Let’s face it, distance runners and athletes are high maintenance, we like our fancy snacks and we like to find ways to feel our absolute best while we are running all the miles. We will pay for good supplements and nutrition if we know they work. The problem is the market is so saturated that oftentimes we waist money on products that end up being sub-par. My nutrition guide features products that I personally use and love. They are tried and true and I’ve taken the guess work out of the equation for you. Bonus, you can get all of these products on Amazon and they will arrive well before Christmas if you get a move on it.

Four Sigmatic Plant Based Protein Powder ($33) 18 grams plan based protein powder, tastes amazing and digests well. I keep 3 flavors in my pantry- vanilla (my husbands fave), peanut butter (my personal fave) and creamy cacao . My hubby just mixes his with water on the go and enjoys it simple. I like to throw in a handful of greens a 1/3 frozen banana and sometimes other healthy mix-ins. It’s super veristile. I also like keep the single serve packets in my car so that I can have a quick protein shake after a run, leaving the gym or when I am driving my kiddos around and get hungry (much better than grabbing food from a drive-through).
Redmond Re-Lyte Electrolyte Powder ($43) My favorite electrolyte powder on the market. For heavy sweaters this product can be a game-changer. I am a light sweater so I typically only need a half of a scoop while many need a full. The price point is a little high but so is the quality. It is absolutely worth the cost. Many of my athletes cramping problems have been solved by consistently using Re-Lyte during and after runs. There are lots of flavor options too. Lemon lime is my favorite.
Bio Optimizers Magnesium Breakthrough ($39) Magnesium is a must-have supplement for endurance athletes. This particular formal has 7 forms of magnesium, fast absorption and I think it helps me sleep and recover better- especially when I am in a big training block.
Go Macro Protein Bar ($36)- I have 2 favorite go-to plant-based bars and Go-Macro is one of them. I digest plant-based bars best and oftentimes the alternatives are made up of chemicals that I try to avoid. The chocolate peanut butter is my favorite flavor and there are a lot more tasty options (runner up is everlasting joy made with coconut, almond butter and chocolate chips). I love that go-macro bars only have a handful of ingredients. I could essentially make this in my kitchen if I had the recipe. They also keep me full for 2/13 to 3 hours and I can eat them right before I head out the door for a run without any tummy troubles.
Kates Real Food Bar ($32) My other favorite bar is Kates Real Food Bars. Kates are more of a whole-food bar rather than a protein bar. Again, this is a bar I could make in my kitchen if I knew the recipe. When I eat a packaged snack regularly (at least once a day), I want to know where the ingredients are coming from and I want them to be made with real food. Kates checks all of the boxes and they taste amazing. I think they are the best tasting bars on the market and I LOVE all 12 flavors.
Mtn. Ops Ignite ($45) and Mtn. Ops Hot Ignite . I don’t do a ton of pre-workout but I know many athletes who use it everyday and this is a great product to have in your arsenal. When I do pre workout on occasion Min. Ops is my go-to. I usually use a 1/2 serving and it’s plenty to get me going. If you would rather have a hot drink, Mtn. Ops Hot Ignite tastes like awesome caffeinated hot cocoa. Ignite has slow release so the caffeine stays with you longer and doesn’t spike you up and shoot you down. Like with regular ignite, 1/2 serving is usually enough for me. This also makes the price-point much more reasonable.
Mary Ruths Multivitamin ($30) - All the rage on social media. This stuff has incredible reviews for a reason and I really like it. I have only been using it for a few months but so far so good. My other favorite from Mary Ruths are the turmeric gummies and the liquid turmeric drops (turmeric is amazing for joint healthy, inflammation and mood).
GU Roctane Drink Powder ($34), you can also use my 20% off code on their website (run_rhandi_run) - My fave drink mix for super long trail runs and when I am racing ultras. I have been using it for 6 years and all of my best ultras have been thrown down sipping this goodness. It’s the perfect blend of carbs, calories, electrolytes. It comes in both and caffeine or caffeine free. Oftentimes late in an ultra i have a hard time eating but I can always get octane down. 1 serving has 250 calories which is awesome for distance runners and athletes. My goal, depending on the race is 250-350/hour. Roctane alone helps me reach the low end of my goal.
Thorne BCAA Powder Amino Acid Complex ($45) - Thorne has some of the very best supplements on the market. They are high-quality and I seem to notice a difference when I take them regularly. Their BCAA is my go-to for branch chain amino acids and I also take many other supplements from the thorne line. I feel like BCAAs truly aid in my recovery process.
Vital Protein Collagen Peptides ($42) but it’s cheapest at Costco - I love to have a serving of this hot at night before bed, kind of like hot cocoa but low-sugar and gets me serving of college. I am a believer in collagen but you have to use it consistently.
Zest Herbal and Green Teas ($14)- I drink herbal tea nearly every day and often twice a day. Zest is by far my favorite brand for both herbal tea and caffeinated (green tea based options). Tea is a great alternative to coffee and helps me start and end my day with a routine. The Zest Immune Support Herbal Tea is one of my favorites to have in the morning or before bed and has elderberry, vitamin c and Zinc. Another night time favorite is their chamomile and lavender with a touch of melatonin. For a morning boost before a big day or workout I love the Pomegranate Mojito with 135mg of caffeine - it’s great for caffeine lovers and it also has L-Theanine so you don’t get that post caffeine crash. A more natural alternative to a pre-workout or energy drink.

Runner's Amazon Gift Guide- Nutrition