Question for experienced half/marathoners

[FireDancer]

Age really sucks - but I guess it's 1000% better than the alternative

When I was turning 30 a lot of people would ask how I feel about it and my response was "It feels better than dying at 29".

 

[johde]

Did you start taking them at Mile 1? It says every mile, so I was wondering if you started at mile 1.

Also, I ran my first 5K yesterday and really saw that I can't depend on the course. It was high 90's (South Florida) and HIGH humidity - rain storms all around. I am used to carrying water with me and I didn't for the race. There were 2 water stops, but were pretty far out, for me. I have seen posts saying that you may need to train for the course but I definitely got it yesterday.

Thanks for all of the advice. Heading to running store today to get a few different gels/blocks to try out.

Michele

I'm trying to remember. I think I waited until mile 2 to start because I wanted to make sure I had some for the end. There are 9 gel blasts to a package. In that race the Gu stop was at mile 9. That being said, as I've done more running I've found I don't need as much. I did my 11 mile long run last week with just water and Gatorade. My best advice would be to experiment to see what works for you.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

For a race, I lay out:

shoes
socks
compression sleeves for my legs
shorts
bra
shirt (sometimes)
hat/headband
roadID
SPIbelt
2 GU's
cash
phone
Garmin
handheld water bottle

 

[rizzobob]

Usually bad events or setbacks are the BEST teachers. We all learn through these setbacks and bad events... hopefully. If you are sipping water at a half mile interval and then try to run a harder pace in a 5k with longer aid station intervals that can be an issue. Note that most races only have water once a mile or longer. As an example, Disney usually spaces aid station out 1.5 miles in the first half of the race then one a mile in the back half.

You may want to understand how to hydrate better. I have a post floating around about how to figure out hydration needs.

Can't speak for Jeremy's fuel plan exactly, but his fueling strategy is more aligned with one product's recommendations than you generally read of on the board. The PowerGel Blast's recommended use is one every 10 minutes of work. If I recall, he walks (? sorry but I think I recall that) a sub 10 minute pace in a half thus one blast a mile. I am also thinking he combined that with a gel every so often in the race; his mentioning of skipping around GU stops.

I am a PowerGel fan.. I think they got the Carb mix right and it works well for me. Of course YMMV. Because of the fact we are all different, You are doing the correct thing and looking at various brands and flavors. Don't give up if the first one you try fails to work.

As far as using them in a 5k... Not sure that they are really required there. You will see runners take a gel just before the gun (me included) but you really do not need a gel during a 5k.

Hi,

I went to the running store and I got the Roctane one, a Gu triple berry (I think) a pack of beans and the vanilla Hammer gel. The guy at the running store said he found the Hammer brand was easier on the stomach. I wanted to get them for my long training runs, not so much the 5K. I start to go up to 8 miles this weekend and wanted to have them to try out. He said people take the beans before they start running. Is this right? I thought you were supposed to wait till later in your run to start taking them. I figure it will take me a few weeks to figure it out which ones work best with one long run a week.

We have been having storms here and the heat just pours off the concrete and when you add in the high temp and especially the high humidity it just feels like someone is sitting on your chest after a bit. I didn't mean to start anything with the water stops. I know that for a 5K, one or two is the norm, but for ME that is not enough. The warm water didn't sit well, either. And while I run regularly with a water bottle, I did not carry it in the race and that was definitely a bad on my part. I am sure it was fine for the 15 year old that finished in 17 minutes, but not for this newer runner who more than doubled his time. He was awesome...

Thanks everyone!

 

[cewait]

Hi,

I went to the running store and I got the Roctane one, a Gu triple berry (I think) a pack of beans and the vanilla Hammer gel. The guy at the running store said he found the Hammer brand was easier on the stomach. I wanted to get them for my long training runs, not so much the 5K. I start to go up to 8 miles this weekend and wanted to have them to try out. He said people take the beans before they start running. Is this right? I thought you were supposed to wait till later in your run to start taking them. I figure it will take me a few weeks to figure it out which ones work best with one long run a week.

We have been having storms here and the heat just pours off the concrete and when you add in the high temp and especially the high humidity it just feels like someone is sitting on your chest after a bit. I didn't mean to start anything with the water stops. I know that for a 5K, one or two is the norm, but for ME that is not enough. The warm water didn't sit well, either. And while I run regularly with a water bottle, I did not carry it in the race and that was definitely a bad on my part. I am sure it was fine for the 15 year old that finished in 17 minutes, but not for this newer runner who more than doubled his time. He was awesome...

Thanks everyone!

I am betting your salesperson is a runner, maybe a marathoner and longer runner. Little body fat and looks to be in excellent shape. If asked he is probably running a slowish 6:45 due to a nagging injury.....

I say that because a general rule of thumb is that you go solid pre-race and gel during race. The stomach does not process solids well under load and if too concentrated.

Many marathoners will do just the opposite because they get sick of the gel taste after 4-5 hours. So they gel pre-race and during the first part then switch to beans or blocks later.


Headed back to the experiment of one concept...

Practice. You will find a magic solution as you play around. You may be one who simply cannot stomach gel at all or beans or blocks... hopefully you can do well with one form. Practice taking the gels early then changing to beans later if you want of as suggested beans prerace then gels during... or you may find that you can only do one form.

You may also want to practice with something like a cliff bar , Luna Bar or other solid carby food about 30 minute pre-run then try the gels and the other fuels on the run.

Hope this helps - I did n't really answer "is that right?"

 

[joan4mickey]

I love ,love love, the sports beans, but not the ones with caffine. I have been running for 3 1/2 years, will be 50 in a couple of weeks, and run a lot of my miles in 9:30-10 min range. I have some body fat, but not too much...sort of an average middle aged lady. I am NOT an expert and have only run a few half marathons.

I love the beans for runs of longer than 8 miles. I usually start eating them between mile 4 and 6. I take two to start and then 1 or 2 every miles. I think they keep my mind occupied, like more of a diversion, and also serve as a treat to look forward to each mile. I like to smash them on the roof of my mouth and savor them. I also like to take a swig of water after it is gone and love my hand held 12oz amphipod. It has a handy little pouch to store my beans.

 

[rizzobob]

I love ,love love, the sports beans, but not the ones with caffine. I have been running for 3 1/2 years, will be 50 in a couple of weeks, and run a lot of my miles in 9:30-10 min range. I have some body fat, but not too much...sort of an average middle aged lady. I am NOT an expert and have only run a few half marathons.

I love the beans for runs of longer than 8 miles. I usually start eating them between mile 4 and 6. I take two to start and then 1 or 2 every miles. I think they keep my mind occupied, like more of a diversion, and also serve as a treat to look forward to each mile. I like to smash them on the roof of my mouth and savor them. I also like to take a swig of water after it is gone and love my hand held 12oz amphipod. It has a handy little pouch to store my beans.

Thanks Joan! I was at the running store today looking at all of the "water holders" and was a little overwhelmed with the amphipods an the fuel belts and all of the other brands. Will check out yours. You don't get tired of holding it for halfs...??

Michele

 

[joan4mickey]

You don't get tired of holding it for halfs...??

I don"t carry it at an event, but just take the water when I go by a hydration station. I have carried it for over 10 miles...it straps on your hand so you don't have to "hold" just hang onto it a bit, and I will change hands every couple of miles. I like the 12oz as it isn't to heavy..they have a larger one and Nathan has a couple different size bottles with hand straps. I have a hydration belt, but it bobs a bit and annoys me.

For an event, I will wear my SPIbelt...love it too. It is small and fits beans or gel if you prefer that and a small phone or personal item.

 

[OregonGirl]

Joan - You don't sound like an average, middle aged lady! Already a few half-marathons after 3.5 years and an average 10 minute per mile pace? YOU ROCK!!!

Michele - Great questions and this has been a great thread. I don't eat or drink anything at all at least 4 hours before running because I have a sensitive stomach, but I am also getting worn out around mile 7 of my longer runs and so am going to play with beans. For some reason, I just dont like the idea of gel. Water, unless I really feel dehydrated, is out. I can literally feel it sloshing in my stomach. Ew.

I know you are running the W&D and your training sounds really similar to mine, I think we have been progressing "parallely" over the last several months and it would be very cool to find each other before the race for a hug.

Coach - some great thoughts and advice, as always. Thanks!

- Carey