In my history of running, I’ve never been one for gels. I tried them from time to time, but I always ended up with a sore stomach afterwards. They would give me some energy, but it was all lost when the cramping hit my gut. I recently came across a new gel called Spring, and for once in my running life, I have a gel that is finally working for me.

The premise behind Spring gels is that they are all natural, based on real food, that is minimally processed. What this means is that Spring gels are not quite like what you’ve had before if you’re used to things like Hammer of Gu. The texture of Spring is almost yogurt quality. It’s smooth and creamy vs. the thicker consistency of traditional gels. It also has some texture to it from the ingredients, but I don’t find it off-putting in any way.

They have a full range of gels, some with caffeine that I need to avoid, and some with more or less calories than others. I’ve tried a few of them now, and my personal favorite is the CanaBERRY. It’s fruity and tart, and tastes really fun. I also like the POWERRUSH flavor, which I find to be a bit more earthy in flavor. Which makes sense, since it’s made with beets. I still have a couple more to sample, but so far I like what I’ve found.

The most important part of all of this is that my stomach issues are non-existent with these gels. I down the gel and get back to running, and I’m not clutching my gut 15 minutes later. That’s a massive change from my previous experience with gels, and it’s incredibly refreshing. I’ve stuck to things like energy waffles, but after a while you want something different. Spring gels give me a whole new thing to keep in my toolbox on long training days and race day. I’m incredibly excited to make them a part of my regular routine.

If you’re like me, and you’ve had issues with gels in the past, give Spring a try. It certainly might not work for everyone, but it works for me.