Question: Should I Drink a Sports Drink with Protein During Runs?
Is it better to drink a sports drink with protein instead of regular sports drinks during runs?
Answer: You're not going to get a performance advantage by consuming a sports drink with protein during your runs. Sports drinks with protein are often pricey, and most runners don't burn much protein for fuel while running unless they've burned through their glycogen (stored glucose) stores are depleted.
You'll get more benefits from protein if you consume it after your runs, especially your long runs. Carbs combined with protein enhances muscle repair and will help speed up your post-run recovery. An inexpensive and convenient recovery drink is chocolate milk, which is the perfect combination of carbs and protein.
