Picture this. You’re halfway through a run, but are low on energy. You reach into your pocket to get exactly what you need…….. a packet of ketchup. After tearing that little corner piece off and tilting your head back in joyful expectation, you heartily squeeze all that gooey goodness into your mouth. Of course, this is all in slow motion as beads of sweat roll down your face.
Heinz is running an online commercial that shows runners with ketchup packets in their pouches. They also show a bunch of texts and social media posts of people talking about talking ketchup packets on their runs for energy. This is what is called “Bro Science”. That’s an actual term for when someone in the fitness world comes up with something that sounds halfway plausible, but is really not good advice.
A packet of ketchup is mostly Corn syrup, vinegar, and tomato concentrate with a ton of sodium. So much sodium that it’s actually bad for your heart to eat with while running. Your body needs carbs. My wife typically takes this stuff in a tube called Goo for extra energy on runs. I get a bunch of protein in before my workouts and down some carbs with amino acids while in the gym.
Nevertheless, ketchup has become the condiment that’s catching on when people are on the run.