Stomach friendly running gels??

Moycullen1

I am in the final stages of my preparation for DCM and yet again my stomach has been shredded by gels. When I am doing my long runs I suffer from severe lower stomach pain which for anyone who has experienced stomach ulcer pain it is identical to that. It is more of an acidic pain than a cramp and I was wondering if anyone has found a gel which is more gentle on the stomach. This is my 23rd marathon and almost all of them have been spoiled in some way by stomach discomfort so if anyone could give me any type of recommendation it would be greatly appreciated.

The Davestator

I gave up looking for a gel to solve my stomach issues and just take motilium + and all is good. (more cramps and wind though)

robinph

Try some baby food pouches. Not all are as high in carbs as the gels, and they are a bit bulkier, but they should be less of an issue on your belly. Check the stats on the packet though so you know how much you are getting.

ligerdub

Would you consider trying some peppermint gel/tablets for the weeks leading up to it?

I also found sillicol gel and aloe vera to be pretty good for keeping down the stomach discomfort.
I down a tablet of imodium before the start too. So far so good.

Back to your original question, I find Isogel to be quite soft on the tummy in that regard. It doesn't need any water with it either which is a bonus.

28064212

You could maybe... y'know... try... *not* using gels

Enduro

You don't need gels. Stop using them. They are very expensive heavily marketed nasty form of sugar. Maybe try jelly babies or jelly beans if you think you need a sugar hit.

Woden

Tried the Gu ones or Cliff shot bloks as a jelly type instead?

Moycullen1

I usually take an Imodium or something similar. I have tried weaning myself off gels but find I run out of energy. I often carry small bars such as mars etc to help deal with the acid in my stomach. I will definitely try a few Isogels, Gu and Cliff shots.

Moycullen1

In relation to the baby food pouches I have heard about very high carb mixtures ultra runners and mountain climbers eat which is mixed from dry and provides meals containing between 2000 and 3000 calories. Has anyone heard of such foods. I could experiment with bringing small quantities in little pouches and mix it in a bottle of water. It would probably make a fairly thick mixture but if I keep it runny I might be able to get it out of a bottle with the top off.

kneejerk

As many have said you don't need gels.

However its probably a bit late for you to road test that for DCM. I would suggest training without them and running your next marathon without them and see how that goes.

In the interim SIS GO Iso Gels are a safe bet, I have yet to hear anyone complain about them.

AAD

Yea, I've tried a number of gels and the SIS Go ISO gel is the one I stick with now. I use the energy, Electrolite and caffeine versions of them.

And they are in special offer on their website at the minute as well.

kierank01

how many gels are you planning to take?

can you substitute with some kind of real food, and carry that with you?

If you had the real food towards the start of the course, if you were concerned about having to drag it with you, had have one gel in the last 10k?

Do you take water with the gels at the moment?

how have you been during your training runs?

jamule

What do you need a gel for , there just expensive sugar. If you need to eat something try jelliesbor make sonething yourself. Even better eat imaginary food, just tell yourself it works as well as a gel and it will.

DubOnHoliday

+1 for Lidl baby food pouches that cost about a Euro

Moycullen1

kierank01 wrote: »

how many gels are you planning to take?

can you substitute with some kind of real food, and carry that with you?

If you had the real food towards the start of the course, if you were concerned about having to drag it with you, had have one gel in the last 10k?

Do you take water with the gels at the moment?

how have you been during your training runs?

I take about 4 gels during a marathon plus a few jellies and a small bar or two! I always take water with the gels. I am doing 20 tomorrow and will try SIS gels to see if it makes a difference. Fingers crossed.

chrislad

kneejerk wrote: »

As many have said you don't need gels.

However its probably a bit late for you to road test that for DCM. I would suggest training without them and running your next marathon without them and see how that goes.

In the interim SIS GO Iso Gels are a safe bet, I have yet to hear anyone complain about them.

My wife got me these in error when I wanted the High5 gels, but I actually preferred them so will stick with these on DCM day after I used them for my last 20 mile.

TFBubendorfer

kneejerk wrote: »

In the interim SIS GO Iso Gels are a safe bet, I have yet to hear anyone complain about them.

Well, I guess you haven't heard from me then. Those are the only gels I've tried that ever gave me stomach troubles.

That's why it's important to try things out BEFORE the race

ford2600

Moycullen1 wrote: »

I am in the final stages of my preparation for DCM and yet again my stomach has been shredded by gels. When I am doing my long runs I suffer from severe lower stomach pain which for anyone who has experienced stomach ulcer pain it is identical to that. It is more of an acidic pain than a cramp and I was wondering if anyone has found a gel which is more gentle on the stomach. This is my 23rd marathon and almost all of them have been spoiled in some way by stomach discomfort so if anyone could give me any type of recommendation it would be greatly appreciated.

I've nothing but admiration for the determination to do 23 marathons with varying gastrointestinal distress but it doesn't need to be that way.

Probably not a lot you can do to adapt before DCM but I'd be inclined to make changes before number 24.

http://completesoccertraining.blogspot.ie/2012/05/hormonal-regulation-of-metabolism.html?m=1

The hormones involved as outlined above are a different set to what's use for digestion, you effectively asking your vascular system to operate both at same time; some people can do it but it's not for you by sound of it.

Adapt your body to utilise fat more for marathon pace running; hint throwing in high GI gels does the very opposite. Eating toast, shredded wheat before your runs does the very opposite.

Some adaptations will be mental as you begin to realise what's possible without the sugar crutch as you stress your body at adapt.

You'll need about 2600 calories to run a marathon, a gel contains about 100 calories so even if have 5 that's less than 20% of your energy requirements with gastrointestinal distress along with it. A lot of the benefit is from the sweetness in mouth and the signalling to brain that glucose is on the way so maybe try a quater gel at a time to see how you go or try so jelly baby sweets to see if less troublesome.

If you take to fat adaptation running your 25th/26th marathon before breakfast isnt an unrealistic goal.

Best of luck

The Black Oil

Saturday was the first time I noticed the packaging says 'one every 20 minutes'. Eh no, they can feck off with that.

Moycullen1

I am glad to report that i tried Energy, Electrolite and caffeine SIS gels on my last LSR over the weekend and had no stomach trouble so I am delighted to not have to worry about that so now I can focus all my frustration on my lack of preparation!

After Dublin I will definitely try to get used to running without them, the link above from ford2600 makes for interesting reading. Thanks to everyone who contributed and the best of luck to anyone doing Dublin.

Woden

Ok but we all still agree the gels are minging right?

hardCopy

28064212 wrote: »

You could maybe... y'know... try... *not* using gels

Enduro wrote: »

You don't need gels. Stop using them. They are very expensive heavily marketed nasty form of sugar. Maybe try jelly babies or jelly beans if you think you need a sugar hit.

This for me. Of the three marathons I did (all DCM), I moved my breakfast further ahead of the start time and reduced the amount of sugar I ate on the way round, my stomach felt progressively better each year. At my last one I still took lucozades where they were offered and carried a few Wine Pastilles, I didn't miss the gels.

shane1981

Personally i find GU the tastiest and no stomach issues. I actually look forward to taking them. Having said that, I took a snickers bar with me for my last LSR and it was the most delicious bar Ive ever had. Kept my pace constant for the 20mi.

ligerdub

hardCopy wrote: »

This for me. Of the three marathons I did (all DCM), I moved my breakfast further ahead of the start time and reduced the amount of sugar I ate on the way round, my stomach felt progressively better each year. At my last one I still took lucozades where they were offered and carried a few Wine Pastilles, I didn't miss the gels.

What time did you have breakfast for your most comfortable one? Also, what did you have?