Shot Bloks, GU, Accelerade, Oh My!

[Deborajen]

I like "chocolate outrage" gu. Tastes just like canned chocolate icing.

Now that sounds good! I'll have to try that - I can easily pig out on chocolate icing.

I like gels when running. My blood sugar tends to be at the low end so I eat a half gel pack every half hour and it keeps me going. Power Gel makes a Vanilla and a Citrus flavor and I like both. Power Gel has started adding extra sodium, which can be helpful when you sweat a lot. My gel preference, though, is Gu. Orange and Lemon are both good, but always wash them down with water. Gu is a little bit thicker than Power Gel so it isn't as messy. I always stuff a baby wipe or two in my pockets along with the Gu packets 'cause I can't stand having sticky hands.

Besides gels, Sports Beans are handy and not as messy but if they get really hot they'll stick together, plus they rattle around in pockets, and they're chewy which I don't really care for when running and huffing and puffing.

CWR, I have a Camelbak Alterra which is a lumbar Camelbak, and I love it. After pulling it snug around my waist, I never notice any bouncing - that would bother me, too. It holds about 22 ozs. and it has a couple of small pockets in front for gels and a couple of zipper pockets in back for car keys, etc. I use it all the time for running 10 mile distances, etc.

Deb

[tygab]

I like Gu pretty well, just tried out the vanilla bean it's pretty good. It's easy to get down even when I don't feel like eating, but I also like the Shot Blocks and Sharkies. I wash all three down.

Both are easy to carry and I don't have a problem with the wrappers, sticky or not .

I also favor the tried and true banana. I don't find myself enjoying bars as food during a long exertion effort, probably because they are dry and I don't need another thing taking away water from me, but they are fine for a pre-ride or snack.

For long rides it's 1 water 1 gatorjuice. Short rides 1 water. I've been running indoors so I just have water on the treadmill, but my sister who marathons (Chicago coming up) uses a "Fuel belt" which is a belt that can hold many little flasks of water or stuff. It also distributes the weight around the waist more evently.

[Dogmama]

Banana strawberry power gel. Yeah, messy & icky especially when they smear on the cell phone in your jersey pocket, but it's better than littering. Problem is, they really need a good swig of water afterwards. I don't like to carry anything when I run either.

I'm a died-in-the-wool chocoholic, but cannot eat anything chocolate while I exercise. Gags me.

[mcoleman]

I use gels, sport beans & blocks on long runs. It is nice to have more variety than just gels. The fruitier ones seem to be better. I am a diehard chocoholic, but the chocolate (or vanilla) gels just don't work for me. I do like the mocha, mocha.
I love, love, love the cran-razz blocks, but I have to stop to eat them. (One of these days I will remember to open the package before I head out.)
We are lucky to have a park with water fountains at about halfway on my normal 10 mile route, but for really long runs, DH wears a fuel belt and we refill with water. I also have running shorts that have a pocket across the back, so I carry the food.
Another option is to do loops and use your house or car as a rest stop.
Most larger races have samples in the race bags or somewhere. We are just finishing blocks from DH's Ironman in June and sport beans from the cycling championship Labor day. We love samples

[colby]

I am mostly a gel girl when running because of ease of consumption, ease on my stomach, and ease of carrying them. I did carry bloks once or twice, and they seemed fine, I just had to eat them more often.

Bloks, I liked Cran-Razz. Lemon-Lime tasted a lot like gummy gatorade. Easier to control what you take in in finite amounts, but I usually go by the clock and not how I feel anyway (or I'll eat too little and it'll be too late).

Gels... I'm not sure about the caffeinated ones. I'm not sure I really need the caffeine, let alone throughout some of the longer runs. It didn't seem to have any adverse affect when I tried it, but generally I try not to consume it unless I need/want it...

Clif gels: I like Razz which tastes like syrupy raspberries, Vanilla tasted like vanilla icing, strawberry was really good but caffeinated, orange cream tastes JUST like creamsicles (which I hate, but if you love creamsicles you have to try it), and I haven't tried chocolate yet.

Gu gels: I like banana a lot, the texture doesn't make me want to spit it out first thing in the morning (kind of mushy, like a banana!). I tried their tri-berry, which is good but caffeinated, and I think most of the rest are caffeinated as well. So far I haven't spent a lot of time in the chocolate/vanilla/mocha flavors in most brands, I'm just getting to trying them (fruit seemed easier to stomach to start out with).

Hammer gels: I've only tried one or two Hammer flavors, but the raspberry was really good, better than Clif's Razz. Too bad my local REI doesn't carry hammer, I'm going to have to buy them online. I would like to try more flavors.

I have not tried Accelerade's gels yet, but might to get some protein in on my longer runs.

I did not like PowerBar's gels at all, they tasted too much like PowerBar bars.

Sport Beans: good, but I don't like the sugary feeling on my teeth. I guess I have a similar problem with the bloks, while they are both more satisfying to eat than gels, I still get the feeling of stuff on my teeth. That's okay for shorter runs, but the longer the run, the more irritated I get by that feeling on my teeth that just won't wash away with water

As for water, I carry the Camelbak Flashflo, which will also hold gels/beans/bloks along with my cell phone and ID/credit card. I usually carry it for any run longer than an hour (6 miles or more, assuming 10 minute miles), and for shorter runs I consume gel and plenty of water beforehand. I do miss the Camelbak sometimes on those 4-6 mile runs, but it's a lot of effort for less gain than on the long runs where it's really necessary. I tried carrying bottles, and I hated it. Haven't tried backpack style Camelbak yet, or a fuel belt which is another similar option (the Camelbak is a little more easy to access, but some of those fuel belts might carry more, and let you vary water/electrolytes).

I was a skeptic about experimenting with what I eat during training, but it has really helped to try different brands, flavors, and items during some of my runs. I'm going to run the distance anyway, might as well try something new.

Happy running

[tattiefritter]

Another Camelbak Flashflo user here, I use it on most runs as I like to sip all the time and get an annoying dry mouth otherwise. It takes approx 1.5 litres of water plus space for keys/gels/phone/stuff. It doesn't bounce at all but I have it cinched down as much as I can and still breathe. Because I am short (5ft 4) it feels a little big on my back initially but I forget about it once running.

I don't think it sloshes that much, but I do suck all the air out a Camelbak bladder before doing anything.

Have only just started experimenting a bit with gels - like the High5 lemon Cola one (its caffeinated), the PowerBar Vanilla one was a bit yuck though, I have a strawberry one (I think) to try. I don't want to use them all the time but I thought it would be good to carry one or two in my Flashflo as my long run mileage increases. When I was doing eight mile runs at the beginning of the year I would start to feel like I was in need of some calories (I run at lunchtime before lunch) and gels could be a convenient way of doing this. Also thought they would be useful as emergency rations on hikes/long mtb rides.

[Eden]

I just started experimenting with flavoring my own plain GU's. I got some soda extracts at a brewing store and started mixing cola and ginger-ale into just plain GU. I must say I like the results. Maybe I'll try rootbeer next Otherwise the only flavors I find tolerable are bananna and vanilla.

[colby]

Clif gels: I like Razz which tastes like syrupy raspberries, Vanilla tasted like vanilla icing, strawberry was really good but caffeinated, orange cream tastes JUST like creamsicles (which I hate, but if you love creamsicles you have to try it), and I haven't tried chocolate yet.

I forgot to post that I tried the chocolate flavor... I had to chew it, it was a little too thick for my tastes. Tasted chocolatey, just too thick I'm still a little mixed on the vanilla, I find it less strong than the raspberry and banana, but it's not my favorite. Good to have around I think for something different.

[Bikingmomof3]

Wow, thank you all for your opinions. This thread is so very helpful. Thanks.

[roadie gal]

I'm getting in on this thread a little late, but...

I need a lot of water, too. I use a Camelbak Flashflo - a fanny pack that holds 45oz of water. I put a clip on the tubing so it's right up near my shoulder and I don't have to fiddle with it or go looking for the end when I'm running.

For some calories I use Amphopod flasks hooked onto the belt of the Camelbak filled with Hammer Perpetuem, Gatorade or other liquid. It looks goofy, but it works really well.

I've found that I can't coordinate opening GU on the run. I suppose you could put it in a flask in your pocket, but the liquid works better for me.

[Fredwina]

Roadie Gal,
Have you tried Using Hammer Gel in a Flask? I've just got some, and will be expermenting over the weekend...

[HillSlugger]

CWR, I have a Camelbak Alterra which is a lumbar Camelbak, and I love it. After pulling it snug around my waist, I never notice any bouncing - that would bother me, too. It holds about 22 ozs. and it has a couple of small pockets in front for gels and a couple of zipper pockets in back for car keys, etc. I use it all the time for running 10 mile distances, etc.

Deb

I have a Camelbak Bluewater lumbar pack. I love it for biking but I hate the way the hose swings and bounces when I run. I've just ordered a Nathan Triangle bottle belt. I'm hoping I'll like that better.

I love ShotBloks (Crann-Razz rocks!) for rest stops but the chewing-while-running thing, not so much. I'm going to give GU a try.

[indysteel]

Jennifer, here are several links that you might find helpful from bicycling.com on staying hydrated and fueled during endurance activities:

http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6...4780-1,00.html
http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6...4999-1,00.html
http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6...4997-1,00.html

[Offthegrid]

I like the shot bloks a lot. They are much better than gels, IMHO. I got some samples with the last pair of shoes I ordered. If you use gels, just make sure to drink at least a cup of water with it or you could be more prone to stomach problems.

[Bikingmomof3]

I've just ordered a Nathan Triangle bottle belt. I'm hoping I'll like that better.

I bought one and I have used it a few times. I still have not found a place I like it. I need to maybe place it lower on my hips? I shall keep experimenting.