GU Energy Labs was born at the intersection of passion, performance, and product, created to help feed the need to move. We didn’t set out to revolutionize the world of sports nutrition, but that’s exactly what happened when our founder created the first energy gel back in 1993 to help his daughter better fuel her ultra running career. Finding science-backed solutions for athletes of all kinds is in our DNA and it’s been our north star since the beginning.
Speaking of science and solutions, GU’s president, 2008 Olympian and 2015 Western Sates 100 Champion, Magda Boulet, and new GU athlete and marathon legend, Des Linden, have teamed up with the GU Roctane Performance Lab to fine tune their nutrition plans and create custom foods they will carry to tackle one of the world’s most grueling ultra runs: the six stage, 250 km long Marathon des Sables which runs through the Sahara Desert.
Working closely with GU’s Director of Research & Education, Dr. Roxanne Vogel, Magda and Des have not only completed specific heat training but they’ve also undergone lab testing to determine their specific hydration and caloric needs to help them unlock their best personal performances.
What is the GU Roctane Performance Lab?
The Performance Lab is where we research the effects of nutrition and training on the body and where we innovate and develop new products for athletes. We are motivated to help athletes get the most out of their bodies over months and years of training. It’s no coincidence that Athleticism and Longevity are two of our core values at GU.
Inside the Performance Lab, we test our athletes’ metabolism, sweat, and blood biochemistry, monitor training status and fatigue, track sleep and diet, even measure cognitive performance. While the equipment that makes up our lab has a physical home in our headquarters in Berkeley, we like to think that our lab exists anywhere in the world where our athletes are out there pushing their limits.
Whether on a track or trail, on the field or on a mountain, we go wherever the research takes us to get our questions answered.
What is the purpose of the Performance Lab?
Through scientific inquiry, we seek to better understand human nutrition and how it influences athletic performance, recovery, and longevity.
Additionally, we aim to:
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Test new and existing GU and Roctane products both in the lab and in real world settings
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Optimize nutrition and training protocols to facilitate breakthrough performances
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Support our athletes with special projects and case studies that present unique nutritional challenges
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Synthesize the results of our research and share them with our community so we can all perform better
Our Performance Lab is where experience, science, and purpose come together to fuel what’s possible.