57 Replies
Last post:
Mar 28, 2008 4:24 PM by
Lauren Loves Tasty Cakes...
1,242 posts since
Nov 1, 2007
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
I used to do a GU gel every hour or so and water or gatorade (3-4oz) about every 30 mins. Now I just take a gel, either GU or Powergel, every hour and about half way through my run I'll down half a snickers marathon bar, I like them. I also just drink lots of water and some gatorade before my runs and maybe half a snickers marathon bar about 30 mins before my runs.
3,124 posts since
Jan 18, 2008
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
Karen, I want to know if you and Tekno are sharing a dog.
523 posts since
Aug 28, 2007
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
Ha! OK, Tekno, I'm not sure from the picture what kind of pup that is. Jack is a 108 lb. yellow lab. he is my very ferocious watch dog! He follows me around like my shadow. I sleep well at night knowing he is on guard. The occasional possum or raccoon that wanders into my yard is quickly scared away. (And the HOA inspectors, but that is another thread!)
3,124 posts since
Jan 18, 2008
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
It's worked for me so I'm scared to change it: Clif bar 1/2 hour before I leave, then powerbar gels every 45-60 min. Always carry water for anything over 10. Come home and make a protein shake and have an ice bath. It's my ritual. On shorter midweek runs if I come home and haven't eaten in a few hours, I'll have sportsbeans and they always rock... I never get tired when I've had them, I can usually feel them kick in 20 min into my run which is great when you're finishing off 3-5 miles to get an extra boost then. Last year I found out about Succeed caps too late in the game to figure out if and how they should fit in, but I plan to play around with them a bit this round.
Having been at this for a few years, I've tried most of what's out there, including the Snickers which worked pretty well. So making changes doesn't bother me. BUT: Always try new things on a training run, not in a race. The Snickers surprised me because they are relatively high in fat, but didn't bother my stomach.
2,098 posts since
Dec 15, 2007
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
> During the Richmond marathon last year they actually had two stations that had Real Coke! I was in heaven...I think it helped me PR and BQ!
Charlie I had a beer and a coke at the stop that had it. I think it was a hasher ran unofficial stop. A bit of trivia. Early on in American marathoning (okay the 60's-70's) they used soda as energy replacements. They would defizz the soda and try and get it down to more syrup like. Charlie we may have been drinking soda together!
On to serious business now. I usually do not use anything other then accelerade and mostly all water for long runs(up to 20 miles) but will use on average 3 accelgels or gus per race. It works well for me and is really all I have found myself needing recently. For what it is worth.
jimmy
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591 posts since
Jan 21, 2008
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
Hey Jimmy...there were two stops called Junk Food stops...one around 16 miles and the other at about 22... where you could get gummy bears, cookies and the like with Coke which was separate from the Hash House Harriers stop which had the beer. I didn't take any beer last year but the year before...on my very first marathon when it was hot and I wasn't doing too well...I took two cups of beer from them! 
2,188 posts since
Jan 19, 2008
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
Vanilla Bean Gu for me. Occassionally a Snickers marathon bar if I'm in the mood. The Gu tastes like cake frosting and that's fine by me every 5 miles or so. For me, it makes a difference if I've had a light meal in the morning. If I eat a little more, I need less Gu while I run. I've tried Clif Shots ... too grainy. I've tried Clif Shot Bloks ... um, yuck. I've tried the PowerGels... not so much. I've tried other Gu's too but Vanilla Bean just seems to work.
After a long run. . . FIVE GUYS and a beer.
1,242 posts since
Nov 1, 2007
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
I don't know why, but I can't do regular carbonated drinks, unless they have liquor of course....:) But seriously, on Easter Sunday I drank coke and sprite and I felt so full all day long. I just can't do them for some reason. I can do diet kinds, but not regular.
2,128 posts since
Aug 21, 2007
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
Ditto, Jesus. I can't drink regular sodas. And I only drink water with meals. Once in a while, diet Coke is good with pizza or a burger/fries. I only drink sodas with lots of bourbon in them.
777 posts since
Jan 19, 2008
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
Accel Gel vanilla for me on anything over 10 miles. For long runs I'll do one every 5 miles, starting at 5. I'm with JerryX, I feel like I need the fuel or I'll bonk. I often feel like I've been re-energized a few minutes after taking a gel. I usually drink water on the long runs. Maybe Len's right, if I switched to Gatorade maybe I wouldn't need the gels so much.
Fruit, coke, burgers, fries, bagels, pizza -- if I can get it during a race I'll take it!
(um, but I don't really like Snickers. Shhh!!!)
591 posts since
Jan 21, 2008
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
Pizza!...Yeah! How could I forget Pizza! I love the races that give out pizza at the end!
605 posts since
Jan 19, 2008
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
Definitely Snickers on a very long run. I also take ClifShots b/c that's what they have on course at the MCM. I also like the Clifbloks for when I get those hunger pangs. I've tried the sports beans but they are really sour. I bring along water and Powerade also. Oh and can't forget salt packets. I usually will down a packet at around mile 13 and 20 for sodium.
Last year, I really enjoyed the Five Guy's burger. I won't be doing that this year. I plan on watching the diet sorta Ok...maybe I'll just have it once. I can't wait to start training soon. 
181 posts since
Oct 22, 2007
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
power gel strawberry banana, and enlyten strips!!
308 posts since
Nov 21, 2007
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
Karen, I want to know if you and Tekno are sharing a dog.
Yeah we have split custody! No my doggie is a shelter mutt dog. He's half terrier and half blue heeler (aka Austrialian cattle dog) and about 40 pounds - comes up to about knee height. He's a hoot. I have a little stratch on my nose today from wrestling with him last night. He will play ball all day long until he collapses but can't hang with me for a run!!
308 posts since
Nov 21, 2007
Re: Energy gels, bars, etc
So Nita had it right last night when she said this topic would give tons of responses. Interesting to hear everyone's personal preference. I'm thinking I need to find something different than GU. During MCM last year I had major upset stomach around Mile 19 and then during the Shamrock Half I had stomach upset after just eating one. I think I may give Gatorade or Powerade or something similar another try. I just felt thirsty in the past when I drank only Gatorade. What about Cytomax and the other drink mixes? I guess they are similar to Gatorade.
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