Running Fuel!

We’ve got a ton of options.
Clif Shot
Clif Shot Bloks
Gu
Luna Chews
Hammer Gels

And more. We’ve got energy bars, of course (Luna bars, Clif bars, etc), and energy drinks like Gatorade and Recharge.

As much as I joke around about living on a diet of energy fuels, I’m actually pretty careful. Please—try them, find a couple you like (and that your body likes), and then use in moderation!

Gels and bloks and drinks are intense forms of easily-digested carbs. Sugar. When you’re hitting a wall at 7 miles, chances are you’ve used up all the available energy in your body and you need more. Fast. You don’t want to stop and order a sandwich while you’re running, and you probably couldn’t digest one anyway. That’s when these things come in handy.

Gels taste like frosting. Fruit, chocolate, vanilla, banana…all the flavors are represented. Bloks are like little Jell-o blocks, but they’re vegan (no gelatin). They both work the same, it’s a matter of personal taste.

I can choke down a gel if I’m crashing, but I don’t like the consistency and I try to take Bloks with me. My mom, on the other hand, doesn’t like to have to chew the Bloks when she’s in the middle of a triathlon (yes, she’s 67, and yes, she kicks butt). She always takes gels.

Some people hate both. If you try them and you just can’t stomach them, try packing your pockets with:
Jelly beans or other favorite candies
Pretzel nuggets
Pre-cut pieces of your favorite energy bar

Or fill your water bottle with Gatorade or Recharge.

Some people can take sports drinks and gels at the same time, but it’s not recommended. That’s a lot of sugar to your system at once! Try to stick with one or the other.

Don’t start sucking down a gel every time you put on your running shoes. You don’t need them for shorter runs, which is why I’ve waited to talk about them. If you take them too much you’ll be ingesting too many calories. Wait until you’re working out at least an hour, then try one. Experiment with the different kinds, and caffeinated vs. no-caff.

During our race, they’ll have Gatorade and water at the rest stops along the course. So find out now if that’s enough, or if you’ll want to pack a gel! I know I’ll have two gels in my pocket. Both with caffeine. Double caffeine.

Please take a minute to read more about fueling yourself for longer runs, now that we’re getting up in the miles. We want you to feel GREAT during your training!!

Here is an excellent article sent by Coach Darren, about mental fatigue caused by low blood sugar. And here’s another nice one from Runner’s World about how to successfully carb yourself during runs.

Have fun with your new favorite food group! :)

Alex