4 Ways to Make Summer Hydration More Fun

All runners know it’s important to stay hydrated, especially as we sweat through the summer months, and electrolyte hydration drinks are an excellent way to replenish your body after a long, sweaty workout.

If you’re starting to get bored with the same old drink, there are plenty of ways to jazz up your hydration strategy. Here are four of our favorite ways to add some variety to your day and make hydration a little more exciting.

1. Electrolyte Hydration Popsicles

Making popsicles instantly turns your drink into a treat. They are cool and refreshing without the extra sugar that’s found in your everyday pop. All you need is a popsicle mold or two, an electrolyte drink and a freezer.

Ingredients

• Water
• Hydration tablet or mix

Directions

• Dissolve your favorite flavor of electrolyte mix or tab into a glass of water. (GU Energy, Nuun and Skratch Labs are some of our favorites)
• Pour your drink into the popsicle mold(s)
• Add berries, mango or other fruit, if desired
• Set in the freezer for about two hours, and voila! Delicious, hydrating popsicles that you can customize to your liking.

3. Recovery Jello

High-quality, grass-fed gelatin is an excellent source of bioavailable protein. Studies show gelatin promotes joint health, digestion and can help maintain healthy bones. Mix it with a hydration drink for a quick burst of electrolytes or a recovery drink for after your run. Go for a jiggly recovery treat or a new way to enjoy your energy drink without the additives that come from the boxed dessert.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup cool water
• 1 TBSP high quality gelatin
• ¼ cup boiled water
• 1½ cups water mixed with a GU hydration tab or GU Roctane Energy drink.

Have all ingredients ready ahead of time, as the gelatin will thicken and gel quickly.

Directions

• Put mix hydration tab or packet in 1 ½ cups of water and let it dissolve completely
• Pour the cool water in a medium size mixing bowl and add the gelatin powder
• Stir briskly until mixed. It will start to thicken
• Add ¼ cup of hot water, and stir to mix. It should be thinner now
• Add the hydration drink mixture and stir well
• Put in the refrigerator, covered, for at least 2-3 hours or overnight.
• Cut into cubes or shapes and eat!

4. Cherry Limeade Hydration Slushy

Nuun is delicious alone, but slush it up with some ice, add extra fruit, and you’ve got a fancy, hydrating slushy!

Ingredients

• 3-4 cups crushed ice
• 1 cherry limeade Nuun tablet
• 16 oz. water
• 1 sprig of mint
• Juice of ½ a lime
• A couple of cherries

Directions

Dissolve the Nuun tablet in the water. In a blender, combine the ice and the Nuun water. Pour into a tall glass, and garnish with the mint and cherries. Enjoy!

By Kate Schwartz. Schwartz has been running competitively for 20 years, and she currently runs with the Asheville Running Collective. She lives in Asheville, NC, with her husband, Alex, and their cat, Clementine.