Last season I moved from sprint distance racing to do some Olympic distances. I was pretty confident that the starch-based UCAN products were hogwash. But the gels did seem to work well for me over this longer (but not long) distance. Over the winter, I expanded by buying some UCAN bars and a combo pack that included UCAN energy, their 'during the workout/race' drink mix. I just finished a giant tub of SIS drink mix and tried the UCAN drink for the first time earlier this week. I'm sensitive to stevia (really bad aftertaste, for me), but this product does not have stevia on the ingredients list. It does have 'monk fruit extract' as the last item. I should have done more homework, but...no stevia? - OK! My first sip of the UCAN drink was no bueno. For me, terrible aftertaste and that was refrigerator cold. After it warmed up a bit? Undrinkable. So, a PSA about how UCAN sweetens their drink mix.

I did contact customer service, asking for some compensation (I know I can't return an opened tub for a refund, but thought that they might send some gels or bars my way to compensate). Nope. The response pointed to the return policy with an apology that I found it unpleasant. Maybe that is another PSA? Pretty expensive mistake. Anyone in the Nashville TN area interested in getting my tub of UCAN energy in tropical orange flavor (minus one scoop!) for free? Just let me know and we can arrange for the handoff.