The Fueling Strategy That Will Make You Faster
By Matt Johnson
Founder of The Feed.
Most athletes underfuel during training without even realizing it, leaving gains on the table. By making drink mix the foundation of your fueling strategy, you’ll find it easier to stay on top of your goals, enjoy better training, and see improvements. Here's why Maurten is one to try.
I want you to think of drink mix as the foundation of your fueling strategy—gels are just the power-ups you stack on top. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s get into it.
Why Drink Mix?
If your goal is 120g of carbs per hour, the ideal way to fuel would be 2g of carbs per minute. But since that’s not practical, we aim for every 15–20 minutes. Gels work, but they hit all at once—25g in a single shot. With a Maurten 320, you can sip 5g–10g per sip, spreading your fueling more evenly. More consistent fueling = better performance.
2% Better Training = Faster Gains
You’re already putting in the time and effort. What if you could push 2% harder in every workout just by fueling better? That extra push is what triggers fitness gains. Consistently using a high-carb drink like Maurten makes that 2% possible.
What About Shorter Workouts?
I’ve been listening to our athlete David Roche—he won and set the Leadville 100 course record last year. What blew me away is how many carbs he consumes, even in workouts under an hour. My recommendation is to use Maurten Drink 160 in all your sub-1 hour workouts.
Pre-Fueling = Game Changer
I always call Maurten a “workout drink mix,” but I think you should start pre-fueling with Maurten 320 about an hour before training. Just sip on it while you’re getting ready. It’ll get you ahead of the fueling curve, so you start strong and stay out of a carb deficit for the first few hours.
More Fuel = Better Recovery
I’ve been talking to a lot of World Tour pro cyclists, and they all say the same thing: fueling at 100g of carbs per hour leaves them fresher post-workout. They used to be like me—totally wiped out after a hard session, slumped on the couch, useless for the rest of the day. Now, they finish a ride, have a recovery shake, eat a solid meal, and feel normal.
The biggest upside? Better recovery = better training the next day (plus your spouse/partner/kids won’t hate you for being a zombie).
The Challenge
Use Maurten Drink Mix for the next month.
Maurten 160 for workouts under 60 minutes
Maurten 320 for workouts over 60 minutes