I usually just drink the kool-ade (i.e. sports drink) that is available at the water stations.

Len

I don't think you have to for a 1/2, but I do at most around the 7 mile mark.  I do a small cup of cool-aid as Len stated at most water stops.  I have never (so far) had the issues I get with marathons, I need to work on the correct fueling for them.

At best you probably have only about 2,000 calories of carbs fuel on reserve.  So in theory for 2 hours you should be okay.  I would take 1 at 5 and 1 around 8.5 or 9 to give your body some time to absord the energy.  Good luck.

I take half a gel about 15 minutes prior to the race,,,,,the other half

around the 6 mile mark and if I feel the need I always carry an extra

but rarely use it......

If your event starts in the morning (most do), you only need to replenish glycogen stores burned during sleep. That is usually a couple hundred calories. Food should be taken 2-3 hours prior to start, which could put you at 4am. Alternatively, take a gel 10 minutes before start with some water. Take it easy on the coffee too far ahead of the race as it is a diuretic and you want to stay hydrated prior to start. Caffeine does not have the same effect while you are running however, For most events up to an hour, no fueling is necessary. If you are a competitive runner (1 -1.5 hrs for a half) you probably are good with sips of water at aid stations. For the rest of us, a gel after the first hour or use of a sports drink (I use HEED as well) will get you to 2+ hours. I usually take two hits of a gel packet a mile or two apart (or at consecutive aid stations with water), and then another about 1:45 -2 hours in (depending on how long I expect to be running). Remember you can't replace what you are burning as your body only can absorb 200-250 calories an hour and you are burning much more than that. Ran a half this past weekend with my wife and we finished under 2:30 (her PR) and that system worked for us.

BT