Hammer gels yes, but I have been favoring some drinks too. Look for maltodextrin as the main carb source. Hammer has a few powders for you liquid lovers.

I have also tried Cytomax, Accelerade (sucrose), TwinLabs UltraFuel and CarboPro (Ribose, Trehalose, and Dextrose) from SportQuest and liked them all. I can handle sucrose ok but feel complex carbs work best from several years of experimentation.

GU has 20% fructose which is a good mix with maltodextrin but seemed to sweet for me somehow. Powergel is great and is thicker in consistency than others.

My faves have been Hammer but had great results with last minute CarbBoom decision during a marathon. Three packs went down real well and settled perfectly the whole time. Loved em.

If I dont use a carb drink or gel I'll use Endurolyte tablets for heavy sweating.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by emmygirl:

I'm just in the experimental phase with the GU type products. Should I take those WITH a gatorade type drink, or with water?


Em<HR>

NO! Read this (although slanted to one product, the science behind it is OK)

Basically,

water + gel = gatorade

So, mixing gatoade with a gel = not good
http://cranksports.com/products/eGel/[/URL" target="_blank">

http://cranksports.com/products/eGel/hydration.asp[/URL" target="_blank">

By the way, I wouldn't worry about HFCS, it's sugar, and that's what you need. It's not like you're drinking the stuff all the time, and, again, it's no better or worse than the sugar in all gels.

However, if you elect to go with just a sports drink (and consequently, no gels), go with a powdered mix. No HFCS in them.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by emmygirl:
So what do you all suggest? I'm training for my first marathon (I have a couple of 1/2's under my belt) and I've only ever consumed water during a workout (some energy drinks here and there on the courses, powerade, gatorate and the like, just because they were available).

Do I really need either, the gels or the drinks (or the capsules)?

<HR>

I have found that water is enough (IF you are eating well before and after runs) up to 16-17 miles and that gatorade is enough for the longer training runs (18-22). On race day I tend to add some real food (oranges, popcicles, etc from the course). I've never had a gell and never plan to start! (I am starting to think that if I decide to train for another marathon I might try more during run nutrition but it will come from real food ... fruit ... pretzels etc)

quote:<HR>Originally posted by emmygirl:

So what do you all suggest? I'm training for my first marathon (I have a couple of 1/2's under my belt) and I've only

Do I really need either, the gels or the drinks (or the capsules)? That site suggests taking the gel with water, then later drinking energy drinks (if you want). What do you all feel works best for you?

<HR>

If you think you need it, then

Either take a gel with water

or

sports drink and no gel.

I've never tried energy drinks for running (or for anything else for that matter).

The sports drinks you get during a race are probably a powedered mix, since it's cheaper, easier to move from one place to another, etc, so it probably doesn't have any HFCS in it.

However, it's usually mixed by volunteers, and can frequently taste BAD. With a gel/water combo, that gets taken out of the equation.

I usually use powdered Gatorade Endurance Formula, but it's a little hard to find.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by emmygirl:
?

Also, do these tabs/capsules you're talking about make me sweat? Is that beneficial? I'm not a person who sweats, even today on my 15 mile run, I really just get salt crusting on my arms and legs, no sweat dripping off me or anything.

Em<HR>

The electrolyte capsules are not going to make you sweat....but they are going to replace all that salt you are losing, and if you have actual salt crusting on your skin I would say you are losing a lot of salt. The drinks usually have the salts added in. Gels, not so much. So, if you are using a sports drink you probably do not need to replace the salts with capsules, but if you are just using gels and water, the electrolyte caps are a good idea.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by zoo66:
The drinks usually have the salts added in. Gels, not so much.

<HR>

There are some gels out there that have plenty of sodium, and some drinks out there that don't have plenty of sodium.

The bottom line is, read the label.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by emmygirl:
Thanks for all the info.

Now onto the next step...where do I get powdered gatorade and electro. tabs/caps.?
<HR>

Some local specialty running stores sell the powdered gatorade (and other stuff).

If you go to the Gatorade website (and surf to the Endurance formula page), there is a store locator. THe only problem is, it doesn't differentiate between liquid and powdered. Most supermarkets sell the liquid. Not necessarily so for the powdered. But, most supermarkets DO sell the powdered REGULAR Gatorade. It doesn't have HFCS, but it also doesn't have as much sodium.

Perhaps, by the way, you could make your own. It is MUCH cheaper, and tastes pretty darn good. Toss in some more salt if you want.

Here's the recipe.

10 tbs. sugar (5/8 cups or 120 grams)
.75 tsp Morton Lite salt (4.2 grams)
1 package of unsweetened Coolade mix for flavor
Water to make 2 liters

The recipe will give a total of 124 grams of solute which in 2 liters water gives a total of 6.2% concentration. For an 8 oz serving this gives:
14.2 grams carbohydrate (6%)
53 calories
103 mg Sodium
121 mg Potassium


You'll notice that the amount of potassium is quite a bit higher than Gatorade, but the rest is pretty close. If you wanted to reduce the potassium, another option would be to use 1/2 tsp. each of regular salt and the Morton Lite Salt. This would change it to:
104mg sodium
40mg potassium