I don't. I only use gels for races (and a couple test training runs). I believe in deprivation training. Get the body accustomed to using the fuel it already has stored. Then, come race day, when you introduce that shot of carbs it will actually mean something to the body.

OOOOHhhh...I'm going to try that! :-)

don like Gu or powerstuff like that either. I eat almonds, granola bars or pretzels and I usually eat them during my walk brake.

I am training for my 1st marathon coming up in October and I have been fueling while running with Fig Newtons. I wrap two in a piece of foil togther and put several of those in my belt - usually have them every hour to hour and 15 minutes. Works great for me as the gu's, gels, etc... are not easy on my stomach. Someone else I talked to also suggested mini Twix bars.

Before I started making my own (honey, molasses & a pinch of salt) I used Clif shots (the raspberry tastes like something you'd have for dessert)

Brian, I kind of feel like if he'd take the honey and molasses route, it's a bit more natural. But who am I to judge HIM, when I'm overweight and he's in great shape?!

Personally I started making my own because I'm cheap!:laugh: (and I was getting tired of seeing gel packets littering the running paths - I guess they're too heavy for some runners to carry to the next trash can /rant) It's a fraction of the cost of commercial products but most of them are good quality based on natural ingredients.

I had been using "sport beans" or shot blocks. But they dont sit well in my tummy. I had been doing deprivation type training for a month or so before I thought of something else. Those weeks were fine, but my time had slipped off pace towards the end. So a few weeks ago I tried some dried fruit. First run (12 miles) I took dried cranberries and dried cherries. I only ate about 5 cranberries and 2 cherries at the half way point, and only because my fiance had to stop for a potty break and I was bored, but it seemed to keep me fueled fine. I even picked up my pace the last 3 miles. Of course, it could have been psychological. Last week I had the same thing and it worked fine too. So I am going to try to add dried pineapple and raisins (Im getting bored of cherries) to the cranberries.

Pre-run, I have 2 graham crackers with peanut butter, banana slices, and dried cranberries on top. Total about 400 calories for breakfast with a small variety of food. It stays down fine and helps me get to the end.

And I tried the dried fruit partly because the gels made me sick, but also partly because we had them in the house. I get the walmart brand of them, at about 1.80 per bag (each bag is about 10 run packets), I cant complain with the price! Im cheap too lol.

Yep hubs can do 10 miles in about an hour and 20 minutes and does just fine. But anything over that and he, at the very least, needs water.

I eat Bloks. I like the taste and could eat them as candy. The watermelon sports beans are good too but the bloks are easier for me to eat and pack on long runs.

I can tolerate Gu but prefer the Bloks.

For my marathon I plan on eating 1 Gu, 4-6 bloks and gatorade.

What did people do before the little belts for holding things... Fanny packs? Was deprivation the main training/racing regimen? I'm talking old school training. Fancy new bells and whistles are great, but humans have successfully run long distances longer than we've had disposable pouches of space goo.

A vanilla/chocolate twirl cone dipped in dark chocolate with a sprinkle of sea salt. Okay, I don't carry it with me on my long runs but I do stop off at the truck sometimes.

What did people do before the little belts for holding things... Fanny packs? Was deprivation the main training/racing regimen? I'm talking old school training. Fancy new bells and whistles are great, but humans have successfully run long distances longer than we've had disposable pouches of space goo.

Old school was deprivation training including liquids.........but you weren't seeing 2:03 and 2:04 marathons being run then either.

So is fueling long distance runs mostly helpful for people who are shooting for crazy fast times? Or is it useful for "average joes" looking to finish somewhere between a "not bad" and "before the roads open"? I've never fueled during a run, but I consider myself a very average or below runner. I'm pondering training more for (relative) speed, and wondering if this is worth it. I figure my times right now are still more based on sleep, hydration, miles, and my fitness level than what I consume on the run. Just wondering when that will no longer be the case, and how to tell?

My hubs is running 81/2 to 9 minutes a mile. He can run up to about 10 miles with no water or supplements whatsoever. He does not plan his dinner or anything when he's doing 10 miles or less.

If he's going to run further than that, preparations have to be considered. He has to eat high, simple carb the night before, a high simple carb breakfast, and he needs simple carbohydrates every 5 miles or so to keep his endurance strong enough to run on and on. Last long run was 21 miles and he could have gone longer. He was having the gels every 5 miles and he ran with a camelback filled with gatoraide.

And just to show the other side of the argument:

My last long run was 21 miles. I did it with no fluids and no fuel. I did 2x4miles at 7:25ish pace in the last half (MP) and the overall pace was 8:24 minute per mile. I could have gone longer.

My hubs is running 81/2 to 9 minutes a mile. He can run up to about 10 miles with no water or supplements whatsoever. He does not plan his dinner or anything when he's doing 10 miles or less.

If he's going to run further than that, preparations have to be considered. He has to eat high, simple carb the night before, a high simple carb breakfast, and he needs simple carbohydrates every 5 miles or so to keep his endurance strong enough to run on and on. Last long run was 21 miles and he could have gone longer. He was having the gels every 5 miles and he ran with a camelback filled with gatoraide.

And just to show the other side of the argument:

My last long run was 21 miles. I did it with no fluids and no fuel. I did 2x4miles at 7:25ish pace in the last half (MP) and the overall pace was 8:24 minute per mile. I could have gone longer.

Sigh, I should have guessed the real answer, as usual, is "listen to your body, YMMV". I always forget that Thank you guys for the examples w/times, very good to know.

What did people do before the little belts for holding things... Fanny packs? Was deprivation the main training/racing regimen? I'm talking old school training. Fancy new bells and whistles are great, but humans have successfully run long distances longer than we've had disposable pouches of space goo.

Old school was deprivation training including liquids.........but you weren't seeing 2:03 and 2:04 marathons being run then either.

So is fueling long distance runs mostly helpful for people who are shooting for crazy fast times? Or is it useful for "average joes" looking to finish somewhere between a "not bad" and "before the roads open"? I've never fueled during a run, but I consider myself a very average or below runner. I'm pondering training more for (relative) speed, and wondering if this is worth it. I figure my times right now are still more based on sleep, hydration, miles, and my fitness level than what I consume on the run. Just wondering when that will no longer be the case, and how to tell?

Depends on the distances and time you're running. For 5K and 10K races you have plenty of glycogen stored to see you through. If you're running half marathon or longer distances you'll approach glycogen depletion between 90 minutes and 2 hrs (it varies for everyone - these are just approximations) and risk bonking and that's where using sports drinks and gels comes in. Even average / slower runners (my best half is 2:14:43) stand to benefit form including on-the-run nutrition as part of the program.