4 ms·

The first time I tried a packet (GU gel) in a practice run, I nearly puked. It tastes like liquefied bubble gum and the taste stuck with me for the next 30 minu

The first time I tried a packet (GU gel) in a practice run, I nearly puked. It tastes like liquefied bubble gum and the taste stuck with me for the next 30 minutes. Which ones work well for you?

gopalv 9y ago
> The first time I tried a packet (GU gel) in a practice run, I nearly puked I used to puke anything I had when I ran. My digestion couldn't handle food when I was running. It was a mix of slight heartburns (& coffee) causing a sensitive stomach which didn't like food moving around when I ran and partly because I was running so hard my stomach didn't have enough blood to process the food. Several weeks of eating peanut butter mini sandwiches with their crusts cut off, banana slices and oranges dipped in salt, while running at a moderate pace, I managed to tame the tummy. That said - I don't think I like the taste of GU gels, but like coffee or beer, you get used to it (& the extra 100Kcal feels like it goes directly to your legs).
alistairSH 9y ago
You really have to try different brands and flavors to find what works. It seems to be very personal. I have friends who can't use gels, and instead eat chewable gummies instead (one swears by straight gummi bears, others use the Gu and PowerBar prodicts). Personally, I've switched to mostly liquid nutrition, currently using a custom blend from Infinit. For 6+ hour races, I'll supplment with a PBJ sandwich or a bar of some sort.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
Swizec 9y ago
I use GU. They are disgusting and require a lot of mouth rinsing with water from my Camelbak or water bottles. Chocolate Outrage is the worst offender. Banana Strawberry is the closest to pleasant. And like another person mentioned, it takes some practice to get used to it. A lot of people have trouble digesting anything while running. I found that just like my legs needed training to withstand a marathon, so did my digestive system need practice to process and retain enough calories. Eating 4000+ calories on a long run day used to be pure torture. But you get used to it.
gaius 9y ago
Clif Shots are quite nice
barkingcat 9y ago
I prefer these dare fruit gummies (http://www.darefoods.com/ca_en/product/realfruit-gummies-medley/260 http://www.darefoods.com/ca_en/product/realfruit-gummies-med...) over the energy chews that people in my city likes (and widely advertised here) (http://www.clifbar.ca/products/clif-shot-bloks http://www.clifbar.ca/products/clif-shot-bloks) - it tastes way better and doesn't make me gag. Everyone is a bit different just try some different ones.
revelation 9y ago
You don't necessarily need gels, and admittedly most of them taste terrible Try something like flapjacks or even rice cake [1]. It's more suitable as bike nutrition because of the ergonomics but at the end of the day it's all just carbs. If you don't like any of that or the solid food is difficult to swallow in a race, you can try just water mixed with maltodextrin. It's a very slight sweet taste. 1: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/izonedocs/recipes/IZ_RECIPE_RICE_CAKES_2017.pdf https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/izone...
bstrong 9y ago
I highly recommend Honey Stinger Gold. I had trouble with every other gel I've tried, but I can digest the honey just fine, even without water.
- tjr225 9y ago
  Honey Stinger Gold got me through my first in Detroit in 3:30. Highly recommend.

The first time I tried a packet (GU gel) in a practice run, I nearly puked. It tastes like liquefied bubble gum and the taste stuck with me for the next 30 minutes. Which ones work well for you?

gopalv 9y ago

> The first time I tried a packet (GU gel) in a practice run, I nearly puked I used to puke anything I had when I ran. My digestion couldn't handle food when I was running. It was a mix of slight heartburns (& coffee) causing a sensitive stomach which didn't like food moving around when I ran and partly because I was running so hard my stomach didn't have enough blood to process the food. Several weeks of eating peanut butter mini sandwiches with their crusts cut off, banana slices and oranges dipped in salt, while running at a moderate pace, I managed to tame the tummy. That said - I don't think I like the taste of GU gels, but like coffee or beer, you get used to it (& the extra 100Kcal feels like it goes directly to your legs).

alistairSH 9y ago

You really have to try different brands and flavors to find what works. It seems to be very personal. I have friends who can't use gels, and instead eat chewable gummies instead (one swears by straight gummi bears, others use the Gu and PowerBar prodicts). Personally, I've switched to mostly liquid nutrition, currently using a custom blend from Infinit. For 6+ hour races, I'll supplment with a PBJ sandwich or a bar of some sort.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

Swizec 9y ago

I use GU. They are disgusting and require a lot of mouth rinsing with water from my Camelbak or water bottles. Chocolate Outrage is the worst offender. Banana Strawberry is the closest to pleasant. And like another person mentioned, it takes some practice to get used to it. A lot of people have trouble digesting anything while running. I found that just like my legs needed training to withstand a marathon, so did my digestive system need practice to process and retain enough calories. Eating 4000+ calories on a long run day used to be pure torture. But you get used to it.

gaius 9y ago

Clif Shots are quite nice

barkingcat 9y ago

I prefer these dare fruit gummies (http://www.darefoods.com/ca_en/product/realfruit-gummies-medley/260 http://www.darefoods.com/ca_en/product/realfruit-gummies-med...) over the energy chews that people in my city likes (and widely advertised here) (http://www.clifbar.ca/products/clif-shot-bloks http://www.clifbar.ca/products/clif-shot-bloks) - it tastes way better and doesn't make me gag. Everyone is a bit different just try some different ones.

revelation 9y ago

You don't necessarily need gels, and admittedly most of them taste terrible Try something like flapjacks or even rice cake [1]. It's more suitable as bike nutrition because of the ergonomics but at the end of the day it's all just carbs. If you don't like any of that or the solid food is difficult to swallow in a race, you can try just water mixed with maltodextrin. It's a very slight sweet taste. 1: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/izonedocs/recipes/IZ_RECIPE_RICE_CAKES_2017.pdf https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/izone...

bstrong 9y ago

I highly recommend Honey Stinger Gold. I had trouble with every other gel I've tried, but I can digest the honey just fine, even without water.

tjr225 9y ago
Honey Stinger Gold got me through my first in Detroit in 3:30. Highly recommend.