GU Rocktane Ultra Endurance Energy Drink Mix Review

I was sent packets of the GU Rocktane Ultra Endurance Energy Drink Mix gratis for review and I was expecting to like it, as I'm a fan of GU products. However, with drink mixes, I'm always a little cautious. Things that are too sweet (and not in gummy form) are always touch and go with me. That's particularly true when it's hot, and it's been brutal in LA. However, I've been using them during the hardest part of my marathon training (which coincided with the heatwave and horribly-dry Santa Ana winds, as well as fires), and they've made a really big difference. 

I tend to skip the drinks while running (I know, I know), but it was impossible this time around. I mean, I'm running half of my miles in a parking garage just to stay out of the sun. I figured this was the perfect time to try them out. First, here are the stats. I'm happy to say that the mix is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, kosher, and banned substance tested, and contains 1900mg of amino acids. It has sodium, L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, and Beta Alanine, and while you can go into what each of them does on the website, what they did for me on a practical level was make me feel less like I was running on the seventh level of hell. I didn't feel like I was going to pass out, and I didn't get the mental fog I usually do when I run 22 miles in these sorts of conditions. I also didn't get the heavy legs that often hit around mile 20. 

Normally, I don't carry the liquid with me, and simply drink it before and after. I did this time, and thank goodness, because I could feel the difference very quickly. This was true with both the caffeinated and non-caffeinated flavors. I felt like I was less fuzzy than usual, and I got a second wind (even more so when the mix was caffeinated). I didn't get the sloshy tummy feeling (which is why I don't often drink during training), and there was no nausea at all. No grumbly tummy, either. Mine is sensitive, so that's huge for me, especially with three races coming up in the next four weeks. 

Each packet is enough for full bottle you carry along, but note that there is a lot of powder, so you may want to pre-mix in a pitcher, or use a wide-mouth bottle. However, there is no clumping, even when you don't shake it a lot (which I tried, just to see what would happen). It's very smooth, and the caffeinated ones gave me a boost immediately. I tried Strawberry Hibiscus and Grape (non-caffeinated), as well as the Summit Tea, Lemon Berry, and Tropical Fruit (caffeinated). Lemon Berry and Grape were particular favorites. I was worried about Tropical Fruit, as that isn't a flavor I usually like, but I did with this one. The lack of sugary-sweetness was a really big deal. I mean, I love sugar, but not when I'm running, so I'm happy to say that it was exactly the hydration and refreshment I was looking for. I'm absolutely getting more of these.