Running Bliss with Justin's Almond Butter
I have a confession: I'm obsessed with Almond Butter. My pantry is stacked with jars, packets, and cases of the stuff. So how does Justin's brand stack up to the rest? I put it to the test!
Thanks to BibRave, I received a case of 1.15oz packets of Justin's almond butter. I got to try three flavors: classic, maple, and chocolate hazelnut! And although I immediately knew I would love them all, I wanted to put them to the full "fuel" test.
PRE-RUN
One of my favorite pre-run breakfast meals is almond butter on toast. Quick, simple and delicious! I like a lot of almond butter on my toast. So it took about one packet per piece of bread. May sound like a lot to some, but I *did* mention that I was obsessed, didn't I?!
The verdict? Perfection! Especially the maple almond butter... gave it an added sweet flavor and hit the spot right before a morning run. Enough to get me going but not too much to leave me too full to run. Five starts for post-run fuel!
Race Fuel
Justin's was great before a run, but how about during? I wanted to give it a shot as a gel alternative, something that would sit easier on my stomach, So I took a packet with me to the Hot Chocolate 15K-PHX.
The packet was easy enough to open up and squeeze everything out while on the run, but it didn't quite go down as well as I'd hoped. I needed a bunch of water to wash it down because, well, I had a mouth full of almond butter!
Unfortunately, I wouldn't suggest the Justin's Almond Butter for a gel alternative during a road race. However, I did try again during a trail run, where I could stop and walk while eating, and it went down much easier. So if you're able to stop while you eat, it can definitely be used as a gel alternative.
POST RUN
What could be better than a post-run sandwich with almond butter and banana? I for one suffer from being "run-gry" the rest of the day after a good long run. But eating something like almond butter helps me curb my sensational appetite while still eating enough to recover properly.
Justin's gets five stars for a post-run treat!
Justin's can be found at some of your local grocery stores (click HERE to search locations near you) or online. Packets are cheaper if you buy in bulk. You can get a whole box of 10 packets for about $12 on amazon. If you prefer to just use a jar, I believe they are cheaper in-store than online.
There are also several other flavors available, including vanilla! And Justin's has some great recipe ideas on their site as well.
All in all I highly recommend Justin's almond butter. Even My two pups give Justin's their seal of approval!
Do YOU use Justin's or ever wanted to try it? How do you/would you use it in your daily routine?
Great post. I've never really had almond butter but sounds good enough for me to want to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteYou'll definitely love it, buy a few packets and see how you like it though at first just to be on the safe side!
DeleteQuestion! I struggle with a similar unable to swallow feeling with the gel fuel packs. Would you say the almond butter was worse in this effect? Or do you not find yourself with those issues with the gu packs? Am I crazy? Haha! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI know what you're talking about, but I eventually got over my troubles with GU.. except for the stomach problems. I would say Almond Butter on the run is actually tougher to swallow. However, I was trying to take it while maintaining a certain pace... if you stop to eat it's not so bad. Another alternative I've tried and love is freeze dried bananas. Works great and easy to get down! Hope that helps.
DeleteJustin's is yummy. I have used it along with gels during training runs and after a long run with great results. The butter is definitely harder to consume while running than gel. Barney's is another good nut butter (chocolate coconut is my favorite) and also available in small packets.
ReplyDeleteI think I've seen Barney's before but never tried it. I'll look into it! I like having the almond butter as just an alternative fuel source to mix in between taking the GUs to help with stomach problems. It's all about fine-tuning a runner's personal preferences! :)
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