Don’t buy sports gels. Make them!

Here’s a recipe to make your own sports gels. The commercial brands (Hammer, Gu, Clifshot, Powerbar) all cost between $1.50 and $2.50 per 125 mL. Several have less than desirable ingredients, and some funky flavours that don’t appeal to me. I make my own now, and it’s easy.

Most gels come in small plastic packaging which gets thrown away during a run, and are fairly expensive for the small amount. I purchased a gel flask at a running store for about $5, which holds six portions of a commercial gel, and this recipe fills it, at a third of the cost. It’s eco-friendly, and tastes way better.

BASIC SPORTS GOO

100 mL Agave Syrup or regular Honey

1/2 tsp. Blackstrap Molasses

2 pinches of Sea Salt

Mix all ingredients in a measuring cup. Pour into gel flask. See, told you it was easy. But it needs some flavour.

TRY THESE FLAVOURS

2 tsp. Carob Powder or Cocoa or 2 tsp. Lemon Juice or 2 tsp. Cocoa

1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract 1 tsp. Lime Juice 1 tsp. Peppermint Extract

Mix all ingredients in a small measuring cup, making sure to break up any clumps of powder. Pour into a gel flask.

Find a new flavour variation? Post it so everyone can try.

Keep unused portions refrigerated. Try to find local, organic ingredients when possible, but most grocery stores will carry this stuff in the “Natural Foods” section, or try the Bulk Barn, Horn of Plenty or Goodness Me.