Eating On the Run

runzalot81

I pack a snack for my training runs over 6 miles. Currently, I use Power Bar Energy Blasts. They're like gummies with gel on the inside. They seem to do the trick.

What do you use?

jacksonpt

Clif shot blox
Clif or Gu gels
Rice crispy treats (seriously... awesome for quick energy)

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Abbygrlbff

I use those Power Bar energy gels and the Advocare hydration gels. Love them both!

Elzecat

I like Clif Shot Bloks but find Powerbar gels easier to take and digest during a run. I have a friend who does pieces of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches--haven't tried that yet but sounds like a tasty idea

I also usually bring Gatorade G2 and water on my fuel belt.

egotkowski

Big fan of Sports Beans made by Jelly Belly, you can get them at REI...those things are incredible.

wbgolden

I love the Honey Stinger waffles.

Plus another vote for sport beans. They're super convenient, not sticky, taste great!

wbgolden

and a double post lol

nuttyfamily

Honey Stinger Waffles

Swedish Fish

rprussell2004

Rice crispy treats (seriously... awesome for quick energy)

I think you could have stopped at "seriously... awesome"

:drinker:

BerryH

SIS GO gels, but after a few hours I get sick of the sweet taste and pop some pretzels in my belt.

CarsonRuns

For runs up to 3 hours, nothing.

I only use gels to practice for races. I will do a long run with 2 gels, maybe twice during the marathon training cycle just to make sure they don't upset my stomach. Otherwise, I prescribe to deprivation training. I want my body to be as efficient as possible at using the energy stores it already contains. That way, when I introduce a gel during the race, it's actually going to provide a boost as it's unexpected.

runzalot81

I don't have a belt. I stuff my snack in the back of my sports bra and carry a bottle of Propel in hand LMAO

I tried energy gel once. Tasted like barf but I had to eat it anyway because I had nothing else bleh

runzalot81

For runs up to 3 hours, nothing.

I only use gels to practice for races. I will do a long run with 2 gels, maybe twice during the marathon training cycle just to make sure they don't upset my stomach. Otherwise, I prescribe to deprivation training. I want my body to be as efficient as possible at using the energy stores it already contains. That way, when I introduce a gel during the race, it's actually going to provide a boost as it's unexpected.

That's a really good point about teaching your body to be proficient. I think I'm too wimpy lol Also, it's hot and humid 10 months a year here in the Houston area and I just get so depleted so quickly after 4 miles. I remember a training run on Oct 26 two years ago and it was still in the low 90s. I said a lot of bad words. It sucked.

I do get better at training in the heat every year. But I'm still too wimpy for that deprivation stuff

jacksonpt

For runs up to 3 hours, nothing.

I only use gels to practice for races. I will do a long run with 2 gels, maybe twice during the marathon training cycle just to make sure they don't upset my stomach. Otherwise, I prescribe to deprivation training. I want my body to be as efficient as possible at using the energy stores it already contains. That way, when I introduce a gel during the race, it's actually going to provide a boost as it's unexpected.

I'm also a fan of training your body for the worst (for lack of a better phrase) - not just with calorie deprivation, but also things like weather conditions, terrain, etc.

BrianSharpe

I make my own homemade "gel" out of honey & molasses - carbs, potassium, sodium , all natural and about $1 for a gel flask (enough for 2 long Sunday runs). When I was buying commercially prepared gels I used Clif Shots (raspberry......like eating dessert!)

meerkat70

I've settled on carrying a bottle of high5 endurance drink, on any run over 10 miles. This seems to do for me for both my liquid and fuel needs - works ok.

I find my stomach upsets too easily for most of the food type things. And I do struggle with just water. This seems to be a good compromise that gets me round my longer runs quite comfortably.

runfatmanrun

A little baggie with raisins and an extra stick of gum.

lporter229

Jelly beans and Jolly Ranchers. I have yet to try the gels. I agree with what others have mentioned about training without fuel, but I also would not eat something during a race that I hadn't tested in advance. I plan to buy some gels on my next trip past the running store.

IronSmasher

Chicken madras with garlic keema naan and poppadoms.
Spaghetti Bolognese

If I'm wearing white I just go without. Learned that the hard way.

ccruns920

If I'm going to be out for over an hour, I bring something (I'm sure deprivation training is the best, but I get all crabby after an hour and need something to look forward to, at the very least:). I had a positive experience with honey stingers on my 10-miler this weekend. I also like the sport beans because they don't get sticky. I have a very sensitive stomach and just the thought of consuming any of those coffee or chocolate-flavored gel oozy things worries me!

RunningWithoutAWatch

I do not take any food with me on my runs. My longest is maybe 7 or 8 miles. I eat a slice of my homemade banana bread. I have the recipe on my blog. I eat a piece of this right before I head out for my run. This provides enough fuel to keep me going for 60-90 minutes.

http://www.runningwithoutawatch.com/2012/07/banana-bread.html

Enjoy!!!

Jay

brandyk77

Clif shot blox
Clif or Gu gels
Rice crispy treats (seriously... awesome for quick energy)

.

wow - i've never thought of rice crispy treats but they totally would be awesome - i am a wee bit obsessed with them.

In regards to what I eat, normally nothing. If it is hot, i'll take some gatorade on in addition to water. For marathon training, i will test out some gummy types of stuff but this will only be during 16-20 milers.

It is all about what you train your body to do. I just ran my best HM ever taking in nothing but water during the entire race - add on 1.6 mile warm up and a mile cool down. HOWEVER, I fuel properly the night before and that morning.

brandyk77

I've settled on carrying a bottle of high5 endurance drink, on any run over 10 miles. This seems to do for me for both my liquid and fuel needs - works ok.

I find my stomach upsets too easily for most of the food type things. And I do struggle with just water. This seems to be a good compromise that gets me round my longer runs quite comfortably.

I have a friend who has similar issues and she uses something called Perpetuem. She would get sick taking on anything during a race, even water. She now uses this stuff exclusively.

http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/perpetuem.pp.html

jacksonpt

For people who have a hard time going more than an hour without something...

Make sure you are properly hydrated before you go out. In typical conditions (whatever typical is for you), most people should be able to go 60-90 minutes without much trouble. If you're having trouble, it may have more to do what what you're eating/drinking BEFORE you run, than what you have during your run.

All this can get a little skewed though when you change conditions. If you're used to running on flat ground when its 75 outside, your body may respond very differently on hills or warmer temps, etc.

jacksonpt

I've settled on carrying a bottle of high5 endurance drink, on any run over 10 miles. This seems to do for me for both my liquid and fuel needs - works ok.

I find my stomach upsets too easily for most of the food type things. And I do struggle with just water. This seems to be a good compromise that gets me round my longer runs quite comfortably.

I have a friend who has similar issues and she uses something called Perpetuem. She would get sick taking on anything during a race, even water. She now uses this stuff exclusively.

http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/perpetuem.pp.html

My big race this summer had Hammer's Heed on course, which I really liked. During intense effort (i.e. race conditions), I have a hard time stomaching much of anything, but Heed seems to be pretty easy to absorb.

wolfchild59

I use Clif Shot Bloks. Mostly because I got a pack of them free in the goodie bag of one of the very first runs I ever did and I threw them in my cabinet until I got my distance up long enough to justify needing them. They worked with no stomach upset, so that's just what I've stuck with.

I only take them on runs over eight miles or so, but the last two-three long runs before a half I don't take anything for similar reasons mentioned above, I want to get a few runs without so that when I take them during, it has more impact.

kylTKe

I just stop at a convenience store and choose on the spot. It's nicer than carrying a bunch of food and extra water with you.