coloring they use is beet juice. Really? I can't wait to try it!
I am now a virtual running buddy!
Tweeted about it! http://twitter.com/MeandTheBug
Linked up on the sidebar of my blog! http://www.me-and-thebug.blogspot.com
I am a new follower, saw your giveaway on Tall Mom.
I LOVE Nuun for so many reasons. It is practically calorie free, has some yummy flavors, and I can tote it around and just add it to my water bottle.
orange ginger sounds like a very tasty flavor, would love to try it!
I'm a running buddy!
Facebooked it:)
I like how it doesn't gunk up the tubes in hydration paks.
i like when asked about the taste it was described as “tasting like water with a bit of flavor” I hate heavy tasting drinks and am constantly watering down my sports [email protected]
im a running [email protected]
i just linked backhttp://www.ericarunning.com/2010/02/weekend-round-up-221.htmlalso I was hoping you would link up my One More Mile Giveaway I have going on right now. 🙂
I learned that drinks with carbohydrates actually aren't good for you when working out!
I never taken anything but water but I've been nervous about stomach issues. But I may try Nunn (esp if I win).
I am a new follower of your blog
I linked this giveaway to my blog – myfirst5k.wordpress.com
I really like the cucumber flavor (well – the idea…I haven't had it yet!)
I have the tri-berry, but would love to try lemon-lime. This stuff is great!
I'm a new follower…your blog is great!
love nuun…tri-berry is great…it's all i drink in the summer
and, i am a follower
I am a follower
nuun is used by ironman champions