The Running Thread - 2016

[camaker]

QOTD: What type of fuel do you take while out for a run? Which is your favorite and which one will you never try again?

I only fuel when I'm running 10+ miles in training as a practice for the main event. When I'm running a half, I usually do a single fuel intake. I know I probably don't really need it, but it makes me feel better for the end of the race.

My current fuels of choice are Honey Stinger Ginsting and Clif Gel Citrus. I also like the Honey Stinger Cherry Cola gummies, but I don't like getting my fingers sticky with them. One of the first fuels I tried were the Honey Stinger waffles. Apparently, I'm just not cut out to chew and run at the same time, so they are right out.

 

[dis_or_dat]

ATTQOTD: I tried sports beans for the first time yesterday in anticipation of next week. Unfortunately, they weren't such a hit with me as others. So I'm sticking with the honey stingers. Like @camaker , I probably don't need them but I'll take any placebo effect! I also really like the saltstick fastchews. Still haven't brought any water with me on any of my runs (they wait for me in the car), but I did use a water fountain on Saturday. On another note, I got some small disposable cups so I can practice running and grabbing/drinking them. I'm going to do it in my backyard so I don't look like a dork.

 

[opusone]

QOTD: What type of fuel do you take while out for a run? Which is your favorite and which one will you never try again?

GU for me. I prefer the strawberry/banana, but will use other flavors as well. This was the first gel I used back in the late 90's when there weren't (m)any choices, but they worked for me, so I've stuck with them.

GU (or the various similar products) are really sticky and difficult for me to work with while running. The flavors and consistency don't bother me for the most part, but being uncoordinated and having a little OCD about not being sticky makes them not ideal.

I'm not a big fan of the stickiness either, but I only take them right before a water stop, try to be careful not to get too much on my fingers, and then I use the last bit of water in my cup to wash off my hands.

 

[ZellyB]

ATTQOTD: I like sports beans as well. I also eat these peanut, cranberry, honey bars and I've done Cliff bars in the past as well. I really don't care for gels and gu. I tried a salted caramel Gu once and spit it out. Blech.

 

[DopeyBadger]

QOTD: What type of fuel do you take while out for a run? Which is your favorite and which one will you never try again?

I use E-Gel. Haven't found a flavor of theirs that I don't like. But my favorites are their two new ones: Raspberry and Watermelon.

During training I only take in fuel when I go beyond 100 minutes or roughly 13 miles minimum. On runs of 13-15 miles I take in one E-Gel at mile 6. On runs of 15-18 miles I take in two E-Gels, one at 6 and one at 12.

During my upcoming marathon (Oct 2nd). The plan will be to take 4 E-Gels in total: 1 15 min prior to start, @ mile 7, @ mile 14, @ mile 21. This strategy will merely serve as a safety net though. The Western Australian carb loading procedure that I'm following the day prior to the race should provide me a sufficient carb storage to complete the marathon without fuel, but I'm not yet ready to make that leap of faith.

Things I have tried in the past:
Powerbar Endurance powder - mixed it while on course by carrying small aliquots of powder, too messy and spilled most of it while trying to do this
GU (Peanut Butter or Chocolate) - didn't like the consistency which was disappointing because I LOVE peanut butter
Raisins - took a large bag worth, fingers got sticky, lots and lots of chewing, and because they're small nearly choked
Raisins and Cherries - took a much larger bag worth, fingers got sticky, lots and lots of chewing, and because they're small nearly choked

 

[JohnRPG]

Weekend long run was 9 miles, though I'd only intended it to be 8. Sunday morning's weather was just too nice to stop. The consequence of this is that as I was looking at running plans for January's LS half, I noticed that I'm basically on track with my long runs to be week 8 or 9 of most training plans. This has me now thinking about doing a half in early October as my first half marathon. I think that'd leave me a lot more confident in my ability to complete LS come January. I don't expect my time to be terrific in October, but I think running it and finishing will leave me a lot less stressed come January.

QOTD: What type of fuel do you take while out for a run? Which is your favorite and which one will you never try again?

I've only run a few runs longer than 7 miles, so I don't have a ton of experience with fueling. I like the GU chocolate, didn't care for the flavor of GU blackberry. I've picked up a handful of different flavors from local shops and I'm going to keep trying them over the next few months.

I really disliked Sports Beans. The idea sounded good, but either I chewed them, and they got caught in my teeth, or I sucked on them, and it felt like I had rocks in my mouth. I don't see going back to those.

 

[LSUlakes]

ATTQOTD: I’ve always been a GU guy. I started on GU Roctane last year and like the extra kick it gives me. I don’t really have a preference on flavor.

RE: Boston – I’m sitting on a BQ minus 3:30 so my window will open next Monday. I’m cautiously optimistic as everything I’m reading has the cutoff very close to the listed standards.

I have a friend with a BQ 1:30ish and he has been following someone's tracking of BQ's and the prediction is looking like a BQ should be enough to get in this year. I would imagine with a 3:30 you should feel confident about getting in. You have a room booked already?

ATTQOTD: I tried sports beans for the first time yesterday in anticipation of next week. Unfortunately, they weren't such a hit with me as others. So I'm sticking with the honey stingers. Like @camaker , I probably don't need them but I'll take any placebo effect! I also really like the saltstick fastchews. Still haven't brought any water with me on any of my runs (they wait for me in the car), but I did use a water fountain on Saturday. On another note, I got some small disposable cups so I can practice running and grabbing/drinking them. I'm going to do it in my backyard so I don't look like a dork.

The practice should be recorded and uploaded to YouTube for the DIS to see or live feed via Facebook.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I just ordered a box of the e-Gels - going to give them a try. I have been wanting to move from Gatorade to water in training, but couldn't because I need the electrolytes during my longer runs, and I don't care for the salt products. Will try the e-Gels with water and see how it goes.

 

[Ariel484]

My local running store sells single packs of various fueling options so that may be worth looking into. When I was deciding what to use, I bought a bunch of singles to try and then decided which one I liked best.

I'll have to look and see what I can find then. Thanks!

I did the same as @Chaitali - just bought single options to try. D-I-C-K's should have a decent selection. I'd also highly recommend trying different flavors in addition to different brand/types...awhile back I decided I liked Gu gels, and I picked up a mint chocolate one to try. No good - it totally made my stomach burn. But I liked the texture and ended up using vanilla Gu gels for awhile.

 

[surfde22]

I just ordered a box of the e-Gels - going to give them a try. I have been wanting to move from Gatorade to water in training, but couldn't because I need the electrolytes during my longer runs, and I don't care for the salt products. Will try the e-Gels with water and see how it goes.

I think you'll be a fan. I definitely like the fact that they contain electrolytes as well. And I'm with @DopeyBadger, that watermelon is definitely a good flavor, haven't tried the raspberry yet, but was a fan of their cherry as well.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

ATTQOTD: I like Sports Beans, Honey Stinger Waffles, and Honey Stinger Chews. I will start to use them in a couple of weeks once my training calls for 8 or so miles.

I really don't like using Gu. I used that for the first couple of half marathon training cycles I did, but realized it upset my stomach.

If I'm out of everything, or just feel like something different I will bring a pack of my kids' fruit snacks on my long runs

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: Currently I am using raw honey. I used it in my last 2 races and it worked well for me. But the reasoning for it was because I was not eating processed sugar and as I have slowly started letting it slip back into my diet, I may just go back to my M&M's and Candy Corn. I cannot stomach Gu's of any kind or brand. I liked the Honey Stinger Waffles but they upset my stomach if I eat too many of them so I don't think they would work for me for my marathon training. I haven't tried any blocks or sport beans yet. :/

 

[Baloo in MI]

ATTQOTD: I pretty much stick with Cliff gels. I am a fan of Citrus, Razz and Chocolate, but also eat (do you eat a gel?) Mocha, Vanilla and Chocolate Cherry. I have not tried too many others. The Clif gels are kind to my stomach and during a huge sale I bought WAY more than I should have and am good on the gel front for at least another year. Hope they don't go bad!

 

[cburnett11]

ATTQOTD:

I only fuel on runs that get me over 10 miles. Otherwise it is just water or water with Nuun if I'm going to sweat a lot. I've always been okay with Gu. I got one handed to me about 3 years ago in my first half marathon and didn't hate it. For a while (thereafter) I only used strawberry/banana because that's what I was handed that very first race. I switched to Clif Shot Mocha for a while and it was pretty good too. Recently I've gone to Gu Roctane Sea Salt Chocolate and really like it. It's slightly thinner than the Clif Shot and I like the fact that it has a good amount of sodium in it as well as some caffeine. This is what I plan to use in my upcoming marathon.

 

[opusone]

I just ordered a box of the e-Gels - going to give them a try. I have been wanting to move from Gatorade to water in training, but couldn't because I need the electrolytes during my longer runs, and I don't care for the salt products. Will try the e-Gels with water and see how it goes.

I just did the same thing... going to see how the e-Gels compare to GU.

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD: was a big fan of BOOM apple flavored gels but they are getting harder to find. Have switched over to Cliff shots, Gu, and E-gels. Like the salted watermelon, strawberry/banana flavors. I also carry Peanut M & Ms with me for longer funs since they don't melt as quick as regular m&ms and easy to digest.
Typically don't use them unless I am running 90 minutes or more.

Tried Honey Stinger orange chews and they seem to hurt my stomach and not work. Not a big fan of the coffee or chocolate gels either.

Another good place to try gels is at the running expos, Cliff shots normally has samples, and sometimes you will be able to get other samples or buy singles of flavors you might want to try. I thought I saw a margarita flavored gel, might have to try that. When do we get a beer flavored one?

 

[ZellyB]

Along this same topic, has anyone here used Tailwind?

http://www.tailwindnutrition.com/

While watching my husband run his first 50K recently, I heard a lot of the runners saying they were using it and most of those were passing up other fuel at the fuel stop. The website talks like it's all you need from a hydration/fuel standpoint. We've been using Replay lately for our electrolyte drink and once I got used to the taste I really feel like it works well, but I'm also curious about this.

 

[DVCFan1994]

QOTD: What type of fuel do you take while out for a run? Which is your favorite and which one will you never try again?

ATTQOTD: I take a combination of GU and sports drinks during my run. My favorite is the salty watermelon flavor of GU. I will never try those blocks again. The whole chewing and running thing doesn't work for me.


Awesome race weekend everyone! A lot of PR's on the board over the weekend. Congrats and keep up the hard work!

Side note: Today starts registration for the Boston Marathon! It opens up for the "wicked" fast runners that have a BQ -20:00 today. Anyone getting a chance to register this year or run for charity?

First thing I tried was GU, and I thought it was the nastiest thing I had ever encounter. I have never tried it again. I probably should with a different flavor, but I have other options I like, so never have bothered. For at least the year the only thing I ever took was Margarite Shot Bloks from Clif. I have a super sensitive stomach, and when they worked I was afraid to try anything else. Sooner or late I finally did and found I like both Jelly Belly Sport Beans, particularly fruit punch, and Honey Stinger Chews, favorite of that is Grapefruit. I use them only on runs over an hour. I often don't eat before runs, so I need to run during if its over an hour.

 

[jhorstma]

I did the same as @Chaitali - just bought single options to try. D-I-C-K's should have a decent selection. I'd also highly recommend trying different flavors in addition to different brand/types...awhile back I decided I liked Gu gels, and I picked up a mint chocolate one to try. No good - it totally made my stomach burn. But I liked the texture and ended up using vanilla Gu gels for awhile.

The 13 year old in me is laughing...

ATTQOTD: I'm a huge Jelly Belly fan, so really it's a no-brainer for me - beans.

 

[roxymama]

Can I ask a totally random question? I am training for a 15k (9.2 miles) in 7+ weeks and the particular race sends on these "training plan" emails every week. I know to take them with a grain of salt, because no plan fits every person. But it weirds me out how much mileage they are asking for every time I read them.
This week they have some easy mid-week runs and a "speed-type" 6 mile workout which is right in line with what I'm doing. But the long run is 10-14 miles! I noticed they had like 9 miles a few weeks ago.
Why would you have to run more than a half-marathon this far out from a 9.2 mile race? Did some intern accidentally use a marathon plan?