Vega Sport Line Review & Giveaway

A few months ago, I started reading the Thrive cookbook by vegan Ironman Brandon Brazier.  It’s a really great cookbook with some delicious vegan recipes.  Coincidentally Vega Sport, which is Brazier’s line of products, contacted me around that time to review their Sports Performance System.*  I received a package from Vega filled with gels, bars and shake mixes.  I am not going to be a vegan anytime soon but I like the idea of at least reducing my dairy and egg consumption.

I have no idea if traditional gels and sports drinks are vegan or not.  To me, the main differentiator about the Vega Sport items is that the ingredient lists are filled with words I actually recognize.  Examples: quinoa, pumpkin seed butter, pea protein. 

The sports line has 3 lines of products: prepare (pre-workout), sustain (during workout) and recover (post-workout).  Because of my lack of serious training in the last 1-2 months, I am only reviewing one of each of the products here.   I’m excited to try more as marathon training begins.

Prepare

• Pre-workout Energizer: Lemon Lime Flavor.  When it comes to runs under 10 miles on weekdays, I have a tendency to not eat anything beforehand.  I don’t want to have to wake up any earlier than necessary to get the run done.  I know, bad Liz!  To take the pre-workout energizer, you mix it with cold water and drink 20 minutes before working out.  This is a positive for me because my sensitive stomach needs an hour to digest food.  It is only 70 calories.  I like that you can tell it is all natural by the coloring, but I did not like the taste of this.  For me, it tasted like watered down Gatorade. 

Sustain

• Endurance Bar: Acai Berry Flavor.  This bar came in a mocha flavor, but I decided I should taste test the berry flavor because I am 99% more likely to like anything chocolate.  It was surprisingly good, but not quite as tasty as the chocolate.  Obviously.  I ate this while on a trainer workout on my bike.  While it was fine on the bike, this would probably be too heavy for my stomach on a run.  At 190 calories and 30 g of carbs, I’d say this would be a decent mid-workout treat. 

Recover

• Protein bar: Chocolate Coconut Flavor.  This bar was very delicious and chocolaty.  Neil had a bite and we both agreed it tasted like a brownie.  It is 240 calories with 15 grams of protein.  I ate this after a 4 mile run, and while I wouldn’t normally need this many calories post-short-run, it did keep me full for hours.  During marathon training it can be difficult for me to eat something within (the recommended) 30 minutes after my long run.  After all, I’m focused on stretching, foam rolling, and taking an ice bath and a much needed shower.  A bar is a perfect solution for this problem.

Do you remember to eat after a tough workout?  What’s your favorite recovery food or drink? 

I have two giveaways to share on this post.  First, follow Vega Sport on twitter or on facebook.  Enter a comment here and you will be eligible to win a free tub of Vega Sport Recovery.

Second, Vega is hosting a pretty awesome giveaway on their site.  Information is below, but if you win the grand prize I think you should take me on the trip with you:

Vega Sport Sweepstakes

Enter to win the Vega Sport Sweepstakes with over $30,000 in prizes!

Sweepstakes Entry Period: January 3^rd – March 31, 2012

Enter @ www.vegasport.com/sweepstakes

One Grand Prize

Vega Sport Adventure Trip for 2:

Cycle, raft and explore your way through Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama for 15 days

$5,000 in Vega Sport product

($15,000 value)

Ten Runner Up Prizes

$1000 in Vega Sport products

Twenty Finalist Prizes

$200 in Vega Sport products

Five Weekly Prizes (per week for 11 weeks)

1 Vega Sport product

Weekly prize winners will be announced weekly via social media!

*Samples were free, but opinions are my own.