Stay Motivated - Off-season training

Training on Hydrogel Technology.

Muscles need fuel. Carbohydrates are the fuel.

More carbohydrates and improved comfort support better results in training — and better results in training lead to better performance in racing.

Maurten’s patented Hydrogel Technology delivers the carbohydrates you need to fuel your training while being easy on the stomach. The protective hydrogel carries the carbohydrates through the stomach to the intestines where they are absorbed — allowing more fuel to reach the body while reducing stomach issues often caused by traditional sports fuels.

Fueling your training properly leads to improved training adaptations — which have a compounding effect all the way to race day. A nd fueling well throughout training supports recovery, which can help prevent injury.

Off-season training is unlikely to be all “long and low.” You will still do regular high-intensity training — to keep the blade sharp and assist adaptations . Remember that sports fuels are specifically designed to reduce the workload on your digestive system during high-intensity training, when blood is diverted to the working muscles . In these sessions , it’s appropriate to continue using high-carbohydrate fuel, even though the frequency will be less in an average base training week.

Off-season is the time to experiment. Trying different gels, a caffeinated drink mix, or new recipes can help you learn what works and what doesn't — without the high-stakes impact on critical training sessions. Play with your fueling and food intake to inform your nutrition strategy for the coming season — but with less pressure and less regret as you learn.

Determine what “gut-friendly” means to you during the off-season so that you already know which fuels and foods are comfortable and effective when racing starts again. Keeping a fuel and food diary can help you keep track of what is working.

Train your legs, lungs, and guts. Fuel with Maurten Hydrogel Technology.

Fuel winter training with Maurten Drink Mix

For many athletes, winter means more indoor training — which may mean more sweating. As a liquid carbohydrate fuel, Drink Mix both hydrates and fuels you.

The proof is in the performance — Maurten Drink Mix is unlike any other liquid sports fuel. Made with Hydrogel Technology, it functions in a completely unique way. Drink Mix changes instantly from a liquid to a hydrogel when it meets the stomach acid. The hydrogel encapsulates the carbohydrates, transporting them through the stomach to the intestines where they are absorbed and used as fuel.

The sensation of liquid sloshing in the stomach is a feeling that can limit performance. By changing from a liquid to a gel, Drink Mix makes it easier for athletes to comfortably consume high amounts of carbohydrates — and liquid — to sustain performance.

How to use Maurten Drink Mix to fuel your training

Pre-fueling:

• Use Drink Mix to start exercise both hydrated and well-fueled with ample muscle glycogen (carbohydrate stores) available — sip it before early morning runs , while driving to your track workout , the night before long rides /runs, etc.

Fueling during training sessions:

• Use Drink Mix for combined hydration and carbohydrates during long training sessions. Pair with Gels/Solids as needed to hit even higher carbohydrate targets.
• Sip Drink Mix between reps during high-intensity sessions (i.e. threshold intervals on the track) — very important as carbohydrates are burned faster at these higher intensities.

Post-training:

• Rehydrate and refuel with Drink Mix if you can’t eat a proper meal soon after training. This acts as a bridge between the workout and a full meal to start the recovery process.
• Have Drink Mix post-session, especially if you have another training session within 8 hours. Rapid recovery of glycogen requires a large amount of carbohydrates in the first 4 hours after exercise.

How to train with Maurten Drink Mix by sport

Running

• Long Run: Have Drink Mix 320 the night before, to aid in waking up with saturated glycogen stores . During a long run, fuel with Drink Mix 160 in addition to gels to hydrate and provide additional carbohydrates.
• Track Session: Sip on Drink Mix 320 on the way to the track . Keep Drink Mix 160 in a bottle trackside to sip between reps . Drink remainder of Drink Mix 320 on the way home to replenish carbs.
• High-Mileage / High-Intensity Weeks: Use Drink Mix 160 post-workout for rapid recovery and rehydration before your next session, and faster replenishment to support increased training loads .
• Ultra Run: Carry Drink Mix 320 or Drink Mix 160 in a soft flask to provide highly concentrated carbs to go the distance.

Swimming

• Sip on Drink Mix 320 on your way to the pool. Keep Drink Mix 160 in a bottle poolside to sip between sets. Drink remainder of Drink Mix 320 on the way home to replenish carbohydrates.

Cycling

• Stage-Type Ride: Consume two bottles of Drink Mix 320 to both fuel and hydrate, while supporting recovery for fresh legs in the next stage.
• Sweet Spot or Interval Workout: One bottle of Drink Mix 160 during a main set to support higher intensity efforts.
• Ultra Ride / Century / Ironman: Combine Drink Mix 320 + Drink Mix 160 in a 750ml (25oz) bottle for a 120g carbohydrate solution.

Brick Workout

• One Drink Mix 320 per hour on the bike, followed by Drink Mix 160 in a handheld on the run.

HIIT Session/HYROX

• Sip on Drink Mix 160 between circuits.