What are your "fuel on the go" plans?

[Honeibee]

I thought I'd start a thread about what to eat and drink on the go so we have one place to look for ideas and suggestions.

Plus I'm nosey and want to know what you all are doing.

My longest LR has only been eight miles and I've found drinking water and having three Cliff Blocks 15 min before I start then another three 45 min in worked fine. Although I was really hungry when I was done.


I was planning on packing just plain water in my Amphipod. And bringing Cliff Blocks. I don't know what else. What should I eat in the corral? I know I asked this once before but, well, I can't find it. That's why I'm making a seperate thread. Should I not have a sports drink with the Cliff Blocks? I'm so confused! Should I be carrying something else to eat on the go?

 

[wtpclc]

Here's what I do for my L-LRs:

1 snickers marathon bar 1.5 hours out. Another 1 hour out with a 20oz Powerade. (Orange)

Water every 2 mile
Gu every 4 miles
Powerade randomly mixed in. near the end of teh marahthon last year, I was doing Powerade every time, except when I took a Gu. I also move up to every mile after about mile 20.

 

[Jen117]

How much liquid do you carry at the race? I only have a belt for one 20 ouncer. I was hoping to do a swap somewhere along the race if I can meet up with DH. I was planning to carry gatoraid in my belt and grab water at the stops.

What does everyone else do?

 

[Honeibee]

I have only 2 10oz'ers. I need to look at the Program again. I know water is available and some sports drink and I think bananas.

 

[solotraveler]

My plan will look very similar to last years--

1 gel 20 minutes before race start in the corral
At least one cup of water at each water stop and Powerade if I feel the need
1 gel every five miles during the races
Food/Powerade/Sportbeans post-race

Jen-- I did not carry any liquid on me last year and really didn't feel any worse for wear because of it. The water stops are frequent enough (for me at least) to get what I need. I think the bottle on my Amphipod is going to be used for gel storage this time around.

Food on the course-- I remember fruit, bananas, Clifshots and candy on the full course last year. If you plan on availing yourself of any of these I would recommend trying them out on a LR to see what they do to your system. You don't want a nasty suprise race day.

Kevin

 

[wtpclc]

There shoudl eb plenty of water and poerade, but dh and I only like orange. Other flavors give us heartburn. However, we were fine with the watered down stuff they serve (any flavor).

For the full, we took 4-8oz bottles (to split btwn us). I think 2 water, 2 powereade. We mostly only used our water to chase Gus. We took those away from teh stations.

 

[WDWFAN9]

Here's what I do for my L-LRs:

1 snickers marathon bar 1.5 hours out. Another 1 hour out with a 20oz Powerade. (Orange)

Water every 2 mile
Gu every 4 miles
Powerade randomly mixed in. near the end of teh marahthon last year, I was doing Powerade every time, except when I took a Gu. I also move up to every mile after about mile 20.

Carrie - what snickers marathon bar do you use? I asked DH to pick me up some and he came back with 3 difference varieties - one was low-carb, one was for women, and one was a performance bar. I guess I never paid attention before, I was just looking for a good flavor.

This is a great idea! I know I am confused about what the "right" thing to do is.....

 

[wtpclc]

Pat - I use Energy - Crunchy peanut, peanut butter and cookies & creeam. LOVE C&C, but it's a little hard. Never try to eat it cold. They're all good, though. I'm afraid of low carb, as I need the carbs to keep me going. I know chimera uses protein, thogh and likes it. If you haev a Sam's Club near you, they usually have a 20-pack.

ETA - The "right" thing is what works for you! Big help, I know. Try it out on your LRs adn L-LRs and see how it goes. I know I waited 5 miles btwn Gus once and had a low-sugar meltdown. That was on teh 18-miler that wasn't. Lesson learned. I started with Pop Tarts instead od snickers bars and they worked fo rme too. Easy to digest and all, but I feel more like an athelete with the snickers bar (and they fit in the fanny pack better).

 

[chimera]

Yep, I have to eat before I run or I crash...the extra protein seems to help, though I did read lower protein is easier to digest before a LR. DD13 cannot eat before running or she feels oogy, so it's really individual.

Depending on length of LR, I eat either half or whole one of these:
http://www.snickersmarathon.com/protein_bar.asp

The caramel nut rush...chocolate whatever burst is weird. I get them at Walmart...$8.44 for a box of 6. I have tried bagels with cream cheese or peanut butter, but they don't carry as well.
I eat 3 Clif Bloks every 3 miles and take one to two sips of water after each 1-2 intervals.
I used to carry honey packets and peanut butter crackers before I tried the Bloks. Found the Bloks work a bit better and are MUCH easier to carry.

I have always read that you shouldn't combine Bloks/GU with sports drinks because it can give you too much electrolytes. I know last time I mentioned that, some of our high-performance athletes say they combine them all the time, so YMMV.

I do take a multivitamin before I run and also one Imodium to prevent any additional 'running' that usually hits around mile 6

 

[Honeibee]

Are Shot Blocks and gels pretty much the same thing? They are, right?

 

[solotraveler]

Are Shot Blocks and gels pretty much the same thing? They are, right?

Yep. Bloks are chewy and gels are....... not.

 

[pollioni]

Are Shot Blocks and gels pretty much the same thing? They are, right?

You are correct, the great thing about the blocks are the are eaiser to eat on the run and 1 package is equal to 2 gels.

I personally am running with blocks and gatorade to begin then switch to water and gatorade alternating. I take 1 block about every 20 mins. This appeard to work really well on my 20 miler on Sunday last week.

 

[keenercam]

Are Shot Blocks and gels pretty much the same thing? They are, right?

Judy -- I can't tolerate the consistency of the gels/gu's, but LOVE the shot blocks, that are kind of like a firm jello block.

I am right there with Mel on loving the snickers marathon energy bars. I have found they are all equally good for me, including the ones that say performance or protein.

And like Carrie & Scott, I carry my own powerade orange because the other flavors give me heartburn or make me nauseous. I also cannot tolerate Dasani water so I try to use water on the course only when it is non-Dasani and save my powerade for times when I need something and the choices are not good for me -- non-orange powerade or dasani water. Weird, I know, but true for some reason.

Everyone is totally different but this guiding principle is absolute for everyone -- do NOT try something new on race day!

 

[skfulkers]

In training, I try to eat about 100-200 calories an hour or so before my LR, usually a bagel or banana (or maybe brownies ). Then I eat half a Clif Bar (about 100 calories) every 4 miles. I also drink water every two miles, but alternate it with Gatorade every other two miles. Sometimes I just mix the gatorade to half strength and use that mixture for the entire LR.
I did not carry any water for the marathon last year, either, and I was fine using the water/powerade stops they had along the way. I hate having to carry water with me unless it's on my fuel belt, and that feels bulky sometimes. I also filled my amphipod with Powerbar halves (I switched to Clif Bars this year--better tasting IMO) on race day last year.

 

[rKyDeX]

Before LR's I usually have a banana and a bagel. I wash it down with 16 oz CytoMax sport drink at least 30 minutes before I depart.

For LR's greater than 10 miles I carry 2 - 20 oz bottles with just water in an Amphipod Full Tilt 20-20 belt and enough gels or sports beans to take at 45 minute intervals. On LR's greater than 16 miles, I try to find a place along the way to top the water bottles off.

During organized events, I will only carry sports beans or Gu's, and only drink water provided at water stops. It has worked for me so far.

What doesn't work is eating a kingsize bag of peanut M&M's prior to a LR.

Chester

 

[gatorphipps]

In my humble opinion....
You really do not need to carry a drink. I did last year and did not even drink it all. This is one of the best supported races I have ever run and at every station they have H2O and Poweraid.
For the marathon
1. I Get a drink at every stop.....
2. I take Gu every 6 miles
3. I eat a p-nut butter sandwich and coffee with caffene when I get up in the morning
4. and last year I ate the thing they put in our race pack in the correl...this is b/c the day b/4 during the 1/2 I was starving.
Now for a 1/2 it is different...
I normally just eat my breakfast, drink at the aid stations, and maybe take 1 gu.

THis is what has always worked for me...but remember that the LRs are practice runs to see what does and doesn't work for the race. So try different things out on them.

 

[wfloyd]

Generally I will try to get a drink every 2 miles for the first half and then every mile for the last half. I carried extra last year but didn't drink any of it because the stations were close enough. Lynnda on the other hand did drink some of hers.

Before the long run, I usually take half a power gel and drink about 10 ounces of gatorade. Then I take half a power gel around mile 5, 10, 14, 17, 20, 21, 24 and whenever I feel like I need another one.

I think last year I had a banana and hershey kiss that they were giving out at some point but I passed on the beer at mile 20.

Bill

 

[princessmomma]

I passed on the beer at mile 20.

Bill

What there was beer at mile 20????

Couldn't even think about eating the Hershey's kiss chocolate at mile 22-ish.

The week before the marathon I make sure I am well hydrated, replenish sodium that is lost (V8 and gatorade), eat bananas and oranges (potassium) and try to keep clean (no junk food) while eating balanced meals.

During the race I consume a gel every 45 minutes (always be sure to wash gels down with 6-8 oz of water... needed for absorption).

Lots of water (every water stop). I, for one, need to carry water, I did not in two half marathons and wish I did for both. For both marathons, I needed something wet in my mouth in those last 6 miles when I needed a walk break.

I drink A LOT during marathons and have yet to stop for a bathroom break in either marathon and 4 half marathons, which tells me my body needs it. I am running a half marthon on December 9th with a couple of friends who don't drink AT ALL!! I have done two 12 mile runs with them and they can't believe how much I drink and I can't believe they don't drink a drop. I guess you need to do what is right for you.

Colleen

 

[chimera]

We mostly only used our water to chase Gus.

Who's Gus and why were you chasing him with water?

I also chase the Bloks with water...otherwise they really stick to your teeth

I, for one, need to carry water, I did not in two half marathons and wish I did for both. For both marathons, I needed something wet in my mouth in those last 6 miles when I needed a walk break.

I think I must be the same way. I can't drink a whole lot at a time...one or two sips is enough. Sometimes I can't even swallow the second sip, but I just feel like I need the water. My grandmother used to say she'd need just enough of a drink to 'wet her throat'...I always think of that when I get that feeling.

Dumb question that I keep forgetting to ask. I got a new fuel belt for my birthday and have yet to figure out how to use the water bottle correctly. It has one of those valve thingies and I can only get a drop or two at a time out of it. I've tried biting it every which way with no luck. When I run, I have to unscrew the bottle top during my walking interval to get a drink. Any suggestions?

 

[escape]

Tip from Jeff Galloway:

"It is almost impossible to replace electrolytes with sports drinks during a run. The best time to "top off" electrolytes is the day before by drinking about 32 oz of a product like Accelerade throughout the day. Endurox R4 immediately after the long run has been shown to speed recovery."

This is my contribution to this thread because I can't tell you what works for me yet.

Now for the silly question. You can tell I'm new to all of this.

What do you do with the empty cups along the way? I guess they have trash cans or do you *gasp* throw them on the ground? I honestly don't know and I need to know before I make a fool of myself. I'm sure I'll figure it out once I get there but inquiring minds want to know now.