Please give me some alternatives to GU.
seekingstrengthX2
Posts: 771
Background: 43 year old female...130lbs, give or take...
I ran my first Half last April with a time of 2:15:30 and took no supplements during the race...just water.
I am 68 days out from my first FULL and realize I will need something other than water to make it through.
My race passes out GU: 3 flavors.... strawberry banana, chocolate outrage and vanilla bean. ... at miles 6.6, 13, 17 and 21.
I tried GU once and nearly vomited. It felt like I was trying to swallow a packet of mudd. It was a fruit flavor, I dont remember which one. A few people have told me that they cannot tolerate the fruit ones but handle chocolate fine. I can go find some chocolate and try it and hope they have some when I get to the station.
Lets assume for a minute that I dont like chocolate either. I tried sport beans on my last 2 runs and like them well enough, but found it exhausting to try and chew them up and keep breathing at the same time. I saw someone else mention fruit snacks...even skittles, but it seems the chewing would be difficult there as well.
So: What is your experience? Any viable alternatives? Also, should I use their GU stations as a guideline as to WHEN I need to supplement?
Any advice would be wonderful.
Thanks.
I ran my first Half last April with a time of 2:15:30 and took no supplements during the race...just water.
I am 68 days out from my first FULL and realize I will need something other than water to make it through.
My race passes out GU: 3 flavors.... strawberry banana, chocolate outrage and vanilla bean. ... at miles 6.6, 13, 17 and 21.
I tried GU once and nearly vomited. It felt like I was trying to swallow a packet of mudd. It was a fruit flavor, I dont remember which one. A few people have told me that they cannot tolerate the fruit ones but handle chocolate fine. I can go find some chocolate and try it and hope they have some when I get to the station.
Lets assume for a minute that I dont like chocolate either. I tried sport beans on my last 2 runs and like them well enough, but found it exhausting to try and chew them up and keep breathing at the same time. I saw someone else mention fruit snacks...even skittles, but it seems the chewing would be difficult there as well.
So: What is your experience? Any viable alternatives? Also, should I use their GU stations as a guideline as to WHEN I need to supplement?
Any advice would be wonderful.
Thanks.
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Replies
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I'm generally energy gel averse but Gu makes a peanut butter flavored one that's actually pretty good. That one I can tolerate. I didn't care for chews initially because chewing and breathing at the same time is not pleasant. Then someone told me to bite the chew in half and tuck each in a cheek and let it dissolve. That works pretty well for me now.0
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I don't mind Gu (also a fan of the peanut butter flavour), but it is definitely very thick/pasty. I usually alternate Gu with Honey Stinger gel, which are definitely less thick (but very, very sweet, since they're honey!). I've also tried and liked the Clif gels (can't remember what they're called, but it's Clif brand); they're also less thick than Gu. I definitely prefer the gels over sport beans or chomps/chews... I'm always worried I'm going to choke on something while gasping for air! :laugh:
As for frequency, that's very personal... I worked with an exercise physiologist when training for my marathon, and his suggestion was that I eat one gel with 8 ounces of water every 3 miles (and more water if I was thirsty!). That definitely worked for me, in the sense that I still have yet to make the wall's acquaintance... but I can tell you that's *way* more than many people on these boards take in, so I suppose it's very much a personal thing! The main thing is to train like you race, so you can see how your tummy will react to any of these options.
Happy training!!!! :flowerforyou:0 -
I like the beans or the chomps. But both require chewing which is sounds like you do not like. I used to train with a guy who was an olympian back in the 70's (no, I am not tat fast, he went slow for me
). he says back then they used defizzed Pepsi, essentially sugar water. If you have a way to carry fluids maybe this can be something to try 0 -
the powerade brand makes gels that are more liquid, less gooey. The flavors arent bad either. You might like those.0
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I use the clif gels and like them so much more than GU. they aren't as thick and sweet jesus, the vanilla is heavenly. I want to eat them for dessert, LOL...
I've done some reading on how often to use them for endurance activities and the prevailing frame of mind right now is every 30-45 mins. I'm training to use them according to when the water stops will be at my marathon. So miles 3,7,11, etc... because you're supposed to take them with water so figured might as well train like I'm at the marathon so there are fewer surprises0 -
Thank you so much for your reponses. I am one of the few people on earth that doesnt love chocolate, but I do like peanut butter. I will try to find some of those and see how they do. I have a belt that I dont mind wearing so I can carry my own product if need be. If I dont like those I will try the other brands as well. Thank you!0
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i like the gu chomps too, but i also make a point of walking through the water stations. that way, when i see the station in the distance i can get out my chomps and start chewing, then get the water and chug them both down. i started off on leppin gels- you may like them- there's definitely no chewing required. they're just grim. i also time them so that i run with nothing for the 1st 10k, then approx every 30-45 mins i'll have 2 chomps (or 1 gel).
good luck!
ETA i don't actually like the gu chomps. they are simply the best option i've tried. for me it's the texture that's the issue and not the flavour.. maybe you should go to a shop and buy a few different types and trial them on your runs, and just see what suits you best. my firends take jelly babies- i wish i'd known they were good enough before i spent a small fortune on cack flavoured 'sports' lollies and gels. now they're part of my routines and i'm too scared that the other stuff won't work as well because i struggle enough as it is!0 -
Thank you. I did try regulr kids fruit snacks but still had trouble breathing and chewing at the same time. Unfortunately, I need to try and jog through the water stops. I have a knee issue and if I stop I often cant get going again. Its fine as long as I am moving. Lol! I am hoping one of the GU type products works!0
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gummi bears0
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ok, so then maybe you should look into gels or those honey gel thingies that i've heard people talk about. good luck with those. look for any brand of gel that's not leppin. monkey bum would taste better than a leppin gel! but it's easier to consume if you can't chew, and you don't really need water to glug it down. they can be awkward to open with your teeth, but it's not a major issue- just a minor inconvenience.0
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Someone mentioned Rev Honey U-tubes on another thread but I have never tried them. I like the stinger waffles and sport beans, but both require chewing. Trader Joe's makes some fruit crushers that may be worth a try...0
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I bought a few of the waffles the other day and am going to try them. Seems they'd be easier to chew than beans. The beans/gummy bears/fruit snacks also get stuck in my teeth! :-)0
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I don't like gu either - same want to vomit reaction. And also have trouble breathing and chewing at the same time
I like the Gatorade G Series Pro - Carb Energy Chews. I get them at my local run shop. I like them as they are softer than some of the other chews much easier to get down and the have a decent amount of sodium in them. I do cut off the non perforated end before I start on each packet I need and get two out that end and then I can get the other end open easily enough to get two out that end. That will make sense to you if you try these. I try to get thru three 4-packs during a marathon.0
