Thursday, August 05, 2010

My Favorite Things Giveaway: A GU Review

*This giveaway is now closed*

MYFAVORITETHINGS_edited-1

I keep wanting to preface my giveaway posts with "I can't have a "My Favorite Things Giveaway without including (insert item here)...." but it's especially true with this one, my favorite energy gel in allllll the world: GU (and I believe it's pronounced GOO, stop me if I'm wrong!)
gugel
I used to love GU in Chocolate Outrage. And then I found the Vanilla Bean flavor and now I swoon.

I don't leave home without it.

I typically use energy gels when I'm exercising for at least an hour. If I'm doing spin class and then running on the treadmill afterward, I'll have one in between. If I am going out for a run that's more than 6 miles (or more than 4 if I am just whipped going into it) I'll have a gel. This last triathlon, I took one 15 minutes before the swim and again about 10 minutes before my run (while I was still on the bike.) It was awesome. (Now if only I had known that my brake was rubbing on my wheel for half the ride, I wouldn't have been so spent on the run in the first place, but I digress...)

I officially like GU better than the "Power Bar Gels" because GU is not as thick and syrupy and it agrees well with my system (energy gels are surprisingly filling! For this reason, I suggest you experiment during your runs to see when and how to take them.)

OK I can rave and rave and rave all day but instead I'll just keep it short and share some little-known GU facts (from the GU website):
  • There are decaf flavors, (Strawberry Banana and Lemon-Lime), caffeinated flavors (Chocolate, Vanilla, Orange, Triberry and Plain) and super-caffeinated (Espresso Love, go figure...)
  • GU Energy Gels are Kosher. (The Chomps are not.)
  • GU is not recommended for dogs.
Just so you know.

Enter to win a big ol' pack of GU right here and now! 24 hours only! Here are the rules:

  • Leave a comment with your GU experience, if you've had any and if you haven't and what your favorite is if you have (did you get all that?)
  • Become a fan of my little old Average Moms Wear Capes Facebook page right there on the left sidebar.
  • Tweet about the giveaway to all your friends so that they might get a shot at some GU themselves.
  • Follow or subscribe to my blog (ya know, so you can get in on the next 24 hour giveaway that starts at midnight tonight! I mean, so you can read my good, quality posts! *cough*)
This giveaway ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. ET (Aug. 5)! Oh, and I've been posting a lot this week being my inaugural week and all, so stop by my other (good quality) posts if you get a chance. Have a great day!

30 comments:

Kirsten said...

I should quit being first because #1 never turns up to win. But I've tried Gu and I've tried the Power Bar ones, and to be honest if I can stomach the flavor either one will do for me, but I definitely like the kick of the caffeinated ones. I've only tried chocolate and vanilla and they both were fine. It's not a 5-star meal, but it definitely gets the job done when I'm on that long run.

Kirsten said...

you know I'm a "fan"!

Kirsten said...

and I am a "follower" too because I have mad love for you!

Jessi said...

I only have experience with the Powerbar Gel--ewww! It left a terrible after taste at mile 10. So, I'm definitely willing to give GU a try...vanilla does sound yummy.

Jessi said...

I'm also a FB fan!

Tiffany said...

Love, love, love GU! Vanilla Bean is my fav. I also used the GU Roctane for the half marathon and on any of my 10+ mile training runs - It has extra caffeine and I think some other ramped up stuff. I experimented with a bunch of the different chews and didn't really think they did much. Definitely feel a huge difference with GU - Love it!

Tiffany said...

Facebook Fan!

EricaH said...

I love GU just posted a pic of my stash today Chocolate mint and chocolate outrage are my favorites and were the best part of miles 4,8 & 12 of my first 1/2 marathon. :)

EricaH said...

i am a follower

Saretta said...

Hi Christie! Well, I have never tried this GU stuff because I live in Italy and I don't think they have it here. Would love to try some. Don't worry, if I win, I won't make you mail it to Italy. You could send it to my mom in the States.

Saretta said...

I am a follower!

Saretta said...

I am also a facebook fan!

Leslie said...

Perfect timing! I'm doing my second half marathon a month from today and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win and have some to carry with me! I like the lemon-lime flavor myself...I can't do chocolate or vanilla (anything desserty) while out there. It just doesn't sit right with me for some reason. GOOD STUFF!

Leslie said...

I'm a follower, too...

Leslie said...

...and a Facebook fan!

Mendie said...

I've never tried GU! this might be a good way to do it!

Mendie said...

I follow your blog!

Carrie said...

I have never tried GU, but I have heard of it and was curious about it and how it worked. You answered a lot of my questions. Thanks.

Carrie said...

oh and I follow your blog and am a FB fan.

Beki said...

I just started using Gu. I will "eat" 1/2 before a long run and then the other half after running for an hour. The only one I would "eat" was the Chocolate Outrage. When I was at my local running store, he recommended (quite strongly) that I try the mint chocolate. He offered to pay me back for it if I didn't like it.

O. M. G. Yum! It was sooo good! Not overwhelmingly minty (okay, so I'm doing my review here...), but super yum! I'm a huge fan!

Yay Gu!

Beki said...

I'm a FB fan!

Beki said...

I follow you on Twitter!

Audrey said...

Never tried it. When I was training for the 1/2 the 5 hour energy shots did the trick. But that's not to say I don't WANT to try it. ;)

Audrey said...

Facebook fan, of course!

Audrey said...

Follower in Google Reader

Audrey said...

Tweet! https://twitter.com/seemamarun/status/20406709767

Bari said...

I'm a follower!

Bari said...

Love ya' on FB (and everywhere else).

Bari said...

I have tried Gu and it's taken awhile to find one I can tolerate. I love Chocolate Mint and triple puffy heart Espresso Love. I love the kick from the caffeine-so sue me :) The texture of all of them gets to me, so I've actually had a little better success with the sport beans, but I will definitely use the Gu also. Prob with the sport beans-I can't chew and run at the same time. Weird, but true!

Bari said...

Tweet Tweet http://twitter.com/barif0815/status/20416029924

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