thump thump thump

i'm a 1:19 half marathon pr guy. i don't take them in halfs. but i used to bonk at 2 hours in marathons, and since taking gels religiously in marathons (every 4 miles) i've set two prs.

but we're all experiments of one. my 2 hour bonking puts me in the small group of marathoners (5% according to noakes) who bonk early. chalk it up to poor liver glycogen storage capacity. you've already read posts from other marathoners who don't need anything during a marathon. they're probably describing their bodies with 100% accuracy.

in general, if you're "average", tigger's advice is probably the most relevent. but in reality, you'll only know the right answer for you after some old fashioned trail and error.

good luck with your trial, here's hoping for little error

I use gels religously.

Sure I could do without them, but mentally I believe they work and increase my performance. They may or may not increase performance in HM, but for a couple of dollars and minimal calories why not?

My last HM in San Jose I used one w/o caffiene at mile 8. I did not turn Kenyan fast from them, but again mentally I believe/d they gave me a boost.

Finally, do what you have done in training.

http://This message has been edited by mrourke (edited Nov-11-2007).

Well I'm a big believer in gels myself. I always take one about 15 to 20 minutes before a half and take another at about 7 miles. People have differring opinions on gels, but they always help keep me from cramping. It could just be mental, but if it is, it is. (1:24:27 PR)

http://This message has been edited by stevielovell (edited Nov-10-2007).

I have no experience other than the fact that my TP and I have started trying the jellybeans/shotblock/ gu's next on our long runs just to see how they do...

TP - feels she needs them after an hour. I chalk a lot of it up to an improper diet and she is starting to wonder the same thing.

I, on the other hand, think they taste like a spoon full of sugar and typically hurt my stomach.

Course we also just hit 10 miles. But my point is that everyone is different and without knowing background about each and every person from their weight to diet to background health it is hard to compare them to you.

I have a feeling I am going to be one the "tough guys" (as termed by previous posters) because as of now even sports drinks taste like a big gulp of sugar and make me feel gross. I'll stick with water for now. But TP seems to be, what I guess a wuss or something, because she is starving and feels drained.

Just like running is individual so is fueling. So please do what you need to do. Take all advice with a grain of salt. And remember you are a "manly man" no matter what you decide!!!

That 2,000 Calories in your muscles won't help you much once the glycogen in your liver (roughly 300 Calories) burns out. It's your brain that needs the help here, not the muscles. Once your brain fatigues, you'll not only be miserable, but your muscles will feel as if they've fatigued. Unlike most of the rest of your body, your brain can burn only two fuels: glucose (from liver or kidney-supplied (much lower supply - designed for starvation conditions) glycogen or diet-supplied sugar) or ketone bodies (from fat burning, though this is a little less efficient).

I think that 1) it depends on your training - athletes used to long distances are able to burn fat and maintain blood sugar more efficiently than newer or shorter distance athletes, 2) it depends on what you're used to and 3) it doesn't hurt (generally).

Unless it makes you nauseous, you really can't go wrong supplying your blood and brain with extra sugar during race conditions. Yeah, you probably won't bonk over 13.1 miles or two hours, but you might feel a heck of a lot better.

I vote for carrying one or two of whatever form of sugar you like with you.

I also like the caffeine boost from Gu or Shot blocks.

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http://This message has been edited by seeericarun (edited Nov-11-2007).

quote:<HR>Originally posted by seeericarun:
That 2,000 Calories in your muscles won't help you much once the glycogen in your liver (roughly 300 Calories) burns out. It's your brain that needs the help here, not the muscles. Once your brain fatigues, you'll not only be miserable, but your muscles will feel as if they've fatigued. Unlike most of the rest of your body, your brain can burn only two fuels: glucose (from liver or kidney-supplied (much lower supply - designed for starvation conditions) glycogen

...
<HR>

Wow, I was totally unaware that humans could only run about 3 miles because of the brain and the liver. I guess all of those excersize physiologists out there are totally wrong. Time for me to take up basket weaving I guess.....


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You were stating that we use the glycogen in the liver first. Is that what these sources say? Because if so, they need to read Pfitz, Daniels and some, but not all of Noakes.

And I was no where near nasty. That is in your head.

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