Here is what others have had to say on another BB:
Re: Ultima sports drink
run forrest Monday, Aug 5, 2002 - 15:08, EDT
I thought it was terrible! Try some before the race.
Re: Ultima sports drink
IronRookie Monday, Aug 5, 2002 - 15:13, EDT
I tried it at MCM in 99. I trained with it and never got used to the awful taste, especially when it is warm.
It was very warm the year I ran MCM and I sweat more than the average runner and found myself in a serious state of dehydration due to the heat and the fact that Ultima has very little sodium. Additionally, the carbs are almost nothing.
Try it. Some people like it. I am not one of them.
Re: Ultima sports drink
D-evil Monday, Aug 5, 2002 - 15:23, EDT
As a preparation for MCM I bought some. My standards are very low what do I consider 'edible', but Ultima is pushing even my limits.
Re: Ultima sports drink
Meredith26.2 Monday, Aug 5, 2002 - 15:27, EDT
Just tried it last week since it's what they'll be serving up at MCM..........it's the nastiest sh!t I've ever tasted. I don't even see the point of it. The calories are negligible. I now plan to get my during-race calories and electrolytes from GU and water. It's either that or vomit all over the road after drinking Ultima. They must have paid the MCM organizers a helluva lot of money.
"My performance ain't perfect....but it's loud and it's fast." --Widespread Panic
Richmond beverages
Terry A Monday, Aug 5, 2002 - 15:41, EDT
Ultima reminds me of liquid Smarties, doesn't taste quite like it but it reminds me of it.
You definitely MUST try it before the race, if nothing else than the "Nothing New" Rule. Oh and when you try it, don't follow the directions, make some really strong and some really weak, to mimic race day conditions...
Next up: Richmond, Virginia 11/9
Guess I'm the odd one out
senglin Monday, Aug 5, 2002 - 15:47, EDT
I really don't mind the taste -- it's not great, but then again I don't think anything would taste fab on the run -- and I've found that even though I dilute it twice as much as the (powder) directions suggest, it's as effective as Gatorade. I ran with Gatorade or just water for years and swtiched to Ultima so I'd be used to it for MCM. Also switched from Gu to Cliff Shots, and haven't had any problems with those, either.
Good luck!
Shayna
Ultimta is the ultimate ........
10k maniac Monday, Aug 5, 2002 - 16:21, EDT
worst sports drink on the market. Hands down. Low in carbs, low in sodium, low in potassium - nothing more than colored water. I hate it.
Gatorade has a product comparison on their website of all sports drinks. And I talked to the product development guys at GU when they came out with their sports drink (GU-2-O). Now I realize GU and Gatorade may be biased toward their products but everything I've ever read to heard abotu Ultima is bad. I'd rather carry my own Gatorade powder and mix it at the race than drink Ultima.
FYI - GU's drink is actually quite goo - it's just a lot more expensive than Gatorade.
Notify your race organizer!
EricE
I've decided to keep a copy of this thread and will forward it to any race organizer foolish enough to serve Ultima swill in a race that I am in.
Took your advice and sent a copy of the thread to the Marine Corp Marathon. Since this is going to be my first marathon I don't want to take a chance and go near Ultima. Maybe we can get the race to also offer Gatorade. I have been using Gatorade for my training and it has been working well all summer in this heat.
If they don't switch or offer Gatorade I will have to use friends and my wife to get Gatorade to me on the course.If enough runners send the same type of e-mail the race director should give us what we want.