For Leonardo Fernandez, running started with a search for a new challenge. Growing up, Fernandez never found a sport that stuck with him. That changed when he walked into a gym at 15. Over the next decade, weightlifting and wellness became a major part of his life, teaching him the discipline that would later carry into endurance sports.
After years of lifting, Fernandez wanted to test himself in a different way. He turned to endurance running, and before long, he found himself drawn to ultra-running. “Once I started pushing those miles, I fell in love with ultra-running,” Fernandez said.
That experience as an athlete eventually led to another challenge: starting a business. Earlier this year, Fernandez launched NOOLYTE, a Houston-based ready-to-drink electrolyte beverage designed around hydration, energy and focus.
The idea came from his own experience. “NOOLYTE came directly out of a problem I was experiencing as an athlete,” Fernandez said. “I couldn’t find a hydration drink on the market that delivered high-quality, functional ingredients without artificial fillers.”
Fernandez wanted to create something that approached hydration from more than one angle. NOOLYTE combines electrolytes with 100mg of natural green tea extract and nootropics, which the company says are intended to support concentration, memory and mental clarity.
“The most important thing to me was creating a zero-compromise formula: maximum function without sacrifice,” he said.
Building a beverage company while training for ultra-marathons has given Fernandez two demanding pursuits at the same time. But he sees a connection between the two.
“It takes serious discipline, but when you’re building something you’re genuinely passionate about and chasing a dream, the long hours don’t feel like work.”
For Fernandez, the mental side of running a 100K and the work required to build a company are not that different. Both require consistency, discipline and the ability to keep going when things get difficult.
Since launching NOOLYTE, one of the biggest surprises has been the response from the Houston running and fitness community. “Honestly, the overwhelming support from the Houston community from day zero,” Fernandez said. He has seen locals come out to events, purchase NOOLYTE and reach out to share their experiences with the drink.
Looking ahead, Fernandez plans to continue pushing himself in ultra-running while expanding NOOLYTE beyond Houston. The company is working to grow its retail presence in other cities and reach more people who are looking for hydration products that fit into an active lifestyle.
But Fernandez’s goals extend beyond putting another beverage on store shelves.
“We’re building more than just a beverage, we’re building a movement for people who want to perform at their best every day,” he said.
For now, Fernandez is balancing the miles with the meetings, training blocks with business plans. His journey from a teenager discovering weightlifting to an endurance athlete and entrepreneur has given him a familiar lesson in a new setting.
“Anything you envision is possible if you believe in it, stay consistent and are willing to embrace the sacrifices required to make it happen.”
