OUR STORY

WHY HYK EXISTS

Built from experience. Born on the trail.

THE BEGINNING

HYK was born from a simple idea — endurance athletes deserved more from their hydration. After decades in fitness, nutrition, and sports, I knew what supplements could do and what athletes demanded from their bodies.

But when I started to spend more time on the trails and at endurance events, I found myself piecing together caffeine, electrolytes, and other performance ingredients.

I knew there had to be a better way.

the story behind hyk

I'm Ron Money - founder of HYK. My journey started in college with fitness, nutrition and supplements. That experience gave me an early education in integrity, ingredients, formulation, and how to create products that actually serve a purpose.

In my 20's I competed as a natural bodybuilder. Later, I spent more than a decade as a CrossFit trainer and competitor. Eventually, my focus shift outdoors - to trail running, Spartan events, and the endurance challenges that came with them.

It was on the trails of Sedona, around Bell Rock, that the idea for HYK came about. I wanted one formula designed around the demands of endurance - not a collection of products I had to combine along the way.

That idea became HYK.

Formulated For Endurance - Not Marketing

Performance first. Purposeful formulas. Meaningful amounts. No unecessary ingredients. Constant refinement.

HYK isn't built on marketing fluff. Our products are based on proven sports nutrition principles — not filler ingredients or marketing gimmicks. Each component serves a purpose: to help your body perform, hydrate, and recover more efficiently.

Our blends are crafted using clinically studied ingredients, balanced electrolyte ratios, and precise nutrient combinations that support energy, focus, hydration, and recovery — the four pillars of endurance performance.

We don’t overload doses or chase trends. We build products that work — backed by science and trusted by endurance athletes everywhere.

The HYK Gold Standard

We believe great hydration is about more than what’s inside the stick. It’s about how you build a brand, how you treat people, and how you show up when the miles get long. Four pillars guide everything we do.

01

Integrity

We do what we say, stand behind what we make, and never cut corners. From our ingredients to our relationships, honesty is non-negotiable.

02

Quality

Premium ingredients. Thoughtful formulations. Rigorous standards. We obsess over the details because your performance depends on them.

03

Purpose

HYK exists for a reason. We fuel people chasing something bigger — from a personal best to a finish line, and every extra mile in between.

04

Performance

Everything comes back to performance. HYK is built to help you stay strong, stay focused, and keep moving when the extra mile gets hard.

Four pillars. One standard.

Integrity in how we operate. Quality in what we make. Purpose in why we exist. Performance in everything we do.

Built
for the
extra
mile

giving back

"Because progress means more when you take others with you."

We believe going further isn't just about what you accomplish for yourself. It's about the impact you can make along the way. That's why HYK supports organizations and causes we believe are worth showing up for, including The National Down Syndrome Society, the Tyrese Maxey Foundation, and One Tree Planted to name a few.

We're just getting started

The next mile is already calling.

HYK started with an idea on a trail in Sedona. Today, we're building a community of athletes, showing up at races, refining our formulas, and pushing the brand forward. And we're not done yet.

More athletes. More miles. More breakthroughs. More impact.

Two female ultra runners on the podium of an ultra marathon
Two female ultra runners on the podium of an ultra marathon

PERFORMANCE RESEARCH

Our formulations are inspired by decades of research on hydration, performance, and recovery. Here are a few of the key studies and organizations that shaped our understanding of endurance nutrition and electrolyte balance.

Hydration & Electrolyte Balance
  • American College of Sports Medicine. Exercise and Fluid Replacement. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2007. A foundational position paper on proper hydration strategies and sodium requirements during exercise.

  • Sawka MN, et al. Human water needs. Nutrition Reviews, 2005. Discusses how electrolyte concentrations affect fluid retention and performance under heat stress.
  • Maughan RJ & Shirreffs SM. Development of hydration strategies to optimize performance for athletes in high-intensity sports. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 2010.
Energy & Focus
  • Haskell CF et al. The effects of caffeine on cognition, mood, and performance. Psychopharmacology, 2005. Examines how caffeine improves mental and physical performance.
  • Owen GN et al. The combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine on cognitive performance and mood. Nutritional Neuroscience, 2008.
Recovery & Muscle Function
  • Peake JM et al. Recovery after exercise: oxidative stress, inflammation and antioxidant supplementation. Journal of Sports Medicine, 2017. Explores how micronutrients and hydration impact muscle recovery.
  • Magnesium and potassium roles in muscle performance — National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements.
Trusted Sources for Sports Nutrition & Hydration Research

HYK is committed to using science-backed ingredients and research to support endurance athletes. The following organizations and publications are respected sources for sports performance and hydration science:

  • American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) – leading authority on exercise science and sports nutrition
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH) – peer-reviewed studies on hydration, electrolytes, and nutrient absorption
  • Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (JISSN) – research on supplementation and endurance performance
  • U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) – guidance on dietary supplement safety and labeling
  • World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) – information on approved and prohibited substances for athletes

These organizations are provided as educational references only. HYK is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the above institutions.

Disclaimer

The information presented on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. HYK products are formulated based on current sports nutrition research and are designed to support hydration and performance. Individual results may vary. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, supplement, or exercise routine.