Endurance athletes know that nutrition can make or break a race. You can have the best training, the best gear, and the best team—but if your fueling plan falls apart, so does everything else. That lesson was front and center for me during the Rainier Raid 34-hour adventure race, where I leaned heavily on 4HourFuel to keep my body and mind firing for over a day of nonstop racing.

Adventure racing is the ultimate test of endurance. It combines trail running, mountain biking, paddling, and navigation into one continuous effort, pushing athletes far beyond the limits of a typical marathon or triathlon. Managing energy intake is a constant battle—you need calories that are easy to digest, quick to absorb, and balanced enough to sustain you through wildly different disciplines. That’s exactly why I trusted 4HourFuel as my main source of nutrition.

My 4HourFuel Race Strategy

In total, I consumed the equivalent of 24 hours’ worth of 4HourFuel in a 31-hour race—and honestly, I wish I had packed more. That added up to about 800 calories of steady, reliable fuel: fast-absorbing carbs, muscle-preserving protein, key electrolytes, and BCAAs to delay fatigue. It wasn’t just nutrition; it was my safety net.

Unlike gels or candy that can spike and crash your energy, 4HourFuel kept me even and steady all night long. Whether I was hammering on the bike, grinding through off-trail trekking, or navigating steep technical descents, I never felt that “bonk” that so many endurance athletes dread. Instead, I was able to keep the focus on racing—finding CPs in the woods, communicating with my teammates, and staying sharp when fatigue wanted to take over.

Why 4HourFuel Works for Adventure Racing

Adventure racing is unpredictable. Sometimes you’re hiking your bike up a scree field. Sometimes you’re paddling for hours in the dark. And sometimes you’re trail running through technical terrain on legs that already have 20 hours of work in them. The demands change constantly, but your nutrition has to keep pace.

Here’s what made 4HourFuel stand out for me:

• Easy on the stomach: No GI issues even after 30+ hours of racing.
• Balanced energy: Carbs + protein + electrolytes + BCAAs = no crashes.
• Simple to mix: Just shake and go—critical when you’re racing sleep-deprived.
• Endurance-proven: It powered me through one of the grittiest, most intense races I’ve done in years.

The Bottom Line

For me, 4HourFuel wasn’t just a supplement—it was the backbone of my race strategy. It allowed me to push through discomfort, stay sharp on navigation, and keep my body moving strong long after the point most nutrition plans would have fallen apart.

If you’re training for an ultramarathon, 24-hour mountain bike race, or multi-day expedition, I can’t recommend 4HourFuel enough. It’s not about surviving the miles—it’s about thriving in them. And in this race, 4HourFuel gave me the confidence to do exactly that.

Ready to fuel your next adventure? Check out 4HourFuel and see why more endurance athletes are making it their go-to race nutrition.