Thursday, November 06, 2008

Help me in my Ignorance!

So, I'm totally ignorant on this marathon training stuff...I have to run 15 miles this weekend so I figured it was time to invest in those oh-so-beautiful water belt things. I also have never used any gel/goo stuff. I don't even know where to look to buy them or what a decent price is or what brand is good for the gel/goo. Any suggestions would be great. Also, what all do you guys drink while you run? I've only ever drank water, but am interested in trying other stuff too??? Thanks so much for your help!!

14 comments:

Stacey said...

I love the Amphipod fuel belt. I just started using it this past summer and it has been great and the bottles don't leak. I use Gu (I like the caffeinated ones) Hammer Gels don't have the caffeine and they taste pretty good, as good as a gel can taste I guess...( :
I would drink what the race is using at their aid stations, so that you know how your body will react.
I alternate with gatorade and accelerade (has protein in it) That works for me. Good luck in your training!

Liz said...

I am one of the only people I know who think this way, but I love running with my camelback backpack. Other people always say "There is no way I could ever run with a backpack!", but I love it and don't even notice it. I fill it with half gatorade half water- I find that Gatorade makes my mouth and throat sticky, but watered down it's a lot more tolerable. I also use GU- I tried a lot of different flavors, but my favorite is Just Plain. (It is really sweet but doesn't leave a strong taste in my mouth like some of the other ones did). I buy it at Roadrunner Sports, but I've seen it at The Vitamin Shoppe too. (It's about $1 per packet).
Good luck with everything! I hope you find a hydration/fuel system that works great for you!

Megan and Jon said...

Another thing you might try that I have really enjoyed is sport jelly beans. They are really a nice treat and seem to really give me a boost.
I am one of the I can't run with a camelpack kind. I usually have my husband drop me off and run home and we just throw water bottles out on the way at certain points.

Mrs. Spencer said...

I have a Nathan hydration belt. It has two water bottles so I usually fill one with water and the other with gatorade. I also love the Jelly Beans-but I have lost more than a few on the road. I like the GU too. I don't live anywhere near a good running store so I order then online. (I like the orange ones-I noticed that there is even a holiday flavored one-that could be interesting). Good Luck.

Anonymous said...

Hi,
If you go with gels, drink lots of water after. You should try out different flavors, a previous post mentioned they liked orange GU, I couldn't handle that or chocolate flavors (and I like chocolate). I use vanilla gu. I like the jelly beans too. If you live near a Target you can buy the gu's and beans in the vitamin/pharmacy section (about $1 ea). I don't use a water belt but will either lap our house or have my husband and kids meet me 1/2 way. Good luck.
Jenny

Keekee said...

I LOVE and swear by the 2-bottle "Fulet Belt" www.fuelbelt.com It is great, I have trained for two marathons/three half marathons with this and it is great. It has two 8oz bottles ( you have the option of 4, 6, 8 etc. ) and a storage pouch. It fits snuggly and does not bounce. I do not even notice I am wearing it. That was a huge concern of mine. I did not want to be out doing a 20-miler and have this belt driving me nuts. I LOVE it.

Latter-day Runner said...

I *LOVE* my Camelbak. They make waist belts, but I don't like things around my waist, so I got a backpack. It only took me a couple of miles to get used to running with it. I only ever fill it w/water and use Gatorade or other sports' drinks before and after a run (I leave the Gatorade at home or in the car). I drank both water and Gatorade offered at the aid stations during a sponsored run. I didn't have any trouble switching from "water only" during my long runs to water and Gatorade from aid stations during a 1/2 marathon and a marathon. I liked the PowerBar Gels best and found them easy to eat quickly on a run. I really hated the Clif Shot Bloks--they made me want to choke.

Latter-day Runner said...

By the way, on my very first 10 mile run, I didn't take any water. Luckily I was running through a neighborhood that had several sprinklers on. I'm glad you are thinking ahead about hydration.

kate said...

thanks for all the great ideas!! i'll give those a try...

Robyn said...

I have the amphipod fuel belt too and it's great. The best thing is that you can use 1-4 bottles, depending on the length of your run. The holders come off so it's very versatile. I have also taken off all the bottles for a race and just used the pocket for gel and advil, etc.

I personally like Sport Beans or Shot Blox, which you are supposed to take with water. I think it says to take one package about every 45 minutes. Please don't make the mistake I did once when I took those AND drank Gatorade. Total overload.

Robyn said...

Sorry I didn't mention that usually they say you don't need gel or hydration unless you're going to be doing over one hour of exercise. Obviously, this might change depending on the individual... but if you're near home or someplace you can drink at a fountain, you don't need a belt. Also, you can hide water bottles the night before along your route if you don't want to wear a belt.

Melissa said...

I personally can't stomach the gels...I suggest you try them out a little before using them on a long run. And personally I don't like water belts either...I always mapped my runs so that I could stop and drink at a store or gas station. And I drank gatorade about halfway through. Find out what works for you...but when you start running those longer miles gatorade, or gels, or something besides water is essential. You will definitely notice a difference and feel a lot better after your runs!

Annie said...

Camelback all the way baby!

Only water for me. Usually no gels or beans although if I had them around I'd probably use them because they are fun to have when you're sick of your music already and need to distract yourself with something else.

Juli said...

I have an amphipod. It's good. A couple problems though. It's a little hard to hook up while running. My running partner has one that has straps instead of clips and I think that would be great. The other problem is that it's just not enough water for a really long run, even all four bottles, especially in hot weather. (I live in New Mexico though - it's hot and dry and in the middle of nowhere, literally.) My friends have water bottles that attach to a belt and they hold a lot more water. I don't love gu, but it works and I can stomache the strawberry banana (no caffeine). Sports beans are awesome. Fruit punch G2 gatorade all the way.