GU Energy Labs believes that increasing access and promoting inclusivity in trail running is crucial to the future of the sport, and that these two athletes will bring new perspectives, backgrounds, and stories to the Western States experience. In addition to a free entry, Hefzy and Kihara will also receive GU sports nutrition products for training and race day and a $5,000 scholarship to offset travel and related costs.
Kihara, who is originally from Kenya but now lives with his family in Northern California’s Santa Cruz Mountains, explains what this opportunity means to him: “I'm thrilled to be training for the iconic Western States race, to follow in the footsteps of great runners before me. I feel proud to highlight the importance of representation in such a competitive and esteemed event, and to showcase the love that the running community has to give. A goal of mine is to inspire more people from more diverse backgrounds to embrace the beauty of nature, outdoor exploration, and the sport of ultrarunning. Participating in the Western States Endurance Run is a huge step towards making a positive impact on increasing diversity in ultrarunning.”
Hefzy, a Detroit, MI-based mother of three and a vascular neurologist at the Henry Ford health system and the medical director of the stroke program at Henry Ford West Bloomfield hospital, began running ultras as a way to help mitigate the stress of being a single mom and essential worker during the COVID pandemic and quickly found that there weren’t any runners showing up who looked like her. “I love being an ultra-runner and representing Muslim women, single moms, and all people who feel like they don't belong in this space. I want to line up with these professional mountain runners, run the same course that they run, endure the same pain that they endure to prove to myself, to my kids, and to anyone else like me that you can accomplish amazing things while still holding true to your values and your faith and the things that add meaning to your life.”
"GU couldn’t be more excited to give Hebah and Ngugi the opportunity to perform at the highest level and to share their stories,” explains Cody Logan, GU Energy Labs Brand Experience Manager. "They not only represent our ethos as a brand but what trail running is all about: love, determination, and community. We are so grateful to be a part of their journey from Olympic Valley to Placer High track and hope that their presence reminds folks that representation is an absolute necessity in improving access to the sport."
]]>Staten hails from Fayetteville, AR and is Diné on her mother’s side and Mexican on her father’s side. She completed her first trail race in 2011, and since then has entered into the world of ultra running, completing her first 100-mile race in 2023 at the Arkansas Traveller. She is also involved with Trail Sisters, the organization dedicated to promoting and empowering women-identifying people in the world of running.
“It is not lost on me that people try for a very long time to get into the race but also how inaccessible it can be,” says Staten“It takes a lot of resources to train and run a race that will qualify you to even enter the lottery. It is an opportunity that most people do not have. To me, seeing organizations and partnerships like this help increase the overall visibility and awareness of Indigenous people and runners-as well as other marginalized communities-is a way to help start conversations around broader issues and is a way to help others learn about cultures that are often misrepresented.”
In addition to an entry into WSER, Staten will also be working with elite GU Energy Labs athlete Stephanie Flippin, a runner and coach, to train and prepare for the race in June. Flippin has many accolades to her name, including being the 2021 USATF 100 Mile National Champion.
“It is a prodigious honor to be a small part of the indispensable work that GU Energy Labs is doing to comprehensively improve and support diversity in the trail and ultrarunning space,” explains Flippin. “Their humble and constant examination of every facet of inclusion, in conjunction with these initiatives, are core reasons why I continue to partner with GU as an elite athlete. I am so appreciative of the opportunity to be a part of the diversity selection committee, as well as the coach and holistic mentor for GU’s and Rising Hearts’ diversity runners at this year’s edition of Western States 100 mile endurance run.”
GU Energy Labs’ VP of People and Culture, Felicia Lopez, explains about her enthusiasm for this collaboration, “We’re profoundly grateful for the Rising Hearts partnership, and we are brimming with excitement as we embark on wholeheartedly supporting Alex on her inspiring training and racing journey! Our purpose work focuses on ensuring that everyone has access to the joy of physical movement, proper nutrition, and the great outdoors, and we pay special attention to underrepresented and historically excluded communities and identities.”
About GU Energy Labs
GU Energy Labs strives to help athletes to reach their highest potential with products that deliver the right nutrients, in the right amounts, at the right time. Since its founding in 1993, GU has been committed to increasing access to sport for all. To that end, GU Gives – the company’s philanthropic arm that focuses on uplifting underserved and underrepresented communities – supports organizations and initiatives centered around 3 pillars: physical movement, environmental stewardship, and food awareness. Headquartered in Berkeley, CA, GU Energy Labs produces all of its Energy Gels onsite, largely through sustainable solar power. Learn more at www.guenergy.com.
About Rising Hearts
Rising Hearts is an Indigenous led grassroots organization committed to the heart work in elevating Indigenous voices, promoting, and supporting intersectional collaborative efforts across all forms of movements in cultivating community with the goals of racial, social, climate and economic justice. Our primary focuses are to inform, elevate, mobilize, and organize through movement, strategic and targeted advocacy and programming, establishing collaborative kinships to help create a better, safer future, and environment for all relatives who inhabit this planet – past, present, and future. Learn more at www.risinghearts.org.
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The collaboration is a natural fit for GU, the family-owned, Berkeley-based brand that created the world’s first sports energy gel and continues to develop sports nutrition products that help athletes of all kinds go beyond their own limits. “At GU, we have always been inspired to fuel athletes pushing themselves to the extremes and this collaboration is an extension of that mission,” said Roxanne Vogel, Nutrition & Performance Research Manager at GU and accomplished endurance athlete in her own right. “Our goal is to provide critical nutrients in a convenient, hands-free delivery format, to help fuel astronauts as they push the limits of human space exploration.”. Vogel and the GU team are already working closely with Axiom Space on solving for the design complexities of delivering calorie-dense nutrition in a low-gravity environment.
Reflecting on the importance of this new partnership and the implications of space exploration, GU President Magda Boulet added, “Axiom Space is at the forefront of expanding access to space worldwide and is paving the way for the innovations of tomorrow. Curiosity and exploration are at the core of GU’s spirit, and it is an honor to partner with them. Providing solutions for athletes has been our north star for the past 30 years, and we are committed to empowering everyone to experience the joy of pushing beyond what they thought capable. Exploring space inspires us all and gives us permission to challenge the boundaries of what we know and rethink what’s possible.”
“Axiom Space is excited to partner with GU Energy Labs on developing an innovative nutritional system designed to fuel for beyond,” said Russell Ralston, EVA Deputy Program Manager. “This in-suit EVA nutritional system will provide the nutrient rich support astronauts need to perform highly intense, endurance activities including space walks for over eight hours on the lunar surface, exploring previously unreached portions of the Moon and conducting extensive science research to benefit humanity.”
About GU Energy Labs
GU Energy Labs strives to help athletes to reach their highest potential with products that deliver the right nutrients, in the right amounts, at the right time. Since its founding in 1993, GU has been committed to increasing access to sport for all. To that end, GU Gives – the company's philanthropic arm that focuses on uplifting underserved and underrepresented communities – supports organizations and initiatives centered around 3 pillars: physical movement, environmental stewardship, and food awareness. Headquartered in Berkeley, CA, GU Energy Labs produces all of its Energy Gels onsite, largely through sustainable solar power. Learn more at www.guenergy.com.
About Axiom Space
Axiom Space is building for beyond, guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, Axiom Space operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while developing its successor, Axiom Station – a permanent commercial destination in low-Earth orbit that will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. Learn more at www.axiomspace.com.
]]>Launched in March 2015, the GU Performance Nutrition Recycling Program provides a way for athletes to send all single-serve sports nutrition packaging, regardless of brand, to TerraCycle to be recycled for free. This includes gel, chews, stroopwafel, and drink packets. As the program matured, individuals were also given the option to drop off their empty performance nutrition packaging at a number of participating run, bike, and outdoor shops throughout the United States.
“Longevity is one of our core values, and our sustainability and recycling efforts focus on finding practical and impactful solutions,” said Magda Boulet, President of GU.
Combined, the amount of waste collected to-date equates to nearly 14,000 pounds, enough to upcycle into 60,000 compost bins to collect more waste. Once collected, the packaging is cleaned, separated by material type, melted, and remolded to make new recycled products such as shipping pallets, bike racks, park benches, and recycling bins.
“Over the past eight years, the Performance Nutrition Recycling Program has offered health-conscious, eco-minded individuals a way to responsibly enjoy the endurance products they need without sacrificing convenience or sustainability,” said TerraCycle CEO and Founder, Tom Szaky. “Reaching this recycling milestone shows how dedicated GU athletes are to making the world greener, which is a huge win for both our communities and shared environment.”
In 2021 GU Energy Labs implemented the TerraCycle Pledge, making it a requirement for all races the brand sponsors that TerraCycle collection boxes be available onsite to collect and recycle used wrappers. Additionally, GU regularly supplies reusable HydraPak SpeedCups and HydraPak 5-serving gel flasks to athletes to reduce paper cup usage at events.
“Longevity is one of our core values, and our sustainability and recycling efforts focus on finding practical and impactful solutions,” said Magda Boulet, President of GU. “We’re proud of the impact we’ve had so far with our athlete and race partners in recycling over 3 million sports nutrition wrappers and now need to collectively encourage more brands and consumers to join us in making a commitment toward a more sustainable future.”
The Performance Nutrition Recycling Program is ongoing and open to any interested individual, race organizer, retailer, school, office, or community organization. To get your free shipping label to send your wrappers to TerraCycle, visit https://guenergy.com/pages/terracycle.
For more information on TerraCycle’s recycling programs, visit www.terracycle.com.
ABOUT GU ENERGY LABS
GU Energy Labs strives to help athletes to reach their highest potential with products that deliver the right nutrients, in the right amounts, at the right time. Since its founding in 1993, GU has been committed to increasing access to sport for all. To that end, GU Gives – the company's philanthropic arm that focuses on uplifting underserved and underrepresented communities – supports organizations and initiatives centered around 3 pillars: physical movement, environmental stewardship, and food awareness. Headquartered in Berkeley, CA, GU Energy Labs produces all of its Energy Gels onsite, largely through sustainable solar power. Learn more at www.guenergy.com.
ABOUT TERRACYCLE
TerraCycle is an international leader in innovative sustainability solutions, creating and operating first-of-their-kind platforms in recycling, recycled materials, and reuse. Across 21 countries, TerraCycle is on a mission to rethink waste and develop practical solutions for today’s complex waste challenges. The company engages an expansive multi-stakeholder community across a wide range of accessible programs, from Fortune 500 companies to schools and individuals. To learn more about TerraCycle and join them on their journey to move the world from a linear economy to a circular one, please visit www.terracycle.com
]]>On why this is an important action for GU Energy Labs to support, owner Brian Vaughan explains, “The American Southwest is an amazing landscape AND a sacred place for Indigenous cultures and should be protected and preserved forever. This arid environment is fragile and would never heal if we allowed it to be developed or gave business the opportunity to extract resources.”
Our 1% for the Planet Environmental Partner, The Conservation Alliance (TCA), has supported the work of The Grand Canyon Trust since 2010 and has given over $300,000 to protect the Grand Canyon landscape from the toxic threats of uranium mining. The designation of this monument is a final and vital step for permanent protection for the greater Grand Canyon region.
To learn more about GU’s commitment to community and the environment through its membership in 1% for the Planet, visit the GU Gives webpage. ]]>Celia Camargo, Director of Community and Purpose at GU, explains that becoming a 1% for the Planet member is a natural next step in line with GU’s values. “We believe that everyone should have access to physical movement, natural spaces, and wholesome nutrition,” Camargo notes. “When people buy our products, we know that we are helping them fuel their athletic goals. As a growing company, it’s important to us that we don’t grow just to grow, but that we continue to build an enduring, sustainable company that gives back to the planet and the communities we live, work, and play in. Being a member of 1% for the Planet ensures that we give back 1% of our annual revenue through grants, employee volunteering, product donations and more. As Yvon Chouinard has pointed out – there is a lot of talk out there about sustainability, but a commitment to 1% for the Planet can’t be faked, and we like that kind of commitment and accountability!”
By contributing 1% of their annual sales, thousands of 1% for the Planet members have raised over $450 million to support environmental partners around the globe.
"Currently, only 3% of total philanthropy goes to the environment and only 5% of that comes from businesses. The planet needs bigger support than this, and our growing network of business members are doing vital work to increase giving and support on-the-ground action. We're excited to welcome GU Energy Labs to our global movement," says Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet.
For an environmental partner to join the 1% for the Planet global network, they are vetted based on 1% for the Planet's Eligibility Guidelines, which are aligned with the UN SDG targets.
For GU, this is an exciting opportunity to further support organizations that contribute both to social equity in recreational spaces and to preserving natural spaces that are meaningful to specific communities. Camargo explains, “As members of 1% for the Planet, we’re proud to support environmental partners who take responsibility for the planet and drive positive change. To highlight a few of our partners, we’re proud to support Rising Hearts and Running Industry Diversity Coalition to ensure that BIPOC voices are highlighted and centered in conversation, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Runners for Public Lands, Western States Endurance Run Foundation, and The Conservation Alliance to ensure equitable access and protection of the outdoors, and National Interscholastic Cycling Association and Running for a Better Oakland to ensure youth build a healthy lifestyle, prosperous community, and love and appreciation for the Planet.”
About GU Energy Labs
GU Energy Labs strives to help athletes to reach their highest potential with products that deliver the right nutrients, in the right amounts, at the right time. Since its founding in 1993, GU has been committed to increasing access to sport for all. To that end, GU Gives – the company’s philanthropic arm that focuses on uplifting underserved and underrepresented communities – supports organizations and initiatives centered around 3 pillars: physical movement, environmental stewardship, and food awareness. Headquartered in Berkeley, CA, GU Energy Labs produces all of its Energy Gels onsite, largely through sustainable solar power. Learn more at www.guenergy.com.
About 1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet is a global organization that exists to ensure our planet and future generations thrive. We act as an accountability partner for businesses supporting environmental partners through annual membership. We make environmental giving easy and effective through partnership advising, impact storytelling and third-party certification.
Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, our members have given over $450 million to environmental partners. Today, 1% for the Planet’s global network consists of thousands of businesses and environmental partners working toward a better future.
Look for our logo to purchase for the planet, learn more and join at onepercentfortheplanet.org.]]>Oakland, CA - Oakland Roots SC have partnered with GU Energy Labs as the new official Nutrition Partner ahead of the team’s 2023 USL Championship Season. The East Bay-based GU Energy Labs, best known as the creator of the first Energy Gel, produces a range of performance sports nutrition products, including hydration, energy, and recovery options.
“Partnering with local companies that provide the highest quality product is something that we pride ourselves on here at Oakland Roots,” said Chief Revenue Officer Steven Powell. “GU Energy will be a huge asset for our Technical department and elevate the team's performance level.”
Gu Energy Labs will be the Official Sponsor of the pregame ‘Parade of Champions.’
“We’ve collaborated with Oakland Roots on product innovation for a few years and are excited to deepen the relationship as official Nutrition Partner,” said GU Sr. Marketing Manager Amy Cameron. “We look forward to working closely with the team not only on the field, but also in the local community through shared purpose work.”
Check out their fun and exciting activation at every home game this season.
]]>Yuri Hauswald, longtime manager of the company’s elite athlete team, has partnered with and supported athletes and teams involved in advocacy for years. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to shine the light on some of the amazing causes championed by this diverse group of GU athletes,” Hauswald notes. “While I have a deep respect and appreciation for their athletic accomplishments, I’m even prouder to share the good they’re doing in their respective communities and the ripples of change they’re causing. The more good that is put out into the world, the more it has a chance to grow, expand, and hopefully help others.”
To represent this new “do good” component, GU has chosen six of its elite team athletes to spotlight over the course of the year because of their involvement in community work and charitable causes. These athletes are important role models for what it means to “do well to do good,” and GU is proud to amplify and support their efforts.
FEATURED ATHLETES
Jack Thompson, endurance cyclist. Jack dedicated his 2022 cycling goal - Everesting once each week - to raising money for mental health awareness. For 2023, his focus is on spotlighting the effects of climate change, hunger and deforestation worldwide through a three-part video series.
Keely Henninger, ultrarunner. In addition to being an accomplished trail ultrarunner, Keely is a scientist who focuses her research on addressing current issues plaguing athletes. Along with her co-hosts, she communicates her findings on her podcast Trail Society, where she dives into recent running events and analyzes scientific papers and articles to provide insights and opinions that can help others in their athletic journeys.
Jah Washington, gym owner and fitness professional. The winner of the Men’s Health Next Top Trainer in 2020, Jah has received media attention not only for his innovative workouts and instruction, but also for his community impact as the owner and operator of The Harlem Kettlebell Club. His inclusive and welcoming gym focuses on making health accessible for all.
Abi Robins, cyclist. Abi Robins is the winner of the first nonbinary category at Unbound 100 and the founder of Queer Gravel, an organization dedicated to advocating for creating safe spaces for queer and transgender cyclists from the introductory to professional level.
Cherie Grunefeld, triathlete. Cherie is a multiple IronMan world title winner who began her athletic career at the age of 48 in 1992. She dedicates her non-training time to her nonprofit Exceeding Expectations, an organization with the mission to redirect the lives of at-risk kids in San Bernardino, CA through the sport of triathlon.
Bruckner Chase, ocean adventure athlete. Bruckner is an internationally-recognized advocate for ocean health and safety through his involvement with programs such as NOAA Ocean & Coastal Safety and Wave Safe. He’s a competitive ocean athlete who devotes substantial time to the Blue Journey Unified Team, which helps people with spinal cord injuries enjoy ocean paddle boarding.
In spotlighting these six extraordinary athletes, GU hopes to inspire all to engage in meaningful purpose work however they can and in ways that resonate individually. Lead by its vision to “Do well to do good,” the company’s primary aim is to encourage, support, and celebrate all of its athletes for the many ways they make a difference professionally and personally.
]]>“I couldn't think of a better company to partner with in 2023,” says Henry. “From GU's wide range of products, and seemingly never-ending selection of flavors, I feel all of my nutritional needs are met as both a triathlete and ultra runner. I am also proud to represent a women-led company that supports charitable causes.”
Henry joins a team of elite GU runners, cyclists, triathletes, fitness trainers, and water-sports athletes. GU Elite Athlete & Community Manager Yuri Hauswald said of the addition, “Sika has been breaking barriers her whole career, so it is my deepest honor to be able to support not only her athletic endeavors but, more importantly, the work she’s doing to make sport more inclusive.”
Henry is currently training for a full 2023 racing schedule, including the prestigious Comrades Marathon in South Africa.
]]>GU Energy Labs announces ultrarunner and Indigenous advocate Callie Vinson as 2023 WSER 100 entry recipient.
GU Energy Labs is excited to announce that ultrarunner Callie Vinson will receive the company’s Western States 100 entry for 2023. Vinson, a member of the Choctaw community of the desert southwest and an advocate for body inclusivity and positivity in running, will be representing the Indigenous advocacy nonprofit Rising Hearts and GU Energy Labs at the historic California race this coming June.
“I never once dreamed I’d have the opportunity to run such a prestigious race like Western States, and thanks to GU Energy Labs and Rising Hearts, I don’t have to dream. It’s already a reality,” Vinson says about the opportunity.
In October of 2022, Vinson completed a major running milestone—the Moab 240, a multi-day ultra race with nearly 30,000ft of vertical gain through diverse and mountainous terrain around Moah, UT. Successful completion of this challenging race was the culmination of a years-long journey for Vinson, who in 2013 started down the path to losing over 200lbs. Incorporating first walking, then jogging and running into her life ultimately kickstarted a running career that has grown to include advocating for more inclusive definitions of what it means to be a runner. Vinson doesn’t stop there, however, and is also a vocal advocate for Indigenous athletes. She often helps to raise awareness for communities like Native Women Running, and works to spread the word about Indigenous participation and representation through her social media channels.
“Representation matters...we wanted to give this opportunity to a runner with passion and a purpose who will inspire us all...every time we step out on the trails.” - Celia Camargo, GU Energy Labs
Jordan Marie Daniel, founder of Rising Hearts, says about being able to work with Vinson, “We are so excited to support, uplift, and celebrate Callie as she prepares for and runs at Western States. She is an inspiration, a powerful and prominent voice within the Indigenous and running communities, and really promotes what we need to see and hear everyday, body positivity.”
With its support of Vinson at WSER, GU Energy Labs is proud to deepen its kinship with Rising Hearts, the Indigenous-led organization working to promote and amplify under-represented voices in the running community. In 2022, the GU WSER entry went to Indigenous artist and ultra runner Yatika Starr Fields, who painted the 2022 official race poster, spoke on an all-Indigenous panel, and, with Rising Hearts, facilitated the first ever land acknowledgment at the race. In collaboration with Rising Hearts’ Running on Native Lands initiative, GU is working to secure land acknowledgements at a number of races it sponsors, with an emphasis on centering local Indigenous people and their stories.
“Representation matters. As a sponsor of such a prestigious race, we wanted to give this opportunity to a runner with passion and a purpose who will inspire us all to find a deeper sense of meaning every time we step out on the trails,” says Celia Camargo, Director of Community and Purpose at GU Energy Labs. “We can’t be more excited to support Callie; you’ll find her volunteering at local races in the Phoenix area, hosting training runs and cultivating a welcoming, inclusive community and we are thrilled to welcome her to Western States, the birthplace of the GU Energy Gel!”
]]>AUBURN, California – The Western States Endurance Run (WSER) and GU Energy Labs are proud to announce that GU Energy Labs is now the exclusive performance nutrition sponsor for Western States.
“We are so excited to have GU as our exclusive nutrition sponsor,” said Diana Fitzpatrick, president of the Western States Endurance Run Foundation (WSERF). “Our race has a long and established history in our sport, and GU also has a long and established history in developing cutting-edge sports nutrition products that have helped revolutionize human performance in endurance events.
“GU’s strong community-based values, in addition to the quality products they produce, make this a perfect match. We couldn’t be happier to have GU as our partner.”
“I could not be more proud to return to our partnership with Western States as performance nutrition sponsor and support the tremendous work of the foundation,” said GU Co-Founder and CEO Brian Vaughan. “GU was born and tested on the trails of this historic race nearly three decades ago and has fueled some of its finest finishes over the years.”
“Beyond the race itself, I’m excited to support the foundation’s substantial community and trail stewardship initiatives, which preserve and maintain the trail system for all to enjoy.”
As exclusive nutrition sponsor, GU will provide a full suite of hydration, energy, and recovery products on course, including both their original and ROCTANE Energy Gels, new Liquid Energy Gels, Hydration Drink Tabs and ROCTANE Energy Drink. ROCTANE Protein Recovery Drink will be available to runners at the finish. Additionally, to fulfill its mission to be maximally sustainable, GU will supply reusable HydraPak SpeedCups and HydraPak 5-serving gel flasks to athletes and facilitate the recycling of all brands of sports nutrition wrappers on course through TerraCycle.
About Western States Endurance Run
Western States, first run in 1974, is the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race and one of the most prestigious. Each June, 369 runners from across the US and around the world embark from the start line in Olympic Valley, California, to take tackle a challenging course to the coveted finish line at Placer High School in Auburn, California. Learn more at http://www.wser.org
About GU Energy Labs
GU Energy Labs strives to help athletes to reach their highest potential with products that deliver the right nutrients, in the right amounts, at the right time. Developed in collaboration with Olympians and age groupers alike, the GU nutrition matrix of Hydration, Energy and Recovery products has helped countless athletes achieve their dreams since its inception in 1993. Headquartered in Berkeley, GU Energy Labs produces all of its Energy Gels onsite with just the right blend of heart and science. Recommit to becoming your best athletic self, learn more about GU products, and discover how nutrition planning can help you get there at www.guenergy.com.
]]>Leading sports nutrition brand GU Energy Labs and international recycling leader TerraCycle® celebrate their six-year partnership with two milestones: upcycling more than 1.7 million pieces of performance nutrition packaging through their Performance Nutrition Recycling Program and a donation to-date of $19,000 to schools and nonprofit organizations.
Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, the GU Energy Performance Nutrition Recycling Program recycled over 449,000 nutrition packets in 2020 alone, making it the highest collecting year in the program’s history. Enough to build 20 upcycled playgrounds, the cumulative plastic packaging waste sent in from collectors has been converted into raw material that is used in plastic products, such as shipping pallets, bike racks, park benches, recycling bins and more. Additionally, with every shipment of packaging waste sent to TerraCycle through the PNRP, collectors earn points that are available for donation to a local school or nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.
“In 1993, we pioneered the Energy Gel and revolutionized the way athletes fuel by using single serve, portable packets,” said Celia Santi, Senior Brand Experience Manager at GU Energy Labs. “While we love seeing the ways our products help athletes achieve more, there is nothing more deflating than seeing spent gel packets on the road or trail during a ride or run. This is where TerraCycle comes in to help divert waste from landfills.”
With the continued support of their event partners, GU Energy Labs is taking a significant step in 2021 towards diverting even more waste by pledging to collect and recycle all wrappers used during races. “We are thrilled that our partners are joining in our commitment to keep waste out of the landfill,” said Santi, “and we are looking forward to getting to two million pieces more quickly!”
Launched in March 2015, the GU Performance Nutrition Recycling Program asked athletes to send all single-serve sports nutrition packaging, regardless of brand, to TerraCycle to be recycled for free, as GU covers all shipping costs. This includes gel, chews, stroopwafel, and drink packets. As the program matured, individuals were also given the option to drop off their empty performance nutrition packaging at a number of participating run, bike, and outdoor shops throughout the United States.
“Over the past six years, the Performance Nutrition Recycling Program has offered health-conscious, eco-minded individuals a way to responsibly enjoy the endurance products they need without sacrificing convenience or sustainability,” said TerraCycle CEO and Founder, Tom Szaky. “Reaching this recycling milestone shows how dedicated GU athletes are to making the world greener, which is a huge win for both our communities and shared environment.”
The Performance Nutrition Recycling Program is ongoing and open to any interested individual, race organizer, retailer, school, office, or community organization. Those interested are encouraged to visit the program page at https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/performance-nutrition-brigade.
For more information on TerraCycle’s recycling programs, visit www.terracycle.com.
]]>The first step for banishing unwanted snacking habits is to simply not have tempting snacks in the house. If that isn’t a possibility, put the snacks or foods you’re trying to avoid in a place that’s hard to get. You can put them in a cabinet where you have to get out a step stool to reach them or put them in the garage. We also do this with beer - we do not refrigerate our beer. It prevents us from opening the fridge and mindlessly grabbing one. If I have to wait for the beer to get cold, that space gives me the time to actually decide if I truly want it or not. The more convenient the snack is to grab, the harder it will be to resist. In contrast, put the snacks you want to eat in an easy place to access. We keep a giant bowl of fruit in the middle of the kitchen on an island.
Snacking isn’t evil, but unintentional snacking is what can derail the best plans. Having a plan when it comes to snacking is another way to help make it healthier. If you’re hungry, you should eat. Most athletes cannot eat just three meals a day; we need more! If you make a mental list or even a list on your fridge of easy healthy snacks, it’ll make it easier to choose them.
We like to have sprouted bread and the Boon Cinnamon Spice almond butter as a go-to snack in between meals and before workouts. We also love apples and mini tangerines. You could also use soft taco-sized tortillas with a mix of beans and avocado as a quick snack. Find snacks that are appealing and work for you so that they sound good when you want a little something.
What about when I have cravings?
Cravings are caused by a few things - our brains are addicted to sugar, oil, and salt. The more we have those things in our diet, the more we crave them. They are also caused by the make-up of your microbiome.
My favorite tip for dealing with a craving is creating a pause before giving in. Say you’re craving a bag of popcorn. What if you ate something healthy first (like some carrots, an apple, one of your planned snacks, or even a couple of handfuls of greens)? I will often tell myself I can have the thing I’m craving if I eat the healthy snack first. If I still want the thing I was craving after I ate a healthy snack, then I can have it. You could also go for a walk or do something else first before giving in to the craving. Creating that space helps you decide if you actually still want it.
A general strategy I like to employ is not asking “what can I cut out?” but “what can I add in?” Oftentimes, when you add in healthy foods, you tend to crowd out the unhealthy foods.
An easy food to add in is greens. I’ve mentioned it already, but eating a couple of handfuls of greens out of the container makes it easy. Many people do not want to sit down and take the time to make a salad or a greens smoothie. Pick a green you like (we love arugula, particularly because it tastes good and is a performance-enhancing food) and eat a few handfuls out of the package. Are you looking for other healthy foods to add in and boost performance? Here are some ideas.
Be pantry-ready
Life happens. Maybe you didn’t do any meal prep. Having a back-up plan with foods you routinely stock in your house will make things easy. The back-up meal or meals should be super simple. For us, it’s my Asian Noodle Bowl or this pasta dish. Another back-up plan is a tortilla that we keep in the freezer, some black beans from a can, and avocado and salsa. You could also keep frozen potatoes or rice plus hot sauce to have an easy and fast burrito. What ideas can you come up with for fast and easy foods that you like?
But...what about take-out?
If you still just do not want to cook, remember that it might take you the same amount of time to order and wait for takeout to be ready as it would take for you to just make your own food. If you still want take-out (it’s always nice to have a treat!), ask what you can add to that meal to make it healthier. For example, we like to get Panang Curry with tofu. We’ll ask the restaurant to add broccoli to it and make our own wild or black rice at home. Ordering a pizza? Can you add some veggies to it or throw some arugula on top? If you're ordering a burger, can you get a veggie burger instead?
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing, and it doesn't always go to plan. We often beat ourselves up if things don’t look perfect, but healthy eating is about trending in the right direction. If you start trending in a direction that you don't like, make your next choice one that moves you back toward the path. Making healthy choices is about making it easier for yourself. Potential barriers like meal prep, grocery shopping, and snacking can be made simpler with a little bit of awareness around better options and finding what works best for you. And remember, focusing on the good feeling you get when you repeatedly make healthy decisions will help you stay motivated.
If you want to join a healthy eating community or learn more from me, visit me!
]]>PLANNING & STRATEGY
Some people enjoy planning, while others struggle with routine and feel trapped by thinking ahead. No matter which end of the spectrum you fall on, having a general framework and a few different options available to you will help you stay on top of things. Here are 4 options to consider:
1. Meal Prep and Meal Planning Services
While these are not great on the budget, they do make life easier by taking away the decision fatigue and prep work of cooking. Since these services provide recipes and ingredients pre-chopped and ready to go, they're an especially nice option for the end of busy days when you might otherwise open a box of cereal and eat the whole thing. Even if you opted to do this once or twice a week, it would save you some time. There's a huge range of choices to accommodate your dietary preferences, from gluten-free to plant-based and everything in between.
2. Prep and Plan at the Same Time Every Week
It can also be hard to do the shopping and the meal prep in one day. Maybe Saturday you do the shopping or ordering (or someone else in your household does the shopping), and Sunday you block off 3 hours for meal prep. It might seem like a lot of time to spend on a weekend to do it, but it'll pay dividends during the week by requiring less clean-up, fewer last-minute trips to the grocery store, and less time cooking on busy weekdays. Plus, you’ll have food ready for you when you’re starving. Life feels smoother and more efficient when you are well-fed and the fridge is full!
3. Drop All-or-Nothing Thinking with Prep Time
Maybe the idea of cooking or prepping for 3 hours is overwhelming, and you prefer to do a little at a time. Choosing to break up your cooking can also be a way to fit it in if you never have long blocks of time. A suggestion would be to spend 5 minutes a few times a day chopping or doing advanced prep. Maybe even just getting out the ingredients for a recipe that doesn’t need refrigeration is step 1. You may never feel like cooking, but just like with getting started with exercise, once you get started and commit to a few minutes, you’ll find the momentum to keep going.
4. Double or Triple the Recipe
This is a big one in our household. As an athlete, you probably have quite an appetite. A household of athletes? Wow, that’s a lot of meals! We always double or triple every recipe we make. If you don’t think you’ll eat that much, you can always freeze it. The time it takes to double or triple a recipe is negligible compared to the time it would take to make a whole other recipe, including clean-up. If you can, cooking more than one meal at a time is another way to save on cleaning time. Being able to re-use pots, plans, and cutting boards means less clean-up later AND it means always having something healthy to eat.
Next week we'll wrap up with Part 3 from Sonya. Until then, keep up those healthy habits!
]]>Colorado Springs, CO --April 22, 2020-- The American Trail Running Association (ATRA) will feature GU Energy Labs as a member of its Event Standards Program. ATRA’s Event Standards Program debuted in 2012 and now includes vendors and suppliers as partners to further assist trail race directors in meeting ATRA’s 15 criteria necessary for staging a safe and well-organized event.
As part of this partnership, ATRA will work with GU Energy Labs to share their successful upcycling program and support the #NotTodayLandfill message with trail runners, trail race directors and fans of the sport.
“GU Energy Labs partnered with TerraCycle to create a free Performance Nutrition Brigade that we want to shout from the rooftops,” said Nancy Hobbs, ATRA’s executive director. “As a long-time supporter of GU products, seeing their commitment to the environment has made me an even bigger fan. Through a simple step-by-step TerraCycle™ program, sports nutrition wrappers will no longer end up in the landfill, an initiative we applaud.”
ATRA will share the GU TerraCycle message through monthly e-newsletters and social media, through Trail News articles, and in YouTube videos like a recent installment from Outdoor Retailer. View here.
“2020 marks our five-year anniversary with TerraCycle, and to date we have diverted over 1.3 million wrappers, equivalent to over 6,100lbs. This is enough to make 15 recycled playgrounds!” said Celia Santi, GU Energy Labs’ senior brand experience manager. “We are thrilled to partner with ATRA to educate race directors and runners how easy it is to take the GU TerraCycle pledge and ensure that all brands of nutrition wrappers are upcycled.”
Adam W. Chase, ATRA president, added, “GU Energy Labs, a long-time supporter of trail runners, individually, nutritionally and at our races, is walking the walk or, more accurately, running the run, by promoting clean trails and a less-polluted world in general. ATRA and GU are a natural fit and this partnership is an easy one for us to support in earnest.”
The Performance Nutrition Recycling Program is ongoing and open to any interested individual, school, office or community organization. Those interested are encouraged to visit the program page here.]]>Berkeley, Calif. — April 29, 2020 — GU Energy Labs has donated more than 65,000 product packages to more than 175 hospitals, medical care facilities, fire departments, police departments and other first responders across the country that are going above and beyond to keep our community safe and save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. These critical roles require stamina and endurance, and GU is honored to feed the need to move and help support these front-line heroes during these critical times.
“People on the frontline are taking huge risks to take care of the rest of us— their hours are longer than ever, supplies are limited and the value of having energy is at an all-time high,” said GU Energy Labs Marketing Manager German Martinez. “We have tremendous respect and gratitude for all front-line workers whose efforts are immeasurably vital. While our GU family knows that our care packages are only a small token of our appreciation in the grand scheme, we’ve been so grateful to hear some truly amazing stories that have stemmed from our donations.”
To provide energy to responders on the frontlines of the pandemic, GU sent 41,040 servings of Energy Chews and 15,552 Energy Stroopwafels, ultimately providing more than 6.5 million calories to help keep responders healthy, energized and focused. GU also sent 7,800 Hydration Drink Tabs to help workers maintain good hydration, and 1,000 bottles of Probiotic Capsules to mitigate the effects of high stress by promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria to support the immune system and help digestion.
With this modest donation from their GU Gives program, GU Energy Labs wants to celebrate all of the amazing efforts of first responders and front-line workers. Donations have been delivered to all types of medical facilities and emergency staff including: Trauma & COVID Teams, Respiratory Therapists, ER, ICU & ObGyn Departments, Surgeons, RNs, MDs, Pediatricians, Paramedics & EMTs and Cleaning & Kitchen Crews.
Below are some responses from our community that we’ve found inspiring.
“So awesome of GU! I love your company even more now. Thank you for supporting my unit. Our nurses, docs, respiratory therapists, and cleaning crew are all working their tails off now taking care of the sickest kids and babies, and their parents too.”
-Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children
“I use GU products all of the time while training and racing, thank you for thinking of applying this to our field. As a surgeon, I often view long cases like a long race or training session, maybe we will do better if we fuel similarly.”
-University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University Hospital: William H Middleton Madison, VA
“Thank you! As an avid cyclist and the chair of OB at our hospital, I am touched that you are thinking of us. I can distribute to our ER, ICU, OB departments. OB cannot cut back operations and must care for moms/babies who are exposed. It's hard to believe but we have some of the highest risk of exposure due to the prolonged face to face contact inherent in our line of work. Our nurses ROCK.”
-Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital
“This donation is for my awesome neighbor across the street working the front lines at Kaiser as an OBGYN while pregnant. Her due date is late May. She is awesome and works out daily in her garage across from me on her Peloton bike. You guys are AWESOME!”
-Kaiser Permanente Martinez
“You guys are amazing. I work at a level one trauma hospital as an ICU RN and we are currently preparing for the surge. Currently we have around 30 vented patients, but we’re expecting more.”
-Level One Trauma ICU RN at Memorial Hospital
“I just want to say how absolutely amazing this is- as a healthcare worker I can't thank you enough for making me smile- this is such a wonderful gesture!”
-Open Door Family Medical Centers
“Brother works as a medic for the fire department. They are getting swamped during this time and this would be a great and helpful surprise! Thanks!”
-Westover Fire Department
*Attribution/names of quoted persons are withheld for privacy.
]]>Berkeley, Calif. — August 1, 2019— GU Energy Labs is stepping up its caffeine game with today’s release of its Cold Brew Coffee ROCTANE Energy Gel. The new Cold Brew Coffee ROCTANE Energy Gel brings GU’s flavor offerings to 30, and features 70mg of caffeine - the highest caffeine content of any GU product - to help improve focus, increase energy, and decrease perceived exertion for endurance athletes.*
As with all offerings in the ROCTANE line of Energy Gels, the new Cold Brew Coffee flavor helps push performance with more amino acids and more electrolytes as compared to their original line of Energy Gels, which makes them perfect for high-intensity, long-duration training sessions and races. Cold Brew Coffee ROCTANE Energy Gel contains 1425 mg of amino acids, 125 mg of sodium, and 70 mg of caffeine.
With a creamy smooth taste that you would expect from a refreshing cup of cold brew coffee, the new ROCTANE Energy Gel is the perfect solution for when you just need a little something extra to get you going in the morning or at the end of a hard effort.**
“We love exploring the flavors that athletes crave during different activities, efforts, and times of day,” said Magda Boulet, VP of Research, Innovation, & Development for GU Energy Labs. “We recognize that athletes’ flavor preferences are influenced by many different factors, such as their environment or even a sentimental memory of smelling a morning cup of coffee. This is why we strive to offer a diverse collection of flavors for everyone in every situation. Cold Brew Coffee is a smooth and bold flavor we’ve dreamed of creating for a while, and we’re proud to introduce it for all of the coffee lovers in our community.”
ROCTANE Cold Brew Coffee Energy Gel represents a further expansion of the “bitter” section of GU's Flavor Wheel, which divides flavors into sweet, sour, salty, savory, and bitter taste profiles. The bitters category has a total of six Energy Gel flavors including Cold Brew Coffee (ROCTANE), Caramel Macchiato, Chai Latte (ROCTANE), Gingerade, and Hoppy Trails). Flavors in the bitter category help shake things up mid effort to reset your palate and keep you fueling.
]]>Berkeley, Calif. — 13 JUNE 2019— GU Energy Labs welcomes the newest addition to its ROCTANE line with the launch of ROCTANE Protein Recovery Drink Mix, which specifically meets the recovery needs for athletes to rebuild, refuel and rehydrate after high-intensity, long-distance training or racing.
ROCTANE Protein Recovery helps muscles recover and reduces muscle damage with 20 grams of high-quality whey protein— double the amount of protein in its previous formulation. The portable drink mix is formulated with fast-acting carbohydrates to help athletes bounce-back faster, and electrolytes to rehydrate muscles with fluids that were depleted during exercising.
"Our athletes asked, so we listened,” said Magda Boulet, VP of Research, Innovation, & Development for GU Energy Labs. "We know refueling with quality protein, carbs, and electrolytes immediately after working out is essential to short term recovery and long-term athletic gains. That’s why we reformulated our recovery mix to deliver more protein in a single, portable serving!"
This amplification of GU’s recovery products naturally builds off of its existing ROCTANE line, which is designed to help athletes during long-duration, high-intensity sports and workouts. The new ROCTANE Protein Recovery Drink Mix meets post-endurance needs by doubling the protein and effectively stimulating Muscle Protein Synthesis—the process by which the muscles repair, rebuild and become stronger.
ROCTANE Protein Recovery comes in two popular flavors, Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Smoothie. Both are available in either the 15-serving bulk resealable bag (MSRP: $45.00) or the convenient individual servings 10-pack (MSRP: $35.00 USD), as well as purchasable online and through GU vendors. All GU products are recyclable through our program with Terracycle, a global leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials.
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