RUNNERS - ? re: gels and water packs

E

elaineyue

Cathlete
For all of you runners, what kind of gels do you use on your runs? Which taste the best and aren't that expensive?

Also, for water packs that are secured around the waist, are they bulky and annoying to carry on runs? Do they bounce too much?

I'm training for a marathon in October, and unfortunately, I'm finding all these other "necessary" things to spend money on. Shoes are definitely not the only investment!
 
Hi Elaine, I have tried lots of gels, sometimes you can get samples at running stores and try them on your long runs to see which ones you like. My latest preference is Accelerade gel and sport drink as it has a bit of protein besides the carbs. I get mine usually from this site www.personalbestnutrition.com unless I can find it local. As far as water packs, I don't know if you mean hydration packs or not so I use a pack that holds one water bottle and another pouch. I also use a bottle handgrip for an extra bottle especially in the 50K runs I do. Normally it does not bother me a bit. Something else you have to try on a long run.The more marathons you run the more necessary things you will find that you need....:)...Carole
 
I used GU gel and sports drink. I like both a lot and you can get them on sale if you surf the internet every so often. In the stores, you sometimes see them for as much as $1.50 per packet but on the net, I have gotten them (in bulk and on sale) for under a $1.00 each. I also came upon their energy drink because it was a freebie with one of my gel orders.
 
I use a water bottle belt and it has never bothered me. I use e-gels and e-fuel which you can buy from cranksports.com they taste great and are cheaper if you bud direct from crank sports. When I order from them I usually receive it in 2 days.

Josie
 
Hey there!! I haven't used these gels or water packs yet. Hmmm. Good luck with your training! I'm training for the Chicago Marathon in October too! Is that the same one you are training for?

Good luck!!!!!!!! :)
 
Dani....I didn't know you were planning on a marathon this fall???...Way to go girl!!....see all the things you can look forward too...:)...Carole
 
>Dani....I didn't know you were planning on a marathon this
>fall???...Way to go girl!!....see all the things you can look
>forward too...:)...Carole

Thanks so much Carole!! Yes! I never thought I'd ever run one! I can't believe it. I ran a 5K race this past Sunday (my second race after the 8K one I ran a couple weeks ago) and ran almost 30 seconds a minute faster pace than my first race. :7 I went from 10:57 pace to 10:33. I'm improving little by little!

My friend talked me into signing up for the full marathon in October.
I'm also signed up for a 10 mile race on May 28th. The finish is at the 50 Yard line of Soldier Field! (where the Chicago Bears play) :)

I'm really enjoying this!



:7
 
Hey all, thanks for responding! I will definitely test out various types of gels/drinks. Especially ones that don't give me stomach cramps, which happens a lot. I try diluting my Gatorade with water, which helps, but then I feel as if I'm not consuming enough carbs for fuel. Gels will probably help in that department.

Dani, the Chicago Marathon is a big one! I'm running the Nike Marathon in San Francisco. I've never even raced before! I do have a 10k scheduled in July, though. The idea of a marathon is intimidating, but I can really brag about it after I finish! :) Good luck with your training!

Elaine
 
How far should you run before you need the gels and stuff? Is that for marathons and longer only?

Dani, awesome job on signing up for a Marathon in the fall!!!! Wow, how inspiring. Great job on your 5K also. I am running a 5K on April 30th. It's on the beach again. I am using Hal Higdon's training program for the 15K to train for a 15K in my town in November. If I could just lose some fat from these thunder thighs, I could probably run faster!! :) :)

Lori
 
Congrats on training for the Nike marathon in San Francisco. I ran it last year and it kicked my butt. Those hills are brutal. I understand that the course will be different and not as hard this year. But there will have to be hills. I don't think you can have a 26 mile course in SF and not have hills! My advice for training for that particulare marathon is don't shy away from hills, embrace them, conquer them, have fun!!!

The kind of gels made by Cliff Bar give me terrible gastrointestinal troubles.

The Power Bar ones are OK. As are GU. Vanilla GU goes down easy.

I hate carrying the water bottle belt but you gotta do what you gotta do. Fortunately they have aid stations every two miles at the actual marathon so you'll only need it for your long runs!

Again, hats off to you for the incredible challenge you are about to embark on!!

Elaine
 
I am bumping this up so Dani can read my congats to her again!!! Also, Dani if you don't mind me asking, are you following a certain training diet? I am doing well in the working out department, not so hot in the eating department. I think if I lost some weight I would get faster. I find it so difficult to stop eating too many calories. :) :)

Carole, You look fabulous! 50Ks!!!! Wow!! :)

Also, I am still wondering how many miles does it take to start using gel. I am training for a 15k in the fall, does that require energy replacement, or just longer races?


Thanks,
Lori
 
Hi Lori...Thanks for the nice compliment! I don't usually use a gel until I run for 12 miles or more. If the weather gets real hot I might carry water or a sports drink for any distance over 7 miles. A 15K is a good distance to run. I have done a 15K trail run in Oregon almost every year. It is a beautiful course...:)...Carole
 
Thanks Carole. I didn't think I would need gels for this distance.

Did you see the segment on 60 Minutes recently? It was about the SuperMarathons in Death Valley. Very interesting.

Lori
 
I have read about that Death Valley run....brutal! Thanks for the link. Any distance over the 26.2 marathon is considered an Ultra run. I have only ventured into the 50K (31 mile) Ultra distance. I really enjoy them..and as weird as it sound they are easier than marathons (I've done 12 marathons)....:)...Hard to think about running 100 miles though...WOW!!!...:)...Carole
 
>I am bumping this up so Dani can read my congats to her
>again!!! Also, Dani if you don't mind me asking, are you
>following a certain training diet? I am doing well in the
>working out department, not so hot in the eating department.
>I think if I lost some weight I would get faster. I find it
>so difficult to stop eating too many calories. :) :)
>

Thanks Lori!! Thanks so much! :) Congrats to you too!! That's so great! I'm not really following and certain diet. I do eat pasta the day before a race and also will be eating pasta every night 3 days before the marathon.

I'm not cutting out carbs with all this running. I need them!
I'm eating carbs, whole grains, lean protein, veggies and fruit.

Good luck and please keep me posted on your progress. I'd love to hear!

Carole you are my idol!!! :D
 
What I understand about energy gels:

Your glycogen stores are used up after about 1 hour of sustained running. After that your body begins to use your fat stores for energy. It takes a longer time to convert the fat so you run out of steam if you don't refuel (hit the wall). I'd definately use a gel no later than the 1 hour mark and have personally used them earlier. I try to avoid feeling like I'm running out of steam. I can definately tell when I've used the gel. Seems to go right into my blood stream and I feel a bit more energetic.
 
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