185 miles in, he expected to bonk. He felt strong instead.
A 40-time Ironman finisher raced a 70.3 on Saturday and a full Ironman on Sunday, and fueled them both with packets of raw honey.
A review stopped us in our tracks.
This stuff is a game-changer. I recently completed the double Ironman in Wisconsin and used this as my primary fuel source throughout 2 back-to-back Ironmans. I've done over 40 Ironmans and can tell you the strength, stamina, endurance when using this product is unparalleled. It not only helped fuel my day one, but provided the fuel necessary for me to feel strong on day 2. This will definitely be my go-to fuel in future Ironman races!
Josh has finished over 40 Ironmans since his first 70.3 in 2007. This September he tried something new at Ironman Wisconsin: the 70.3 on Saturday, then the full 140.6 on Sunday. We reached out to hear how it went.
His problem in a full Ironman has always been the marathon. Gels that go down fine early get hard to stomach hours later, and he usually bonks within the first five to seven miles.
"I got off the bike, put on my running shoes, and felt strong through the first 16 miles. That was the standout moment of the weekend for me."
Josh Mietelski, 40+ time Ironman finisher
He took four or five packets of Kinesis over those 16 miles. Across both days, he had zero GI issues.
Josh took one to two packets an hour. For your next long effort, start with one packet at the start, then one every 30 to 60 minutes.
Fast fuel for now. Slow fuel for the back half.
Raw honey carries two sugars. Glucose hits within minutes. Fructose releases slowly through your liver, so there's still fuel left for the marathon at the end.
Ours is raw wildflower honey from a fifth-generation beekeeper, never heated above 95°F. That's The Raw Standard.
That's the whole packet.
Raw honey, plus the three things you sweat out.
No maltodextrin. No gums. Nothing your stomach has to fight at heart rate 170.
What you're actually eating at mile 80.
| vs |  Typical gel
|
 Kinesis Nectar
|
|---|---|---|
| Carbs from | Maltodextrin | Raw honey |
| Processing | Built in a lab | Never heated above 95°F |
| Gums or thickeners | Yes | None |
| Electrolytes | Often sodium only | Sodium, magnesium, potassium |
| Caffeine | Often added | None |
Same job. Your stomach can tell the difference.
Josh isn't the only one racing on it.
"I used four of these to keep me fueled for the Chicago Marathon. I have been running for 18 years and have always struggled with finding an energy gel that didn't upset my stomach and digested well. This is my new fuel source going forward."
"Tastes great, feel great! Used both of these to fuel for my Ironman race, no regrets whatsoever."
"Finally a clean endurance fuel source! Great for long runs and bike rides. Kinesis gives me the boost I need, just in time for Ironman training."
"The deeper I got into ultra running the more I reassessed the types of supplements and fueling strategies I employed. Pungao fits perfectly into my new paradigm of healthier alternatives that also meet my fueling requirements... Excellent taste and real world success during events!"
Race-day questions
How many packets do I need?
One at the start of your session, then one every 30 to 60 minutes after that. A marathon is usually 3 to 5 packets. Josh took one to two an hour, about 30 across his race weekend.
Should I try it before race day?
Yes. Josh trained with Kinesis for about a month before racing on it. Use it on your long sessions first, so race day isn't the first time your stomach sees it.
Do I need water with it?
It's thick, like honey should be. Most athletes take a sip of water with each packet.
Is it easy to open mid-race?
Yes, knead the packet in your fingers to mix it beforehand and then tear at the notch and squeeze from the bottom up.
Will it upset my stomach?
There's no maltodextrin, no gums, and no synthetic sweeteners. It's honey, sea salt, and minerals. Stomach issues on standard gels are one of the top reasons runners tell us they switched.
Does it have caffeine?
No. Kinesis is caffeine free, so you can take it every 30 minutes for hours without the jitters. If you want caffeine before you start, check out our other product, Vital Nectar.
What does it taste like?
Raw wildflower honey with a light touch of sea salt. Available in Raspberry, Lemon, and Unflavored. Josh raced on Raspberry.
What if I don't like it?
Every order is covered by our 365-day money-back guarantee.
One piece of advice from Josh.
"Give your fueling plan the same attention you give your training... Think beyond what tastes good at the beginning of a workout: can you still get it down hours later?"
Take one packet on your next long effort.
We promise the price will make sense. Under $4 a packet, backed by a 365-day guarantee.
Get Kinesis Nectar
Vital Nectar
Raw Honey Energy
- Four ingredients. Never heated above 95°F.
- 100mg natural caffeine from coffee fruit.
- Smooth energy for hours. No crash.
Kinesis Nectar
Raw Honey Energy
- Four ingredients. Never heated above 95°F.
- Zero caffeine. Full-spectrum natural electrolytes.
- Steady fuel. Easy on the gut.
Autoship and Save:
It's simple.
Raw, never pasteurized. Our honey never exceeds 95°F - the same temperature bees keep their hives. Every enzyme, mineral, and antioxidant stays intact.
Real food, not a formula. Four ingredients you can pronounce, sourced from people we know by name.
One packet, anywhere. Tear, eat, go. No shaker, no scoop, no mess.
Ingredients
100% raw & unfiltered northeastern wildflower honey; 100mg of natural caffeine from organic coffee fruit; ancient buried sea salt with 60+ trace minerals; Ceylon "true" cinnamon from Sri Lanka; organic freeze-dried fruit [only used in raspberry and lemon variants].
Allergies
Free from gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, and GMOs. No synthetic sweeteners, no synthetic dyes.
After consuming Vital Nectar you can expect:
An immediate increase in energy and stamina; Enhanced hydration; Boosted blood flow; Heightened mental clarity and focus; Clean, sustained energy for 4-6 hours.
No jitters, no crash. Real fuel your body actually uses. Clean ingredient label you can pronounce.
Unflavored tastes like raw honey with hints of cinnamon and a savory sea-salt edge.
Lemon adds a bright citrus note, and Raspberry brings a sweet-tart berry kick.
Both Lemon and Raspberry are easy first picks and tend to be the favorites, especially if it's your first time.
Unflavored is for people who want the raw honey flavor front and center. All three have the same core ingredients.
Tear open one packet 15-30 minutes before your workout. Eat it straight from the pouch, mix it in a smoothie, drizzle it over fruit or whatever else you can think of.
Enjoy 4-6 hours of clean energy, focus, and hydration.
Spend $50 or more and shipping is FREE (U.S. only). Orders placed before 12pm EST ship the same business day. Standard domestic delivery is 3-7 business days.
It's simple.
Raw, never pasteurized. Our honey never exceeds 95°F - the same temperature bees keep their hives. Every enzyme, mineral, and antioxidant stays intact.
Real food, not a formula. Four ingredients you can pronounce, sourced from people we know by name.
One packet, anywhere. Tear, eat, go. No shaker, no scoop, no mess.
Ingredients
100% raw & unfiltered northeastern wildflower honey; ancient buried sea salt with 60+ trace minerals; sun-evaporated ionic magnesium from the Great Salt Lake; potassium chloride from a Saskatchewan mineral deposit; organic freeze-dried fruit [only used in raspberry and lemon variants].
Allergies
Free from gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, and GMOs. No synthetic sweeteners, no synthetic dyes.
After consuming Kinesis Nectar you can expect:
Steady, long-lasting energy from quick-absorbing carbs; Optimized hydration from a full spectrum of electrolytes; Reduced muscle fatigue; Smooth digestions with a gentle, stomach-friendly formula; Clean, consistent output without caffeine.
No jitters, no upset stomach. Real fuel your body actually uses. Clean ingredient label you can pronounce.
Unflavored tastes like raw honey with a savory sea-salt edge.
Lemon adds a bright citrus note, and Raspberry brings a sweet-tart berry kick.
Both Raspberry and Lemon are easy first picks and tend to be the favorites, especially if it's your first time.
Unflavored is for people who want the raw honey flavor front and center. All three have the same core ingredients.
Tear open one packet at the beginning of, or during your workout. Eat it straight from the pouch, mix it in a smoothie, drizzle it over fruit or whatever else you can think of.
For longer sessions, consume an additional packet every 30-60 minutes!
Spend $50 or more and shipping is FREE (U.S. only). Orders placed before 12pm EST ship the same business day. Standard domestic delivery is 3-7 business days.
