I was on Twitter the other day and I saw someone talking about this gum, Run Gum™. I was curious about it not wanting to miss out on any product running related, I searched Twitter to see what the hub-bub was. Lo and behold, I found @RumGum and read more.... when I realized what this product was, I contacted the company. As a result of that initial contact and several more thereafter, today I'm sharing the product with all of you!
I'll share the history behind Run Gum™:
Nick Symmonds is a two-time Olympian and five-time U.S. 800m champion who launched this new product with his long-time coach Sam Lapray. Symmonds says one of his motivations in developing Run Gum™ was to find a way to ingest caffeine into the body prior to training or competition without drinking additional fluids or eating any type of food. By utilizing chewing gum as the delivery vehicle, he says, the supplements are absorbed through the lining of the cheeks and gums, allowing for faster absorption into the bloodstream, without having to engage the digestive system prior to a workout or a race.
"In my many years of competing and trying to find the best way to fuel my body before a workout or a race, I was never satisfied with traditional ways of introducing caffeine into the body," says Symmonds, the silver medalist in the 800-meter run at the 2013 IAAF World Championships. "I either had to drink harsh liquids or digest unwanted food, never knowing when the benefits would kick in. I sought to make a product that would respond quickly and allow me to better control the dosage. Utilizing my biochemistry background, I found that sublingual absorption is the most effective."
So now back to me: in case you didn't know this about me by now - I love running, I love caffeine, and I love something in my mouth while I run - oh, and I'm a closet gum chewer. Due to my allergy meds, I suffer from constant dry mouth - not just when running, all day long. (And before you ask - no, I don't have diabetes, thank you, I've been tested.) I may also be guilty of hanging my mouth open too long or breathing through my mouth, I really don't know, but what I do know is that I have dry mouth.
For me, during longer runs, dry mouth then turns into a case of chapped lips. By the time I've finished a half marathon, I look like Bobo the Clown!! To avoid that lovely post-race photo look, I usually use sugar-free cough drops which last in my mouth approximately 2.5 miles. I used to use Jolly Ranchers, but they became way too sweet after a short time.
My friends have very politely informed me time and time again that I don't have the skill of chewing gum like a lady and that I should really not chew gum in public. Only those in my close circle see me chew gum at all, since I usually chew it at my desk/cubicle at work, or in the car when I'm driving. Sometimes I chew it while I'm practicing the drums and I've even boldly chewed it during band practice - trust me when I tell you that people have joked about that too!
Okay so this Run Gum™ is ah-mazing people and I'm being totally serious too. I've tried both flavors now and I can't even tell you which one I like better - they both taste great despite being sugar free. There's no icky taste to cover up caffeine like other performance gums, Run Gum just tastes like some good gum!
Run Gum™ comes in individual packets with two pieces of gum inside. The instructions clearly advise users to chew one piece of Run Gum™ for mild effect and to chew two pieces for the full kick before they run. They go on to advise users to hew two pieces for "full kick". Rum Gum™ advises that for best performance, chew a piece before any physical activity and chew another one upon completion. We recommend experimenting and finding what best works for you and your needs. We are all different and have different sensitivities to caffeine, so what works for one, may not work for all.
Of course I failed to read these very clear instructions and proceeded to rip the packet open, pop both pieces in my mouth and jumped on the treadmill with the gum in my mouth. I even "parked" it for a time when I was concentrating on my running and when I swished it back, it was still great. It holds its flavor for a little bit longer than a cough drop too - I got three miles out of it before I knew I needed to get rid of it or my jaw would hurt LOL! This paragraph is being added to inform you to follow the Run Gum™ instructions and to not do what I did!
Unlike many sources of caffeine that are high in sugar, Run Gum™ uses a combination of artificial sweeteners to provide a great tasting caffeine delivery method without unwanted sucrose. The gum is available in two flavors, mint and fruit, Run Gum™ provides you with the performance enhancing chemicals your body needs in two delicious, candy coated pieces of chewing gum.
Caffeine is a central nervous system and metabolic stimulant, and has been used both recreationally and medicinally to reduce physical fatigue and restore alertness when drowsiness occurs. Run Gum™ contains 50 mg. of caffeine. Taurine is an organic acid that is essential for cardiovascular function and the development and function of skeletal muscle, the retina, and the central nervous system. ( Run Gum™ has 20 mg. of taurine.) Run Gum™ also contains a group of water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cell metabolism. Best of all? NO CALORIES and sugar-free!!! yay!!!
Do you want to try some too? The company was kind enough to provide me with two boxes of Run Gum™ so I could do a giveaway - one of each flavor. Here's how I'm going to do it - I'm going to have 5 winners. Each of the first two winners will win a full box of 12 packets with two pieces of gum in each packet (total = one box to winners 1 and 2). The next three winners will receive one packet of each flavor and an extra packet (which means total = three packets to winners 3, 4 and 5).
Okay, ready for the giveaway? Here it is and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveawayPlease make sure to visit my homepage and subscribe to my blog for more great posts on running, fitness and lifestyle topics as well as food, product, music and book reviews, and more!
