Sports drinks are designed to rehydrate you quickly, and supply you with a readily available and easily digestible source of carbohydrates.

Energy bars are usually used as a pre-run snack or for post-run recovery. Their advantages: they're portable and they tend to have a good balance of fast- and slow-release carbohydrate, protein for recovery, and low levels of fat.

Sports drinks can meet your fuel and fluid needs, but they’re not always convenient to take on a long run. Energy gels – concentrated high-carb drinks - can be a more practical solution.

Your body replenishes glycogen three times faster than normal in the hour after exercise, and recovery products are designed to supply you with the right ratio of carbohydrates and protein to speed up muscle repair, rehydrate and boost your immune system.