Colonial Miles was founded in the summer of 2025 by Hayes and Will, two college cross-country athletes training at altitude in Boulder, Colorado. During a long run, we had a simple realization: why are we paying so much for energy gels that don’t even taste good?

From that moment on, we set out to create something better—affordable, carb-packed gels that actually taste delicious.

Our mission is to make training more enjoyable, one gel at a time.

Fueling shouldn’t feel like a chore. That’s why we focus on flavors that excite, not bore. It all started with our first blend, Honey Boost, and quickly grew to include favorites like Founders Fudge and Tavern Brew.

We’re constantly experimenting and always open to new ideas—if you’ve got a flavor in mind, let us know via the feedback tab!

More about the founders:

Hayes - Originally from a small town in South Carolina, he headed north to Williamsburg, Virginia to run cross country and track & field for the Tribe in college. He immediately had an impact on the program as he garnered all conference honors as a true freshman and finished as the top harrier for the Tribe at the regional meet. Following that he earned his first spot on a podium at the conference track meet outdoors with a 3rd place finish in the 10,000 meters. He continued his sophomore year as the Tribe’s leader leading top 3 finishes at the cross country conference meet, as well as indoors too. He finished his sophomore year with PRs of 13:59 for 5000 meters and 29:38 for 10,000 meters. Running upwards of 100 miles a week and up to 18 miles at one time, finding a way to fuel intense training helped lead Hayes to where he stands with Colonial Miles today.

Will - Currently approaching his 3rd year at the College of William & Mary, Will realized that the real world is not too far away. In a last-ditch effort to delay the inevitable, he teamed up with Hayes Trapp on a mission to create more affordable and tasty energy gels for runners, like themselves. What began as a fun weekend project quickly turned into a full-blown pursuit. Will is also a very passionate runner who has posted a personal best of 14:39 for 5000 meters. While not quite as speedy as Hayes, he hopes to make a big jump this school year, in part due to advancements in gel technology.