‘No pain no gain’ sums up training. However, drinking Gatorade to help stay hydrated, energised and cramp-free can fuel your mind and body on the road to sporting success

It is possibly one of the most punishing competitions one could put oneself through. The annual Ironman triathlon, which is held in Hawaii and comprises a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run, requires muscular supremacy and extreme stamina. The UK qualifying race will take place in Sherbourne, Dorset on September 7 this year, where British competitors will push themselves to the point of exhaustion to gain a place in this prestigious and gruelling event.

Those of us who regularly play sport and enjoy fitness are inspired by such dedication and can learn from the training techniques such athletes employ. Staying hydrated when training is vital. Back in 1965 scientists and doctors at the University of Florida developed Gatorade - a drink that would help the college football team perform at their highest level. They researched how absorbing fluids during exercise transports nutrients through the body, stabilises body temperature and helps blood flow without restriction, reducing cramping and fatigue.

Over 40 years later important research work is still carried out by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. Here lab testing, nutritional research and performance evaluations are undertaken for the sole purpose of helping athletes achieve their utmost in their chosen sport, whether it be marathon running, triathlons, football or tennis.

Fluids allow the body to perform properly, and the experts at Gatorade know exactly how. For instance, Gatorade Thirst Quencher empties from the stomach at just the same speed as water would, allowing rapid entry into the intestines and stimulating absorption of water. This then feeds carbohydrates and electrolytes into the bloodstream helping maintain blood volume and enabling the body to transfer heat from muscles out through the skin. In fact, Gatorade claims that its six per cent carbohydrate formula is optimised for rapid fluid absorption.

As well as easing the strain for muscles, internal organs and skin, Gatorade releases glucose into the brain, which keeps performance levels up. Gatorade’s carefully balanced composition even helps reduce fluid that would normally be lost as urine from the kidneys.

You’d be tempted to think that something so scientifically developed would taste rather unpleasant. Well think again. These drinks have been designed to taste fantastic while you’re active, to help athletes keep hydrated before, during and after exercising.

Healthy specimens are always eager to keep chemicals, artificial colourings and additives out of their diet, so it’s helpful that Gatorade products don’t contain any such artificial elements, setting them apart from some of the competing brands on the UK market.

For those with concerns about dehydration, it is worth visiting the Gatorade web site www.gatorade.co.uk where you can calculate how much you should drink per 15 minutes of exercise. An online system allows you to choose your activity - walking, cycling or aerobics - type in your weight and view a recommended amount that you should aim to drink.

Gatorade has sponsored many UK sports events and will be present in the coming months displaying its innovative products and scientific knowledge of sports fitness to the public.

As well as the London Triathlon on August 9&10, Gatorade will be at the London Duathlon on September 14 & 15 in beautiful Richmond Park, and on 31 September, it’s the Fun-To-Tri North West triathlon, comprising swimming in the country’s largest brine pool, cycling in the Cheshire countryside and running in Barony Park.

Sports personalities including Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard, Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho, Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova, and Olympic triathlete, Alistair Brownlee and his brother Jonathan, a 2012 triathlon hopeful, are all sponsored by Gatorade, and are advocates of the drinks brand’s key message: don’t let dehydration affect your game.

These athletes push their bodies to the limits and are worthy of our admiration and respect but they’re only human. The best athletes in the world know that staying healthy and hydrated are the first vital steps towards peak performance.