Nick Symmonds attended Willamette University between 2002 and 2005 where he studied biochemistry and won 7 NCAA DIII titles in cross country and track. After college he has won 5 USATF titles in the 800 meter run and qualified for the Beijing and London Olympic games. Symmonds met Coach Sam Lapray at Willamette and the two have worked well ever since. Earlier this month
, they launched Run Gum.
Run Gum
Run Gum is caffeinated chewing gum for elite and recreational athletes. Nick, with his biochemistry background, was always looking for non-banned substances that could aid in performance. Nick and his coach knew what chemicals aided running performance, the problem was how to effectively and efficiently use them. Caffeine is a non-banned stimulant that all sorts of people use every day. The fact that caffeine boosts running performance has been known for a while. What is the most effective way of doing it?
Most caffeine is ingested by drinking some sort of liquid such as coffee of energy drinks. The problem with these is that they slowly absorb through the lining of your stomach and the excess water and acid in them will usually upset your stomach. Even 5Hour Energy contains enough liquid and acid to upset one’s stomach.
The answer is caffeinated chewing gum. It contains no liquid or acid that will upset your stomach and is absorbed through the mouth 5 times faster than liquids. Run Gum also contains no sugar and leaves your breath fresh unlike coffee or energy drinks.
This is a great idea because it solves a problem that is so important to runners both elite and recreational. Many runners use caffeine in order to prepare for important workouts and races. Run Gum makes it quicker and easier.
Nick is clearly a driven individual. One does not make multiple Olympic teams without some sort of motivation. He is driven by self promotion and entertainment. Nick considers himself an entertainer before athlete or entrepreneur.
Track and field as you may know is not the most popular spectator sport in this country. Many athletes and fans would like to in some way change the American people into track and field enthusiasts. Nick however, would rather change track and field so that it fits into mainstream American popular culture.
Nick Symmonds has a history of entrepreneurial activity. During the 2013 track season, he sold advertising space on his shoulder in the form of a temporary tattoo. He has also published a book and registered his name as a LLC.