Eating during the marathon?

Running Bing

Basically I had planned on taken gels at mile 9, 15, 20, 23 and just taking energise sport wherever available on course.


However from talking to people others seem to be taken everything from chicken sandwiches to chocolate bars during the race.

Will my gels and drink be enough? Should I take some solid food as well or should I take more/less gels?


During my long runs I usually have one gel and a bottle of lucozade sport. Also I have a stomach like granite so I would not be worried about eating stuff like chocolate out there if it was advised:D

Peckham

Stick with what you know! If you're used to gel and lucozade sport, then take gel and lucozade sport tomorrow....now is not the time to make any changes. Any fuelling changes made could have a negative impact on performance, i.e. give you stomach cramps or worse.

Chicken sandwiches during a race?! Never heard of this before! Can't see what benefit the chicken gives you - protein to aid recovery after the race perhaps, but what else?

robinph

What times were the people who were suggesting the sambos aiming for?

copacetic

stick to your gels and don't overdo the eating, from my experience, not eating enough is easier to deal with than eating too much.

Running Bing

Okay, good stuff.


Would the four gels be OK at the points I mentioned or would you advise doing it differently?


RE: Chicken sambos...only one person said this to me. Not sure on times but definitely 4+ and probably a fair bit slower. Thought it was strange myself, but I know ultra runners eat all sorts of mad sh1te while their racing:D

Peckham

How many gels have you being taking on your long runs? e.g. on a 20-miler?

Stick pretty much to what you've done in training.

copacetic

4 sounds a little much to me, but you know better how they have gone in training. The 23 mile one will probably be too late to give much effect. Take the first 3 and see how you go.

Running Bing

copacetic wrote: »

4 sounds a little much to me, but you know better how they have gone in training. The 23 mile one will probably be too late to give much effect. Take the first 3 and see how you go.

Yeah I was thinking that.



Ive taken only one on my 20 miler. Felt this would leave me a little short in the marathon though.

copacetic

tbh if you have only taken on on your 20 miler then don't change it. I made this mistake in 05, really worried about the 'wall', ate too much never felt right the whole way and had to make about 7 toilet stops.

Better off taking the one and carry a couple of spares if you feel you really need them later on.

plodder

For my last couple of marathons, I took a gel just before each of the water stations, except posisbly the last one. The taste does get to you, and I think I couldn't stomach the last one, but I found it helps to consume it, before you get the water, so you aren't left with an after taste. I do have a very strong stomach though, so it is wise to be cautious about it.

I'd be amazed to see runners eating real food like sandwiches while running. Probably a good idea for walkers, but a runner's digestive system would find that really hard, I think.

robinph

The High5 ones your supposed to take water with them anyway, so make sure you pick up water at those stations as well if your taking a gel.

Peckham

copacetic wrote: »

tbh if you have only taken on on your 20 miler then don't change it. I made this mistake in 05, really worried about the 'wall', ate too much never felt right the whole way and had to make about 7 toilet stops.

Better off taking the one and carry a couple of spares if you feel you really need them later on.

+1 to this advice

Krusty_Clown

I'm going to take one at 6, 12, and 18 miles, and have a spare, just in case.
That's one, approximately every 45-50 mins. Also, that means I have one as I arrive at each of the above water stations. I won't be taking the High5, as I've done all my training with the PowerBar variety. All going well, I should be arriving at Trinity this time tomorrow.

How Strange

Eating a sandwich while running :eek: I couldn't even think about it.

I usually add my gels to a bottle of water and sip it as I go along. I couldn't stomach taking one all at once. I've used two for my 20 miles so taking three with me tomorrow. I start after 6 miles, another at 13-14 so will take the third one around 18-19.

--amadeus--

I used to eat energy bars but I stopped that a while back. It can be tough on the digestive system and I agre 100% with the advice above; don't change anything!

I used a couple of gels on one of my LSRs (cant rem what length) and was planning one at least every 30 mins. That is a far higher concentration than I have been used to but I have a history of fading in races and I want to make sure I minimise that risk this time. I'd also rather have the gels there and decide not to take them than want them and not have them...

Racing Flat

Babybing wrote: »

Yeah I was thinking that.



Ive taken only one on my 20 miler. Felt this would leave me a little short in the marathon though.

I only ever took 1 on a training run, but took 3 on marathon day. I think because your marathon pace will be faster than your training runs and 4-6miles longer, taking more gels in the race than in training is acceptable.

Racing Flat

Ran for >1hour last 2 days in Dublin and it is not cold. 1 layer is all that will be needed. Had to discard my rain jacket both days and just ran in a t-shirt for the rest and I was still sweating.

tunney

copacetic wrote: »

4 sounds a little much to me, but you know better how they have gone in training. The 23 mile one will probably be too late to give much effect. Take the first 3 and see how you go.

the one at 23 does sound a little late, but four is definitely not too much. just time them better.