What can I eat during races that doesn't require chewing?

[goofeygirl]

To explain...recently I have had these invisible braces put in...when I want to eat I have to take them out and then eat, brush teeth and floss and then brush braces and put them back in.

Because of this I do not want to take with me the things I normally would...like jelly bellies or gumps because I am not going to go through all of that during a race...esp in a pop!!!

I know there is Gu...which I have never used before...I don't know if there are other ideas out there? My biggest worry is the full marathon...

So I will be at a running store this week and will buy various Gu flavors to see which one I can tolerate while on a treadmill...but I don't know if there are other ideas or products out there that don't require chewing.

I keep forgetting to post this question.

Thanks.

 

[jmasgat]

Gels are good. I use Powergels. I find them less thick than Clif Shots or Gu, and easier to go down.

Sports drinks, e.g. Gatorade, have the necessary carbs and electrolytes. It's a question of whether you can drink enough to support your specific requirements.

 

[bumbershoot]

Are you sure you want to wear them in the race?

 

[paxsarah]

There are lots of brands of gels out there, so you may want to try a few. Hammer is pretty good, Gu is ubiquitous, Powerbar (as mentioned above) is a little less thick in case that helps. Some are caffeinated, some are not. And of course Clif shots will be on course - if you find you like those, you can at least supplement from what's on-course. There is a brand I received a sample of a while back that was even more of a liquid than Powerbar, but I can't remember the name. I'll see if I can dig it up. Be sure to follow up gels with water.

Edit: The liquidier gel (so, not actually a gel) was Island Boost: http://www.islandboost.com/

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Power Bar has a great product called "Performance Energy Blends", it's a liquidy Fruit puree, comes in 3 flavours Apple Mango, Banana Blueberry, and Pear Apple
..........I picked up some of these at the Wine & Dine Expo (they aren't available in Canada), and tested out the AppleMango and the BananaBlueberry yesterday during my long run (37k...23 miles) yesterday, and I was pleased with them!

I felt better with these than with the gels... these satisfied me more!

I don't use gatorade/powerade, but I do use NUUN tablets in one of my 2 waterbottles, and bring extra to add when I refill it.
(if I have any room left, will also carry a pack of their Energy Gel Blasts (chewy.. that'll be hell on the invisible braces!)

 

[jmasgat]

The only issue with the PowerBar Energy Blends is that they have no electrolytes in them--just carbs. So depending on weather conditions, personal sweat rate, use of other products with electrolytes--these may not be sufficient on their own.

 

[goofeygirl]

Okay thanks.

I am going to a running store this week...and I will purchase a little of everything and try them out.

The Gu if I recall were kind of like Pillsbury frosting? I like the idea of the liquid gels...so I will try them out. I need something easy to swallow but just as important it has to satisfy me...keep the energy going. Of course starting off with eating something proper will help too.
Normally I like the beans and gumps but they are no go for now.

Thx.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I tried Salted caramel Gu for the first time on my 20 mile this week. It was pretty yummy.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I trained for my marathon (not Disney) with Gu and brought some along and used it during the marathon. I think the chocolate tastes just like brownie batter, and the peanut butter tastes like a Mary Jane (those old fashioned candies). Salted Caramel was also really good, but hard to find in my area.

 

[goofeygirl]

Love Mary Janes!

 

[John VN]

Please keep in mind that thicker gels could be very thick in colder weather.

My current choice of gel and fuel is Crank Sports e-gel and e-fuel. More gel per packet, excellent nutrition and good flavors. The gel is thinner and goes down very easy. Got me through Ironman Florida last month.

OR have a McFlurry!

McFlurry John

 

[goofeygirl]

Please keep in mind that thicker gels could be very thick in colder weather.

My current choice of gel and fuel is Crank Sports e-gel and e-fuel. More gel per packet, excellent nutrition and good flavors. The gel is thinner and goes down very easy. Got me through Ironman Florida last month.

OR have a McFlurry!

McFlurry John

Lol thanks...I saw your name and thought...McFlurry! - However I am not fast enough to have one! - yet.
I am going to check that out too...I am unfamiliar in the gel's. I have always done the beans and gumps. I don't want anything getting stuck in my invisible braces...that would be terrible.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

The only issue with the PowerBar Energy Blends is that they have no electrolytes in them--just carbs. So depending on weather conditions, personal sweat rate, use of other products with electrolytes--these may not be sufficient on their own.

Yes! that is what I forgot to mention! Hence also having the Nuun Tablets for water
Nuun Active Hydration drink tabs "a fast-absorbing electrolyte blend without the sugar or waste of bottled sport drinks."

Each tablet makes 16 oz. of Nuun, and delivers 360 mg Sodium / 100 mg Potassium / 25 mg Magnesium / 13 mg Calcium

......I break them in half: my fuel belt is 2 bottles, I keep one for plain water only.

Please keep in mind that thicker gels could be very thick in colder weather.

My current choice of gel and fuel is Crank Sports e-gel and e-fuel. More gel per packet, excellent nutrition and good flavors. The gel is thinner and goes down very easy. Got me through Ironman Florida last month.

OR have a McFlurry!

McFlurry John

I was awaiting that post!

 

[John VN]

Lol thanks...I saw your name and thought...McFlurry! - However I am not fast enough to have one! - yet.
I am going to check that out too...I am unfamiliar in the gel's. I have always done the beans and gumps. I don't want anything getting stuck in my invisible braces...that would be terrible.

I used to chew beans and chomps until one got inhaled into my throat and almost had to do a Heimlich on myself. Same thing happened to a lady as I passed her during the Space Coast Half Marathon earlier this month.

McFlurry John

 

[FFigawi]

Don't forget that Disney uses Clif gels, so if you plan on using any of theirs during the race, you might want to use them in training too. Nothing new on race day.

 

[RnbwSktles]

Is it possible to not wear the braces during the races? Will it have that much of an effect?

 

[goofeygirl]

Is it possible to not wear the braces during the races? Will it have that much of an effect?

I cannot have them out of my mouth for more than 2 hours each day...it basically allows two hours a day to eat...and so even if I were terribly fast...accounting for the time it takes between leaving the hotel (at around 330) to hours later when I return to the hotel...way too much time would have passed.
It would have been a good plan...

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

Let me start by saying: I am NOT an orthodontist., but I did wear braces as an adult. Mine were the traditional metal grill, so my comments are on braces in general and not the invisible kind.

My guess is orthodontists expect patients to break the rules, and if they say 2 hours a day, 3 or 4 would be OK, especially if its just for 2 days and then you promise to follow the 2 hour rule.

On the one hand I would say ask if it would be OK to have the braces out for 5 hours 2 days and see what the orthodontist says, on the other hand, they may stick to to 'company line' and not give you permission.

The other option is just break the rules and eat with them in. Those 'rules' seem a lot more official the first couple of weeks of having braces. After that you learn what you can and can't get away with.

BTW, getting braces was the BEST decision I ever made.

 

[goofeygirl]

Oh I am sure I could go longer...however in this case...I have to change these out every couple of weeks and the newer ones will be in place just before the race...that is when it is most important to keep them in longer...as I get into the end of the second week...into the third (before they are changed)...my teeth are already shifted...so when I do these races I will actually be wearing the new set of clears.
I cannot eat with them in - well I guess a banana would be okay...but they are plastic...and so there is no way I could chew on a jelly belly or a gump...its bad enough getting those caught in your teeth let alone the clears.

In the meantime I bought a variety of different gels from a running store and I am going to try them out this sunday...if one is better and more liquid than the other. Of course they also have to taste nice and pleasant, and give me the energy. So I hope one of them fits that bill for me!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

During your walk break, take the braces out. Hold then while you eat something. Rinse your mouth. Put braces back in. Start running again.