The Hidden Cost of Complex Endurance Fuelling
Modern endurance fuelling works.
Energy gels deliver fast carbohydrates.
Electrolyte tablets support hydration and sodium balance.
Carbohydrate drink mixes provide sustained fuel during long runs and rides.
Individually, these tools do their job.
But when combined into a stack — different products, different timing schedules, different ratios — endurance fuelling can become more complex than the effort itself.
And that complexity carries a cost.
Not just financially.
Mentally. Logistically. Physiologically.
Under fatigue, small mistakes compound.
Why Modern Endurance Fuel Strategies Become Complicated
Most runners and endurance athletes build their fuelling strategy piece by piece.
· A gel for quick energy.
· An electrolyte tablet for hydration.
· A carbohydrate mix for longer sessions.
Over time, what starts as a simple plan becomes a structured system:
· Gel every 30–40 minutes
· Electrolyte tablet every 60 minutes
· Separate carb drink in the bottle
· Adjust intake depending on heat or pace
None of this is inherently wrong.
But it becomes something that must be managed.
And management requires mental bandwidth.
The Cognitive Load of Stacking Fuel Products
Endurance performance already demands attention:
· Pacing strategy
· Terrain awareness
· Heart rate control
· Hydration status
Layer in a multi-product fuelling stack and the mental load increases.
Did I take my last gel?
Have I had enough carbohydrates this hour?
When was my last electrolyte tablet?
Each decision is small.
But under fatigue, small decisions become harder to execute correctly.
Complex fuelling strategies rarely fail early.
They fail when clarity drops — often late in a race or long training session.
The Physiological Risk of Over-Complication
Stacking multiple endurance supplements also increases variability:
· Different carbohydrate sources
· Different sodium concentrations
· Different absorption rates
· Different flavour intensities
Even when each product is effective in isolation, combining them introduces moving parts.
For some athletes, this increases the likelihood of:
· Gastrointestinal discomfort
· Over-concentrated bottles
· Under-fuelling
· Inconsistent energy delivery
The issue is rarely one product.
It’s the coordination between them.
The Financial Cost of Stacked Supplements
There is also the literal cost.
Buying separate products for:
· Carbohydrates
· Electrolytes
· Performance support ingredients
Adds up.
More products mean:
· Multiple purchases
· Repeated refills
· Larger total outlay
· More complexity at checkout
The price per kilogram might look efficient.
But the total cost of a multi-product endurance fuelling system is often higher than expected.
A Simpler Approach to Endurance Nutrition
What if fuelling didn’t require stacking?
What if the fundamentals of endurance nutrition — carbohydrate delivery, hydration support, and performance-focused formulation — were deliberately designed into a single solution?
Not more ingredients.
Not more timing schedules.
Just fewer decisions.
Endurance fuelling should support performance — not become another task to manage.
Built for the Long Run
We believe effective endurance fuel doesn’t need to be complex.
It needs to be intentional.
A simplified approach can reduce cognitive load, lower total cost, and support consistent energy delivery during long runs, rides, and endurance events.
We’re currently developing a solution built around that principle — designed to reduce complexity while supporting sustained endurance performance.
One scoop.
One bottle.
Built for the long run.
More soon.
