Gels
HappyRunner34
Posts: 394 Member
Hi,
I've had a lot of success taking gels every mile on my long runs. I know many purists say that you cant "gel" your way to fitness and I agree, but my stomach loves them and I can feel the kick every time and although my times are stagnant, I feel great!
Anyone else?:happy:
I've had a lot of success taking gels every mile on my long runs. I know many purists say that you cant "gel" your way to fitness and I agree, but my stomach loves them and I can feel the kick every time and although my times are stagnant, I feel great!
Anyone else?:happy:
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Replies
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I am not much of a gel person...though I have a few that I do like. With gels, since they are such a huge dose of carbs in my stomach, I tend to take them every 45 minutes or so.
However, with the gummies I usually pop 2 every even mile.0 -
That sounds just about right to me... that gives you ~0.75 miles to eat a couple chews and drink a Coke, in case you need more carbs. Do you do this during the work day, too, or just on the long runs?0
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Now that I've found one I like and doesn't give me GI issues, Im way happy with VFuel. but, I only use them every 45 min or so, or if I'm hungry, and only during long races. I don't use them that frequently during training runs, if at all, or during short races. (half marathon or shorter) I do love the burst of energy!0
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Lol is this for real? I NEVER use gels, shots or anything. Just gaterade or other electro light drinks.. Running my first 50k this weekend, plan on eating nothing. I think the most "gels" I've had was during my first marathon I had 2.0
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During beyond- the-marathon distances people will need continued glycogen, if not GUs then something. They usually have boiled potatoes, cookies, fruit, and other such food. Ultra runners can often eat just about anything. Also cravings for somethings and dislike for other things become more prominent. I always like watermelon, bananas, oranges and apples. Fig newtons and peanut butter sandwiches are at some races.0
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I don't use them in training at all. If you continue to introduce carbs that are easy to process, the body will continue to use them first and never become more efficient at using fat stores for energy.0
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I hope you're not serious about a gel every mile. That would probably start being painful after 8 or 9 miles. For nearly every runner, 1 gel every 30 minutes is about the max they can actually metabolize.
Victoria, you will probably need to eat more than just gatorade if you try to do a 100-miler. As NorthCountryDreamer says , you will need to take in some solid foods.0 -
Victoria, you will probably need to eat more than just gatorade if you try to do a 100-miler. As NorthCountryDreamer says , you will need to take in some solid foods.
There goes my dream of running fasted for 100 milers :P haha I know.. I will probably have to start eating even for my 50 :-/ but I definately will not be choosing gels as my food of choice
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A gel ever mile must be a typo. Those things are 100 calories a pack.I've had a lot of success taking gels every mile on my long runs.
I would puke if I ate one every mile.0 -
Victoria take a look at this: http://www.skratchlabs.com/collections/food/products/feed-zone-portables
Very good alternatives to gels.0 -
That seems like a lot of gel!! I personally like them for long runs. But I have a third of a gel after one hour of running (~5 miles) and then the other third after thirty minutes and the other third after thirty minutes, etc. I have wonky blood sugar though so I have to have something more than just water or electrolyte drinks.0
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Gels don't agree with me. I prefer the Stinger gummies or Power Bar gummies. Even then, I try to limit when I use them now that I know I can tolerate them.
Sometimes I can swing 15 miles without the need for anything but water. On my last 20 mile training run I started to feel pretty hungry by mile 8 so I had 3 power bar gummies. I had another 3 at mile 12 and 2 more at mile 18.
I couldn't imagine eating something every mile.0 -
Victoria take a look at this: http://www.skratchlabs.com/collections/food/products/feed-zone-portables
Very good alternatives to gels.
Oh yum!!! Those look really good0 -
EVERY mile? I can't imagine how much you spend on gels then!
I usually have a chew-gummy thing every 2-3 miles starting between mile 3 and 5. Just enough to gimme a bit of a boost near the end of the long run when I'm tired. If I tried to eat something every mile, I'd puke!0 -
Victoria take a look at this: http://www.skratchlabs.com/collections/food/products/feed-zone-portables
Very good alternatives to gels.
OMG - LOVE LOVE LOVE Feed Zone Portables!
I have made a handful of recipes out of this and they are pretty awesome and delicious and they "stay together" in my pack. YUM! I have some of the black bean mole pies in my freezer.
The kids like to take them for field hockey as well.
I can't stand gels. Cannot. You absolutely can run ultras on completely solid food. Cookies are good. Twizzlers are good. Donuts are good. There's some skill involved in learning to eat and digest solid food, but you can pick it up. Your "guts" have a nervous system that is capable of some small amount of learning, and you just basically need to slowly teach your gut that yes, even though we are running, don't shut the works down because a pizza is coming.0 -
I have the Feed Zone Portables book. Another vote for it - I really like the recipes. I prefer to fuel as naturally as possible, but for my long runs I do use oranges, bananas and honey stinger gels or chews. I usually stick to taking in a food or gel every 4.5 - 5 miles for the long runs. I can generally run about 12 miles with just water. Half marathons I will have one gel for a little extra boost in the last 5 miles.0
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I'll take Clif Gels (the only gels I like) on long road runs (starting around mile 8ish, then every 45 minutes or so), but prefer more solid food on trails runs such as gummies, candy (snickers are good), and even saltine crackers. I've found that since I'm mixing walking in with running on trails, I don't have any issues eating solid food.0
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I have a little mini collection of gels that I've grabbed during races but I don't use them. For my early morning runs I like to run fasted. I've never felt a need for them when running a half marathon although now that I think of it, it might help. I want to finish a half in two hours or less. Of course when running longer than a half marathon I think you should be eating something. The one thing that turns me off running a full marathon is that I know I would run of out gas. Meaning I'd have to stop and eat something just to continue or have something I could pop in like the gels and gummies I've been hearing about.
Out of curiosity...Is it possible to run a full marathon without any gels, gummies, food, etc.?0 -
Out of curiosity...Is it possible to run a full marathon without any gels, gummies, food, etc.?
Depends on how long you'll take to finish, but yes, it certainly is possible.0 -
Meaning I'd have to stop and eat something
No, you run and eat at the same time.
But they used to do marathons with no calories and no water even, back in the olden days! Or they'd take in calories in the form of flat coca cola (still good).0 -
Out of curiosity...Is it possible to run a full marathon without any gels, gummies, food, etc.?
Depends on how long you'll take to finish, but yes, it certainly is possible.
*Waves hands in air* yes!!!!
I've done it 3 times now... On Saturday I will do it again only be going 31 miles. I do have gaterade which is viewed as "fuel".. But I recently raced a 30k without anything just water & felt fantastic. I'm positive I could do it in a full marathon. You most definately do not NEED it. It's amazing what the human body can do!0 -
Of course when running longer than a half marathon I think you should be eating something. The one thing that turns me off running a full marathon is that I know I would run of out gas. Meaning I'd have to stop and eat something just to continue or have something I could pop in like the gels and gummies I've been hearing about.
Run out of gas? :-( I'm not quiet sure I understand. I It doesn't just "run out of gas" if you run for more than 2 hours without eating. If you are having a hard time running between 10-20 miles, it's less likely to be a lack of endurance than a lack of fuel. Your body will adjust accordingly. Putting food in your body when running 2-3 hours isn't some "magic ticket" to be able to keep going. If it works are a placebo for you & help you mentally feel better than do it... But if you are concerned about having to "stop and eat" while running then don't. You don't need to worry about it so much at the marathon & below distance.
I've never seen Ryan hall or shaleen stop & eat mid marathon. It's just a product that has been marketed to runners as something you "need" in order to complete a marathon. It's not. You don't need it.
My 3 best marathon times were without "eating" anything. 3:43, 3:27, 3:31.
My fiancé has ran a 2:46 and he insists on having 3 gels.. Whatever floats his boat.. I know he's a head case- it's all in his head. He even admits it. He says "hey whatever helps- even if it's in my head"0 -
May I make note of a few things however.
Just going out and running a marathon or even a long run and never have trained properly, will create havoc and you won't enjoy the race as much. Maybe you can survive a marathon without gu or gels but do you really want to do that to yourself? As Carson already pointed out, your long slow runs during the training phases should be fasted to train the body to get used to using fat stores during long distances instead of relying on your intake during the run. It's a process that your body develops during months of training. It also stimulates glycogen storage. So the longer you train fasted, in due time, the more glycogen you can store. Which means, the longer you can run without "bonking".
Gels, Gatorade, Gu, ect are all meant to supplement and replace *some* of the glycogen lost during a run. Your body cannot replace all that you loose during a run (just a small amount), because your body cannot metabolize the calories you eat fast enough during the run. Instead, you have to train the body to rely on fat stores. See item above.
How much can the body metabolize? here are some facts taken from RW Big Book of Marathon and Half Marathon Training. before a race, you can only metabolize 600 calories 3 hours prior to your run/race. Or, 200 calories an hour before your run/race. During the race, your body can only metabolize 100 calories every 45 minutes. So if you are fully carbed up before the race, then start taking a gel or gu, *or* 100 cals of Gatorade about 30 minutes in, then there after every 45 minutes.0 -
I totally didn't mean to take over the thread but appreciate all the comments and information given regarding my question. I'm toying with the idea of running a full marathon some time next year and this feedback is very helpful.
Thanks!!0 -
So, ooops, yes so I meant every 3 to 4 miles on a long run. Interesting though how many different ways there are to train and nourish the body as you tear it apart running distance. Always my favourite conclusion: even though we all share a basic physiology, there are so many differences in our systems and conditions, that there is clearly not one ultimate best way to run. Survey the buffet of training, nutrition, hydration and related and try and choose the ones that work for you best as an individual. Love the learning and best of luck to you all for continued success and fulfillment in your running!0
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I know I run faster when fueling, but I do try and do fuel only with certain types of training runs (esp those where I am simulating a race or running a fast sub 7 min finish miles). I do a gel or other 100 calorie easy digestible food at the start line of a race and then take in 40-60 carbs per hour thereafter with a mixture of a gel flask (gels mixed in water) and whatever sports drink.
I have experimented with my long runs LSD, fast finish long runs, and progression runs with various amounts of fueling and this is just what works best for me for my best performance.
I have only recently started taking in some carbs during speed workouts. That, too, has improved my times significantly during those sessions. I try to offset that by doing no fuel for all other workouts in the week, even when they are 75min+.0 -
I average a gel an hour or so. I have switched over to the huma gels now though.0
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During training for my first full, next weekend by the way, I ran 14,15,17,18,19 all with water and a few sport jelly beans! At the end of 19 I was so nauseas and couldn't run another step I knew I needed some more fuel! I ran my 20 with gels, every 5 miles and I felt fantastic afterwards! So I suppose I could finish a marathon without it, but I imagine I would be hating life and my finish time would suffer!0
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I usually only fuel up for runs > 10 miles but starting this training cycle I may incorporate some of the wisdom in Fitzgerald's nutrition book for the Half.
Insofar as the idea of that running in a fasted state can "train" the body to burn fat instead of CHO, I've read that in a variety of sites but never seen a link to a study that discusses that.
Can anyone provide a citation or a link?0
