Do you use gels in marathons?

Slogger Jogger · 28-10-2009 04:01PM #1

I've found that I run best when I avoid taking gels. It might be counter intuitive for it works for me. On Monday I brought 3 with me. I used half of one gel around 12k - not that I felt I needed it, but I suppose they say that if you feel you need it its too late. I finished the race with 2 gels still in the pocket. The thought of taking more gel later in the race just wasn't compelling.

Don't know how to set up a poll, but might be worth seeing if people take 0, 1, 2 or more gels during a marathon to gauge the consensus?

menoscemo · 28-10-2009 04:04PM

I took 3 on monday but I think they did me no good.
I kept getting a stitch after taking them but I couldn't stomach any Jelly babies or Club energiser (even though I normally can) so felt I had to take something.

buck65 · 28-10-2009 04:10PM

I took 4 - every hour on the hour. They saved my life.

misty floyd · 28-10-2009 04:13PM

I had taken gels in most of my long runs but for some reason I took about 13 Jelly babies only on Monday. Don't know why I did this because its not a good idea when you haven't tried and tested before hand. Anyway, I thought the jellies were great. Felt real good on the stomach and taste nice too. The gels make me belch a lot and I dread taking them when approaching water stations.

eliwallach · 28-10-2009 04:18PM

2009:
I took 4 gels.
GO Isotonic gels.
Took them at 10, 14, 18 and 22 miles.
Wheels came off at 19 miles.
Finished in 4:00

2008:
Took no gels.
Wheels came off at 21 miles.
Finished in 4:26

Make of that as you wish.

tunney · 28-10-2009 04:19PM

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

I've found that I run best when I avoid taking gels. It might be counter intuitive for it works for me. On Monday I brought 3 with me. I used half of one gel around 12k - not that I felt I needed it, but I suppose they say that if you feel you need it its too late. I finished the race with 2 gels still in the pocket. The thought of taking more gel later in the race just wasn't compelling.

Don't know how to set up a poll, but might be worth seeing if people take 0, 1, 2 or more gels during a marathon to gauge the consensus?

What time did you do? (I have a reason for asking)

aero2k · 28-10-2009 04:33PM

I can't remember exactly what I took last year, but I did take some gels - High5 plain, diluted with water.
Despite having a famously sweet tooth I don't particularly like gels or sugary drinks - I always feel on the verge of a puke after I finish a run where I've taken them. I've no doubt they do help my performance. I was going to stick to the energy drinks for DCM '09, but then I remembered a couple of long runs with gels where I finished in very good shape so I decided to take them after all. I took one High5+ about 10 min before the start with a few swigs of water, followed by more water in the first mile or two. I consumed two Power Gels (caffeineated, with sodium) in the first 10 or 11 miles and about 120 ml of watered down high5 drink, plus plenty of water. I consumed 2 more Power gels and 200ml watery High5 between miles 14 and 18.
All the Powergels were squeezed into small hydration bottles and topped up with water - they're still sickly sweet and gross but easy to tolerate. As an added benefit they're slightly salty which may have encouraged me to drink the amount I did (about 1.5 litres total - 400ml watered down gels, 300ml watery energy drink, the rest plain water) - I normally struggle to drink enough and tend to finish long runs well down on weight regardless of weather conditions, and spend the rest of the day rehydrating.
Sorry for the long response - I thought it might be helpful while the information is fresh in my mind.

Slogger Jogger · 28-10-2009 04:53PM

tunney wrote: »

What time did you do? (I have a reason for asking)

3:01... Apart from that bit of a gel I took a sip or 2 of water at each stop - no more than that. A slice of an orange off a kind lady and a fruit sweet at fosters avenue. I was similarly resourced - if you call that resourced! - in Edinburgh where I also ran 3:01

tunney · 28-10-2009 04:57PM

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

3:01... Apart from that bit of a gel I took a sip or 2 of water at each stop - no more than that. A slice of an orange off a kind lady and a fruit sweet at fosters avenue. I was similarly resourced - if you call that resourced! - in Edinburgh where I also ran 3:01

There goes that theory.

RacoonQueen · 28-10-2009 05:00PM

On Monday I grabbed two on about 15 miles? sucked about 1/4 of one of them and threw the rest of it away. That being said, I was running below marathon pace so it probably doesn't really count.

Bloody Nipples · 28-10-2009 05:11PM

I used one gel somewhere between the 18-20 mile mark. I didn't hit the wall and finished in 3:36.

nerraw1111 · 28-10-2009 05:26PM

I took 4 or 5 on Monday. After the fifth I had my fill of them and just couldn’t see the benefit of taking another. I was in no danger of hitting the wall.

They recommend taking 3 per hour which I think is absurd. People ran marathons before there were gels and I just don’t buy the idea that you now need to take 9 to run under 3 hours.

I found the sales pitch at the expo on Saturday to be verging on parody.

Blueskye · 28-10-2009 05:31PM

I took one very early on and felt sick for the next 12 miles...I had two types with me, both of which I have used in training but one type seemed to disagree with me really badly. I wished I had a few bites of a banana as that has helped on long training runs. I did take two later on, of the type that didn't upset my digestive system and wished I had more as I was out there for a very long time.

asimonov · 28-10-2009 05:41PM

Connemara this year I took 3 gels, the first went down well, the second made me sick and for the third I was too wrecked to notice an effect. I finished that race very dehydrated, and I think the gels contributed.

At the Wexford half marathon I took one ISO gel at 6 miles and felt sick immediately, changed my plan at for lisburn half and drank sports drink - again I felt off after it.

I basically feel because I don't eat sugary food in day to day diet, my stomach just goes WTF when I take a
gel while running.

I trust the science in terms of needing to take carbs when running, but I think the negative side effects somewhat detract from the benefits for me. At the
moment I'm trying to find a
replacement source of carb's and have
used a less processed home made
sports drink in the hope of finding a
solution that works for me.

robinph · 28-10-2009 05:48PM

nerraw1111 wrote: »

I took 4 or 5 on Monday. After the fifth I had my fill of them and just couldn’t see the benefit of taking another. I was in no danger of hitting the wall.

They recommend taking 3 per hour which I think is absurd. People ran marathons before there were gels and I just don’t buy the idea that you now need to take 9 to run under 3 hours.

I found the sales pitch at the expo on Saturday to be verging on parody.

It is absurd for normal* people to take that many gels during a marathon.

However, if anyone spots me during a race taking ridiculous quantities of gels that is normal requirements for me. I think I took about 9 gels during last years marathon, but I lost count eventually.

rainbow kirby · 28-10-2009 06:04PM

I took 4 gels (Powerbar Strawberry/Banana) on Monday, at 5, 10, 15 and 20 miles. I'd planned to take a fifth one but just did not really have the stomach for anything more than water after about 20 miles. I don't think I hit the wall, but felt myself slow down gradually from about 22 miles.

I've used those gels, and the High5 ones, on long runs for the vast majority of my training - so it was absolutely nothing new. I couldn't take the gels that were given out because they were caffeinated - despite my general huge caffeine consumption, caffeinated gels make me feel very jittery and they make my heart rate go much higher than I'd like.

Oryx · 28-10-2009 06:20PM

I also took Powerbar strawberry/banana. I had tried and tested them and planned when Id take them. Took 3 in total, one each at 7, 15, and 21. I tend to get hungry and weak on long runs, and gels certainly counteract that. I definitely feel a boost from them.

I carried water all the way, starting with my own, and then swapping for fresh bottles at the water stops. I sipped little and often. Whether it was this or my pace that did it, I was fine all the way around. No walls, no real trouble.

Kissy Lips · 28-10-2009 06:30PM

eliwallach wrote: »

2009:
I took 4 gels.
GO Isotonic gels.
Took them at 10, 14, 18 and 22 miles.
Wheels came off at 19 miles.
Finished in 4:00

2008:
Took no gels.
Wheels came off at 21 miles.
Finished in 4:26

Make of that as you wish.

I love that phrase when used with running!

5 gels for me, would have taken more if i had them, they stall the onset of the wheels coming off

by being a substitute for the energy stored in the leg muscles. I swear by them -> finished 3:48, target 3:45.

Slogger Jogger · 28-10-2009 06:57PM

Some interesting responses. I suppose it depends on what your used to, your tolerance levels for the sickly sweet syrup and what you do in your training. In training I've gotten used to running without any water or carb supplements. A bit of a comedown from a few years back starting off when I'd often set off with the 4 mini-water bottles on the waist strap.

Rophinph - can't fathom how you'd take that many. You must have a strong stomach!

earlyevening · 28-10-2009 07:41PM

I took 3 SIS gels. I used to drink a couple of sports drinks on the way around but that takes too much time. I dont find them to be "sickly sweet". I was happy with them and will use them again.

robinph · 28-10-2009 07:41PM

Slogger Jogger wrote: »

Rophinph - can't fathom how you'd take that many. You must have a strong stomach!

Oops, I meant to explain that but forgot before hitting the "post" button. I don't really like the taste of the gels, but being diabetic it's take them or fall down when it comes to the running for me.

Their claims of 1 every 20 minutes is pretty spot on though just in relation to how much of that energy you'd be burning within that time. I have tested this by deliberately getting to the very nearly falling down stage at the end of training runs purely in the interests of science, and to check if I could still tell what was happening to me or not.

Krusty_Clown · 28-10-2009 08:43PM

I took 3 or 4 in Berlin. SIS Isotonic gels. By the end of the race I just wanted to get any liquids I could into my system, given the heat. The cups they hand out are next to useless.

On Monday I took 2 gels (same brand), more to avoid the risk of hitting the wall, rather than any real need. I have no problem with taking gels, and will use them in training, for runs of 15 miles+.

If I was an Elite marathoner, and could put my own sports drinks on a dedicated table, then I wouldn't need to take any gels at all. Until then (:)), I'll continue to take them, but as sparingly as possible (because they're expensive, full of sugar, and bad for your teeth).

hawkwing · 28-10-2009 08:50PM

Took 3 SIS last year,none this yr,but about 16 wine gums at regular intervals after about 2 miles.Found the gels affected my breathing,didn't hit the wall this yr but slowed from 16miles but splits of 200 and 210 were not too bad.Last yr was 206 and 223 and fell away rapidly after 18m.

geld · 28-10-2009 09:45PM

Didn't run on Monday but generally take 3 or 4 gels in a marathon. I never have had any problems with them and generally find them good and do feel better 10/15 minures later.

I always make sure that they are washed down with sufficient water and I think that this helps. Overall I think that the correct intake of water is far more important than the amount of gels consumed.

Abhainn · 29-10-2009 09:17AM

Don't take gels during LSR's.
On Monday I took 3. A High 5 at 8 miles another at 16 miles and a Torq gel at 21 which I didn't feel like but forced it down anyway. I learned my lesson from Berlin the year before when I didn't bother taking my last gel and that was a main factor in my failed attempt in my sub 3.

goofygirl · 29-10-2009 11:23AM

I took 2 of the PowerBar Strawberry/banana gels, one at the 8 mile marker one at the 18 mile mark. Didn't feel like I needed to take them but felt that I should. Mile splits stayed consistent, finished just under 4:20, beaming and looking where to sign up for next year.

In training I always used to wait until I was absolutely done for before taking a gel on the long runs and then would feel horrible and nauseous for the rest of the day. So figured I should go for prevention rather than cure.

Robinph that's incredible that you're running marathons with diabetes, I can only imagine the added planning and logistics you must need to do to keep everything ticking over.

smmoore79 · 29-10-2009 12:04PM

Took 4 shots of gel at 9 14 19 and 22. Have absolutely no idea if they help as ive never done an LSR over 18m without one. Might try to run without them on my LSR's next year just to see how i feel.

On another note, Ive heard that salt tablets are good for taking during a marathon. Is this true? Didnt try one in the Dublin marathon just in case..

TFBubendorfer · 29-10-2009 05:25PM

I took 5 gels in Dublin as an experiment. I had never taken more than 3 before (or even 2?). One thing I learned is that lack of carbs is not my problem. I could not take any more gels after the fifth, and my subsequent deterioration was definitely unrelated to glycogen depletion.

I have to think if I want to take even one next time. They just don't seem to do anything for me.

Izoard · 29-10-2009 05:33PM

On Monday, ended up having 6 gels (Power Bar L & L) and 2 packets of Jelly Tots, plus some other jellys from generous souls at the side of the road.

Probably consumed more calories than I expended...:)

I take the gels every 3 miles from mile 9/10. No adverse effects, but I really don't know if they do any tangible good either...

run_Forrest_run · 29-10-2009 05:47PM

I presume those here who were complaining of getting cramps etc whilst taking gels I can only hope ye have tried these previously during training and not introducing a change to diet etc between training and on the marathon day itself.

Do you use gels in marathons?

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