Probably the most important product is REGO. REGO has been developed to aid recovery, and many have experienced brilliant results, including the decrease or even loss of discomfort experienced the day after training sessions. It has become part of many athletes’ post exercise regime and this would work well for recovery after each stage of the marathon. 100g of REGO recovery or Rapid, as soon as you have finished the day’s run will help get you in shape for the next day.
“The Rego has had a massive impact on my recovery, and I can't tell you how surprised I was! The previous calf muscle discomfort I always experienced after training runs is now a thing of the past, and I am an ardent promoter of this post exercise regimen.”
AM / Marathon Des Sables Runner
Also use Nocté before you finally retire at night. Nocté has also been developed for recovery, specifically overnight. See www.sleepstrong.com for more information regarding Nocté.
During the day, a combination of GO electrolyte with some PSP22 original could be useful. Go contains electrolytes which are important when fluid consumption is high. I understand that they give salt tablets out on the route with the water so you could make a stronger PSP22 solution to provide energy and take water and electrolyte from the feed stations. I would also carry some GO gels just in case you need an energy boost to get you to the finish.
The dilution of the PSP22 and the palatability over the 7 days along with taste is a really personal thing. Taste changes, but it depends if you are treating it as a culinary experience or a physical challenge. You could actually go either way, either use the products weaker, or use the energy drinks stronger and use water as well. There has been feedback that no matter how much you like the flavours of energy drink cold they can get a bit much when they are warm and you are trying to race in very hot environments. Plain water can however be refreshing even when it is a little warm. In these kinds of situations people often go for gels (or concentrated energy drink) so they take the energy in one hit and then the water for refreshment. This way they can also pour some of the water over their head/legs for additional cooling; energy drink never really works so well for this purpose.
GO versus Flavoured Salt Tablets: Taking your own flavoured salt tablets instead of GO does save weight but then you would be taking the carbohydrates through food and gels as salt tablets don't provide you with any energy, so if you want the same carbohydrate energy it will not save any weight at all. Taking PSP22 and/or GO, most of the weight you will be carrying is the carbohydrate energy and you are carrying it in its most efficient form. If you take flavoured salt tablets most of what you will be carrying will be salt (that they give you on the way if you want it) and flavour for the water plus regular food that has more moisture, fibre, etc, so more weight for what you actually need. Flavoured salt tablets are a handy way of adding electrolytes and a little flavour and I am sure they have their use, but I can't really see the point. The most efficient way of adding electrolytes and flavour separately is a very small sachet. That way you get what you need and nothing else. We have done little electrolyte sachets in the past and a few companies do this commercially, it means you can add electrolyte to a can of coke or other regular drinks if that is what you want or what you can get hold of.
