Latest Work Epic News
Epic Coffee Booster: What Changed and Why
The reformulated Epic Coffee Booster is here: new stickpacks, an upgraded stack, and the reasoning behind every single change.
Urolithin A: What the Research Says About Recovery
Urolithin A supports mitochondrial health and exercise recovery. Here's what the clinical research actually shows, and at what doses.
Cognizin Citicoline: The Science Behind Mental Focus
Cognizin citicoline is studied at 250mg for focus and attention. Here's how it works in the body and what the research found.
Karbolyn®: The Best Carbohydrate Fuel for Endurance Athletes
When you’re grinding through an ultramarathon, halfway through an Ironman, or hammering out a ride, one thing can make or break your performance, fuel. Not just any carb will do, you need fast energy that won’t spike, crash, or wreck your stomach at any point in your race. That’s where Karbolyn® comes in. This isn’t your standard sports drink sugar or maltodextrin. Karbolyn® is a patented performance carbohydrate designed to absorb as fast as simple sugars but deliver the steady, sustained energy of complex carbs. In other words it acts quick, lasts long, is and easy on your gut. What Is Karbolyn? Karbolyn® is an engineered carbohydrate derived from potato, rice, and corn using a unique enzymatic process. This process rearranges the starch molecules into a form (like a train) your body absorbs rapidly without bloating or digestive distress. Think of it as a high performance carb that combines the best of both worlds: Fast acting like simple sugars for quick energy delivery. Sustained release like complex carbs to keep your glycogen levels stable. Originally developed for athletes to carb-load efficiently, it’s now used by endurance runners, cyclists, triathletes, and anyone who needs reliable energy over long training sessions or races. Why Karbolyn® Beats Ordinary Carbs Super fast absorption without the crashIn a head-to-head study, Karbolyn® was absorbed 18% faster than glucose but unlike glucose, it didn’t create a sharp blood sugar spike followed by a crash. Instead, energy levels stayed elevated for up to two hours perfect for long-duration performance.Study: https://allamericanpharmaceutical.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2009-Glucose-Study.pdf More power than waxy maize or maltodextrinCompared to other “fast carbs,” Karbolyn® delivers longer-lasting energy. A 50-gram serving fueled workouts for roughly an hour, while 100 g extended that boost to nearly two hours, all without stomach discomfort.Study: https://allamericanpharmaceutical.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2007-May-Case-Study.pdf Stable blood sugar for consistent outputEven in pre-diabetic test subjects, Karbolyn® kept blood glucose levels steady and avoided prolonged highs, critical for endurance athletes who need smooth, reliable power instead of peaks and dips.Study: https://allamericanpharmaceutical.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2009-Glucose-Study.pdf Clean, versatile, and athlete-safe Sugar-free, gluten-free, stimulant-free, vegan-friendly Mixes easily, no clumping or bloating Informed-Sport certified — trusted for drug-tested athletes How to Use Karbolyn® Karbolyn® is about as versatile as it gets. You can mix it as needed for the effort, distance, carb/hour, body size, etc. Before workouts During workouts After workouts It’s highly soluble, so you can sip it during your event without stomach issues, a major win for runners and cyclists who know how punishing mid-race gut problems can be. The Balanced View Some athletes argue that whole-food carbs (like oats, potatoes, or bananas) can fuel endurance just as effectively and they’re right if you’ve got time to digest. Karbolyn’s strength is speed, predictability, and convenience. It’s engineered to do in minutes what whole foods might take hours. Bottom Line If you train or race for hours at a time, Karbolyn® is a powerful tool to keep you moving strong and steady. It loads fast, fuels long, and won’t wreck your gut. Whether you’re an elite endurance athlete or simply serious about performance, Karbolyn® delivers clean, reliable energy when you need it most.
Epic Humans: Taylor Spike
Welcome to the first chapter of Epic Humans. A new series where we highlight the incredible people behind the Work Epic community. This brand was never just about supplements or performance, it’s about people. The ones who show up, dig deep, and live with purpose. We keep it simple: five questions, raw answers, real stories. Because behind every epic product are even more epic humans. And there’s no better person to kick this off than Taylor Spike, a legend in the ultra-endurance world, a family man, and someone who embodies what it means to Work Epic. Q: What gets you out of bed every morning? “Knowing my sons are watching and that one day I won’t be able to.” That one sentence says it all: legacy, presence, and perspective. Taylor doesn’t just run for medals. He runs for meaning. Q: Why did you get into running, and what keeps you in it? “At the time, my father — who was 60 — was fitter than me, and Donavan, my son, needed a mentor. I’m not smart and never did good in school, but suffering came easy to me. I found some hope in the discomfort.” Taylor turned suffering into strength. He found clarity in the miles, direction in the pain, and a reason to lead from the front not just for himself, but for his family. Q: What’s your next epic adventure, and why does it matter to you? “Every weekend. It’s a chance to break out and pretend I’m still a kid.” Adventure doesn’t always need a race bib or a podium. For Taylor, it’s about freedom, that feeling of chasing a hill, a trail, or a sunrise, just because he can. Q: What’s one moment from a race or training that changed you? “My first run with Donavan was 2 miles. Nothing had ever hurt so much. To this day, that’s still the hardest run I’ve ever done. My man boobs hurt for weeks. Now, for other reasons, I’ll never experience that again. The pain emotionally can’t be duplicated.” It’s raw and real. The miles that matter most aren’t always the longest, they’re the ones that change your heart. Q: How do you define ‘living fully’? “Laying down at night knowing I did all I can in the time I was gifted.” That’s the essence of Work Epic, giving your best to every moment, every day, no matter what it demands of you. I’ve had the chance to spend time with Taylor, and he’s about as authentic as they come. No fluff, no ego just honesty, grit, and adventure. When he’s not traveling the country for work, you’ll find him bombing down a mountain or out in the wild with his family, squeezing every drop out of life. Taylor Spike isn’t just an athlete, he’s a reminder of what it means to live fully, love deeply, and keep pushing even when it hurts. This is what Epic Humans is all about. Real people. Real purpose. Real work.
Oregon Cascades 100: Three Days of Adventure and Community
When Taylor Spike asked if I wanted to help out at an aid station for the Cascades 100 Mile Race, I didn’t hesitate. I knew it would be epic because it always is with Taylor.My wife and I were in Montana at the time meeting with our manufacturer who produces our Epic Fuel and Epic Creatine + (exciting things brewing there). I was trying to get a game plan in my head on how to make all this work with the timing of meetings, the race, flights, etc. My options were I could either fly home, turn around the very next morning just to fly out again OR I could make it a bigger adventure, grab a rental car and hit the road. I think you know which one I chose! I dropped my wife off at the airport at 4:30 am the next morning so she could get back home to our anxiously waiting twins. I got a big cup of Epic caffeine and started my journey from Montana to Oregon. I drove through Big Sky, West Yellowstone, and into Idaho. Talk about some amazing country. My plan was to stay at a friend’s house (who is also an Epic Athlete of ours) in Boise for the night to break up the trip. We were firefighters together in Oklahoma before he moved to Idaho. About 8 hours later I made it to his house. I got to hang out with him and his beautiful family for the afternoon. Boise was a cool spot and one I would like to explore more in the future. We called it an early night because I knew I had another 6 hour drive in the morning with the unknown weekend ahead. I arrived in Redmond, OR just after 1:00 pm at the local airport to drop off my rental car.Grabbed my bags and Taylor and his dad, Greg, picked me up in the sprinter van. Greg is a complete stud, he is closing in on 80 years old and still running Ultras! He was signed up and running the 50 mile race. Absolute legend. We stopped at a local burger joint in Bend, man was that delicious. If you are ever in Bend, I highly recommend Bend Burger Company. We explored around the Bend area a bit and then off into the mountains we went. We set up camp around the Todd Lakes area with a great view of Mt. Bachelor. The next morning kicked off with a great run up to Green Lakes before heading to Sisters, OR for packet pickup and to meet up with Pam Spike, Taylors’ lovely wife who saved us with food and supplies. Without her, it would have been a mess. I had the pleasure of meeting the race directors of Alpine Running who are wonderful people and if you run one of their races you are in for a great time. While there Taylor gave a speech that set the tone for the adventure ahead. We camped in Sisters the night before the race, and at sunrise, we were up and setting up the aid station. If you’ve never run an ultramarathon or volunteered at one, you’re missing out. The energy, the people, the sheer determination in the air it’s unforgettable. The aid station Captain Madeline, was funny and made the whole thing flow and a good time. She had made these birthday poster boards and various other goodies for the 7 runners who had birthdays that day. Runners started rolling through around 8:30 a.m., and from that moment on, it was nonstop action: cheering, refueling, hydrating, and making sure every athlete felt supported. I think it was safe to say we had the best crew hands down. It was a warm day and I can’t tell you how many pounds of ice we went through trying to cool runners down and their drinks. As the day progressed we fired up the camp stove to make some hot food, broth, and coffee. We were supposed to have quesadillas but we happened to be missing a very important part, CHEESE! Oh well, we had a truck load of pancakes and bacon to get the runners by. Unfortunately, a wildfire (Flat Fire) forced the race to end early. I know there was somedisappointment and frustration but safety is always a priority and as conditions deteriorated there was no other choice. The right decision was made, and everyone made it out safely. But the adventure didn’t stop there. Around 10:30 p.m., a small crew of us ran a little over 7 miles to sweep the course, ensuring no runners were left behind. Then we turned around and ran the 7 + miles back to camp. We got in around 2:30 a.m., grabbed a couple hours of sleep, and woke up to break down the aid station. I had a flight to catch that day at 1:00 pm. We also had a 2-hour drive ahead to Eugene where my flight was leaving. Taylor and I jumped in the truck and had a great time visiting about life, history, past, future, and everything in between. Taylor dropped me off at the airport, and I felt genuinely sorry for anyone seated near me on that long flight back to Oklahoma. Three days, countless memories, and one unforgettable experience. Anytime I get the chance to be part of this running community surrounded by adventure seekers and purpose driven individuals, I’ll find a way to be there. Our brand is and will always be Supporting Life’s Pursuits. Remember, adventure isn’t something you find. It’s something you choose.
