Tell me about your favorite fuel

[naeljun]

I am training for a half and I need to start thinking about fuel.   

I tried the Gu and it wasn't that bad but I am wondering what your favorites are.  Gummies, gels, bars.   

Thanks.   

[melmel48]

Thanks for asking this question! I am also starting to train for my first half and have no idea on fuel. My friend uses gatorade chews, but I didn't notice a difference when using them. I want something that will be effective, but I don't want to go broke trying things out!

[Deleted]

I can't stand the texture of the gels. I like the gummies (sharkies, gu shots (?)... any of them, really).

Although they don't have electrolytes and all that other stuff, random gummies also work. Salt water taffy is good, too.

[CallingAllAngels]

Hammer gels work well for me. I had stomach issues with sports beans and shot bloks.

[joenali]

I like carbo pro and electrolyte fuel systems (EFS). I prefer to drink rather than chew or down a nasty gel.

[lifetaketwo]

I use Honey Stinger Chews because the I can't stomach the gels. Once I got into super long runs and needed to add some real food, I used Goldfish. Too many chews without some type of carb/cracker upset my stomach too. The salt on the Goldfish is sooo good when I'm running.

[runaways]

I use sports beans, about half pack per 4 miles and I take 1-2 per mile rather than all of them at once. I also like the honey stinger chews in orange blossom but they are more expensive.

[Brit]

Double strength Gatorade or Vanilla Bean Gu.

[lifetaketwo]

Jan 20, 2014 12:57:34 GMT -5 melmel48 said:

I want something that will be effective, but I don't want to go broke trying things out!

EMS (east coast REI) sells single packets of a lot of the options!!!

[Deleted]

Jan 20, 2014 13:04:07 GMT -5 runaways said:

I use sports beans, about half pack per 4 miles and I take 1-2 per mile rather than all of them at once. I also like the honey stinger chews in orange blossom but they are more expensive.

I do the same thing with the gummies. I would eat one every 20 minutes or so for a marathon distance. That meant that I was always carrying around an open back of food, though, which is annoying.

[melmel48]

Jan 20, 2014 13:05:00 GMT -5 lifetaketwo said:

Jan 20, 2014 12:57:34 GMT -5 melmel48 said:

I want something that will be effective, but I don't want to go broke trying things out!

EMS (east coast REI) sells single packets of a lot of the options!!!

[venice2007]

Chocolate gu
Salted caramel gu
Water bottles with water and some with nuun

[melmel48]

Jan 20, 2014 13:05:00 GMT -5 lifetaketwo said:

Jan 20, 2014 12:57:34 GMT -5 melmel48 said:

I want something that will be effective, but I don't want to go broke trying things out!

EMS (east coast REI) sells single packets of a lot of the options!!!

Perfect! Thank you.. Sorry for the blank post. I am not sure what happened or how to fix it. 

[lb2006]

Hammer Gel
Peanut Butter Gu

[texassmith]

I prefer Gu. I really hate the texture/consistency but I really just have a hard time chewing while I'm running and out of breath. Except yesterday at like mile 22 of the marathon and a random stranger was handing out Starburst. I was all over that, lol.

[Wines Not Whines]

I like any/all of the chews I've tried. I mostly use Clif Shot Bloks or Gu Chomps, but the Honey Stingers are also good. Clif Shot margarita flavor are great in the summer. They have extra salt. Jelly Belly sport beans are ok, but not my favorite.

I'm pickier about gels. I like Gu (peanut butter, chocolate, mint chocolate, vanilla bean) and Clif shots (vanilla and chocolate). The fruit flavors are gross to me for some reason.

[chw57]

I'm so sick of Gu. I now use Perpetuem in my bottles and eat honey stinger waffles or clif bars. For a half I would probably use shot blocks.

[clseale]

My favorite is the powerbar gels. They're a bit thinner (so, imo, easier to take) than gu brand. I don't like having to chew, when I'm also trying to breathe during a race. The gels, while not tasty, get the job done quickly.

[melmel48]

Great info. Thanks everyone!

[shorewife]

Jan 20, 2014 13:36:08 GMT -5 texassmith said:

I prefer Gu. I really hate the texture/consistency but I really just have a hard time chewing while I'm running and out of breath. Except yesterday at like mile 22 of the marathon and a random stranger was handing out Starburst. I was all over that, lol.

Agree!!  Keep hoping that someone will invent something solid that is not a gel but I also don't have to chew it….

[texassmith]

Jan 20, 2014 14:44:10 GMT -5 shorewife said:

Jan 20, 2014 13:36:08 GMT -5 texassmith said:

I prefer Gu. I really hate the texture/consistency but I really just have a hard time chewing while I'm running and out of breath. Except yesterday at like mile 22 of the marathon and a random stranger was handing out Starburst. I was all over that, lol.

Agree!!  Keep hoping that someone will invent something solid that is not a gel but I also don't have to chew it….

I'd love to be able to just swallow a pill with the water I'm drinking anyway!

[Deleted]

I'm curious about this too. I've never tried any fuel products but they were handing out some cliff shots at yesterday's half. I made the mistake of grabbing a raspberry (I think?) one and it was the grossest thing ever. I ended up throwing it away at the first little wrapper drop off area that I came to.

[gumi]

Jan 20, 2014 14:44:10 GMT -5 shorewife said:

Jan 20, 2014 13:36:08 GMT -5 texassmith said:

I prefer Gu. I really hate the texture/consistency but I really just have a hard time chewing while I'm running and out of breath. Except yesterday at like mile 22 of the marathon and a random stranger was handing out Starburst. I was all over that, lol.

Agree!!  Keep hoping that someone will invent something solid that is not a gel but I also don't have to chew it….

Powerbar Fruit Blends.  They look like pouches of babyfood.

The two apple flavors have the consistency of apple sauce, and the blueberry banana flavor has the consistency of a smoothie.  They are very easy on the stomach and basically, a solid that you do not have to chew.

[texassmith]

I hate any of the fruity stuff. I use peanut butter, chocolate, or salted caramel Gu. My SS sent me an orange Gu, which I haven't tried yet but it might actually be tolerable to me because I like citrus-y stuff. But the berry ones...vom.

[beckbech]

I like Honey Stinger gels, they're basically just honey. I can't do fruity when running, so I stick with chocolate or vanilla.

[sassystace]

I use Honey Stinger chews (fruit smoothie is my fav) and the Sport Beans with no caffeine, like Fruit Punch. I can't stomach any type of Gu or even the Shot blocks.

[brooke77]

For a half I just fuel with Gatorade. On runs I need to fuel, I prefer pretzels, honey stinger waffles, goldfish.

[elletr13]

The texture of gu made me want to vomit. I need to chew something. I like the pink lemonade and pomegranate stingers!

[enfuego23]

Gu's for me. I like the the vanilla and chocolate flavors. I hate chewing things while I run so gels works for me. FWIW - I think a lot of people over use fuel.

[runaways]

Jan 20, 2014 20:20:12 GMT -5 enfuego23 said:

Gu's for me. I like the the vanilla and chocolate flavors. I hate chewing things while I run so gels works for me. FWIW - I think a lot of people over use fuel.

This is a good point. Now that I think about it, my best half marathon was run on 4 sports beans and Gatorade at half the water stops. In theory your body has enough glycogen stored for about 2 hours of activity.

I use the above mentioned strategy more for long training runs and marathon racing, where I want to front load my glucose intake. It tends to drop off some later because I just don't feel like taking anything.