Accelerade Report #1

ORN: Monday, 5; Tuesday 3, Wednesday, core strength

A few weeks ago, I wrote about my offer from Accelerade; they’d send me 30 bottles of their endurance drink in exchange for me writing of my observations on the product. Here’s part one…illustrated no less.

In about six days after I accepted their offer, two large boxes arrived. Exactly as offered, I had thirty 20 oz bottles of Accelerade in a variety of flavors. Good move…they did just what they said they would do.

Now, you need to excuse me a bit…in my professional life I’m a process geek; I love manufacturing, the people who work in manufacturing and the process of manufacturing. My central theme is eliminating waste, getting rid of non-value adding activities, relentlessly improving. So I see waste and value, almost as a genetic predisposition. Therefore, when I opened the box, I was surprised and puzzled by the presence of 15 bottles of Accelerade and one space filled in with a rolled up piece of bubble wrap. Why the bubble wrap? Why not make an offer of 16 bottles for free, fill the box with drink bottles and send one full box, not two?? I’d still do the deal, I’d still get free drink and it would cut the overall marketing cost, be easier to fill the box, not ship air and plastic in the form of bubble wrap. I dunno, but that was an observation.

I gave the drink itself its first test ride that night. I was set to umpire home plate at a Little League tournament game in 95 degree heat. I grabbed a bottle of the red flavor and also mixed up a bottle of Gatorade, my usual drink and figured I’d have a chance to compare the two in a very sweaty setting.

I was surprised.

The Accelerade actually tasted fine. Particularly in the heat, between innings, I found the taste to be quite acceptable, without aftertaste. I drank it steadily, with some big gulps and had not a single talk-back from my stomach. It seemed to quench the thirst and sat well. It clearly tasted better than GU2O. It was less sweet than Gatorade but it didn’t taste like it was trying to teach me a lesson or harass me for not always buying free-range chicken. Neither did it taste trendy. It was a clean, simple taste that went down well.

The game went well and I had no fans question my linage or my eyesight. I have since used the Accelerade in a couple more ball games and one long run. I’ve had similar reactions while running. I took the drink in full strength and it sat fine on the stomach. I usually mix Gatorade powder at about a 1/3 strength to drink when I run.

One question I can’t assess yet; how do I measure their claim that Accelerade increases endurance by 29%?? I saw this ad during ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball this week (did I tell you I like baseball??) and for the life of me, I don’t know how I’d assess this. I’ll keep thinking and drinking and keep you posted.

Peservere.