Alameda Runners – Get After It!

Alameda Runners recently caught up with GU,  a well-known company in the endurance community.   We chatted with GU officials about the company, discussing their most popular products, including whey isolates and other nerdy recovery product information.

Even though you see a lot of other athletes using GU products, the company still has a niche consumer market it caters to.

“We definitely continue to focus on endurance athletes (or team sports athletes building endurance as a base for game time),” GU PR people told Alameda Runners.  “Virtually all of our products are for use during activity.  They provide energy, concentration and recovery benefits.  There is plenty of competition, but we’re pretty confident that taste and efficacy have folks returning to us more often than not.”

I asked GU about its best selling flavors and products, and they were more than happy to oblige.  The vanilla and chocolate GU gel flavors are the best selling flavors, according to the company, though I’ve always enjoyed the Tri-Berry best.

“Competitors can’t touch us on taste here.  Well, you try and you decide.”  Blueberry Pomegranate is the most popular Roctane flavor, while strawberry Chomps are the top electrolyte block flavor.  The Strawberry Watermelon Recovery Brew is the most popular recovery drink offered by GU, while the Blueberry Pomegranate Electrolyte Brew serves as GU’s most popular drink.

Full article/interview available after the jump.  GU gets a bit more technical, and discusses whey protein and 2:1:1 recovery drinks.

There is a lot of confusion with recovery drinks that include whey protein and the endurance community doesn’t understand it much.  To most endurance athletes, whey protein is used by weight lifters to bulk up.  So we asked GU about the differences between whey protein isolate and and whey protein concentrate, so we could learn more.

“Whey protein concentrate is a cheaper, lower quality form of protein with a higher fat content.  Where you see it, you are typically seeing a compromise or an effort to increase margin.  Think high fructose corn syrup vs. a more natural and beneficial carb.”

There has been a lot of talk about 2:1:1 and 4:1:1 recovery drinks, but both are still confusing to consumers.  What is the difference?  “The main difference between these drinks is in the amount of Leucine.  Leucine: Isoleucine: Valine.  Since whey protein is a complete protein, it also has Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine.

“GU’s Recovery drink is a carbohydrate and whey protein mix that is meant to aid in proper recovery post exercise.  It contains the free amino acids arginine and glutamine.  These particular amino acids are included because they are shown to aid important aspects of the recovery process and boost the immune system.”

In the future, GU has lots of ideas in the pipeline, but didn’t want to confirm any new product offerings.

GU helps give back to the community by being “involved in a variety of charitable activities including Trips for Kids, the Challenged Athletes Foundation (donations of 10% on sales of seasonal flavors).  Our president is on the board of the NICA… lots and lots of production donations and many tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund-raising.”

Alameda Runners gives many thanks to GU for their patience in answering questions from a small site like ours.  We are a mixed community with quite a few older athletes who are really concerned with recovery.  The younger athletes are mostly concerned with recovery so they can get stronger at a faster pace.  The older athletes want to be able to walk the next day.