I spent the Summer of 24’ training for the Hood Hundred, a grueling 100-mile race totaling over 34,000 feet of elevation change. People often refer to these ultramarathons as not only endurance competitions, but eating competitions. In other words, if you can’t get and hold calories down, your odds of finishing these races quickly diminish.

I quickly learned in training that I needed a real food option to carry me through. I found success with boiling potatoes and mashing them in ziplock bags, but you can only eat so many potatoes during a run. Other gels on the market contained maltodextrin, gums, syrups, concentrates, and other unpronounceable ingredients. I needed a product that was effective enough fuel my intense efforts, delicious enough to take down, and real enough to sit well. So, I dusted off the old blender and began prototyping my own gels at home.

I took this idea to a few friends, and a few months later we we’re granted direct investment from the University of Washington. We’ve poured our time into this company, and we’ve been blown away by the response. Coast carries hundreds of athletes through their training, races, and adventures, and we’d love for you to check us out here!