Is maple syrup a good alternative to running gels?

If you are a serious athlete or a hobbyist who regularly runs or cycles, you might have noticed the trend of running gels. These fast-digesting carbohydrate products are intended to be consumed quickly, on the move, to provide an energy boost during exercise.

If organic maple syrup is a staple of your kitchen cupboards, it may have crossed your mind that the breakfast favourite sweetener could double up as a running gel. In this article, we consider this possibility.

A natural burst of energy

The quick answer is that yes – maple syrup is an excellent alternative to running gels. It provides a quick burst of energy through natural sugars (mostly sucrose and glucose) and is highly water-soluble, making it easy to digest.

Compared to branded sports gels, maple syrup may be much more affordable for many. It’s also less likely to cause stomach distress than highly processed gels.

How to use maple syrup as a running gel

You may want to portion around 1.5 tablespoons of pure maple syrup as a running gel substitute. This amounts to 20-25 grams of carbohydrates, which is a recommended amount for an energy gel.

If you are a long-distance runner or typically exercise in a hot climate, consider adding electrolytes to make a solution with maple syrup and water. This is another DIY preparation that can be made affordably with a little sea salt, and if you like, lemon juice to taste.

For those consuming the maple syrup as it comes, rather than mixing it into a solution, take a few sips of water afterwards. This will help with the absorption of the sugars and help avoid an upset stomach. You can purchase silicone gel flasks online and fill them prior to your run for convenient consumption.

Try our maple syrup as a running gel

Pure Maple’s organic golden delicate maple syrup contains 65g of carbs per 100g, making it highly suitable to replace the store-bought gels used by runners.