While some of us ThisNexters are nuts about Nuun tablets, others - such as chr - prefer Zym. Loaded with B vitamins and minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, the lemon-lime-flavored tablets can help restore your sodium balance when working out hard.

To test the merits of each product, The Final Spirit is currently conducting a comparative review of Nuun and Zym. Blogger Jonathan Faccone considers such products “a very versatile choice [that] might be wise to carry…during training in the event that you decide to go longer/harder than previously planned. Another benefit is that they are effervescent so no mixing or shaking is required for the tablets to dissolve (unlike many sports drink powders). In addition, some of them contain substantial quantities of Vitamin B complex which can aid athletes by providing natural, energy stimulation.”

No word yet on the winner, but no doubt we’ll be checking back to find out which fizz is finest.

Having completed his first marathon, Ryan at Running Buddha is now looking to take on an ultramarathon. Taking a very Zen approach to that goal, Ryan’s bio notes that “the journey to run an ultra could be days or years away but the challenge is there and everything in-between is training!” Of course, that training requires lots and lots of H20, so Ryan recently picked up an Alterra Hydration Waistpack from Camelbak. He digs the hose clips, two side zip pockets for storage, and bite valve, raving that the Alterra is a “perfect companion for any distance run - it’s like a ghost wrapped around my waist that quenches my thirst!”

Sarah at Hooked on Trails has posted a nice little show-and-tell of her trail-running essentials, showcasing her lucky “good karma bandana,” her post-run Crocs (for the car ride home), and her two-liter Kelty Pulse hydration pack. On a recent run on Oregon’s Wildwood Trail, Sarah filled up the pack with some Carb Boom: “The verdict: Apple Cinnamon….yum. Chocolate Cherry…yuck.”

No one knows the importance of performance hydration like a marathon runner. Currently training for a fall marathon, Brian at Running Down A Dream stays quenched by loading up his Fuel Belt with flasks of Gatorade and Hammer Gels. The ergonomically designed belt, which Brian dubs “perfect for a 20-miler but probably [not] necessary for anything less than 12-15 miles,” features a secure cord that locks bottles in place while you go, go, go.