Not for mid-race, but I’m definitely trying this sometime soon.
So I think this outtake from Train Like a Mother got left on the cutting room floor because I didn’t ask the quesiton well; there are so many factors going into what you eat during a race, including the thickness of the iron lining–or lack thereof–in your stomach and the length of the race. Take these answers, then, with a grain of a salt packet.
Take it From a Mother: What do you eat during a race?
“I carry my own chews, but drink the race’s water and electrolyte drinks.”
—Lesley (favorite pre-long run meal: a whole wheat waffle with Greek yogurt and almond butter)
“Same as my training runs: water with Nuun and GU.”
—Suzanne (entertains herself on long runs by watching for drivers who pass her and look back to watch her run)
“Water, shot blocks, electrolyte tabs. I carry my own fuel and fluids, but also take water from the aid stations.”
—Linda (proudest running moment: finishing her first marathon)
“It is hard to balance staying hydrated with needing to pee, so I try to take frequent small sips of my own water/sports drink rather than big gulps at aid stations.”
—Julie (recently started using the Galloway method of running and walking at intervals, “I know I can keep going and I no longer feel like I am a loser for needing to walk. It’s just part of the plan.”)
“I consume one water bottle, one Gatorade bottle, and one pack of Sports Beans for a half-marathon. Anything shorter than that, I don’t bring anything.”
—Maria (her favorite race distance is the 10K. “I feel like I can really push myself the entire time.”)
“GU: Espresso Love or Just Plain. I only drink water at the water stops. I’m too afraid to try any carbo drink if I don’t know the composition of. Even if I usually train with it, I’m always afraid the organizers use the powder and mix it too much or too little, and it’s not worth the stomach issues.”
—Christine (“Firework” by Katy Perry never fails to fire her up)
“I carry my own gels. I pin them into my running skirt if I can’t fit enough in the pockets. I drink Gatorade and water at the race, but if I can have someone meet me half way, I will drink Perpetuem.”
—Kelly (muesli and applesauce is her pre-run snack)
“I drink a lot of water, so I like to have my own for in between aid stations. Food is a must. I bring my own cookies.” – Alice (her first race distance was a half-marathon. “I don’t do anything the easy way.”)
Taking it to you mothers: what do you eat or drink during a race? (And what length race are you talking about? And how’s that stomach?)
I don’t eat at all, and I drink water…sparingly. No electrolytes or anything like that. Of course, I’ve only run 1 10k race so far….
As long as I don’t eat and just sips at 5k mark, tummy is ok. Any more and it’s tummy cramps!
Gu every 3-4 miles for longer distances with chocolate outrage (caffeine) Gu for the last 1/3 of the race.
Nuun in my water, I carry my own water belt. Goldfish when it is really really hot an humid for some extra salt, but only in a marathon and after 15 miles.
I look like I’m going camping, not long distance running . Lol.
Me Too!!!
I am a very dry person. I carry my own water and take it at every station. I also pack nuun and power bar gels.
Luckily I have a pretty strong stomach and have not experienced tummy trouble during a race. (Finding a port-a-potty is my personal nemesis.)
I usually drink water or sports drinks that the race provides and bring my own GU, preferrably chocolate. I’m looking into jellybeans or gummy bears now though. I’m sick of always needing to have GU on hand.
For a run longer than an hour or 1.5 hours – race or training run – I take a gel every 45 minutes. I drink only water during the run whether I’m on a course or just training. I don’t want to take chances plus I don’t want the sticky sweet taste of a drink with the gel.
vega gel and ultima replenisher for 10k and longer
I used to be GU girl all the way, but during my last half marathon, I could barely gag it down. All of it sudden, it was disgusting to me. Looking for an alternative now. I tried sports beans once, but they upset my stomach, and I’m afraid to try them again. I’m thinking maybe just candy? Any recommendations?
I had a similar reaction in a race after using GU for other races. Now, I pour gel into a flask and add water so that I can drink it more easily. I was surprised how much easier it is to use.
I like the ClifBlocks. Not as easy to get down, but a lot more palatable to me.
I eat gummy bears and fig newtons. My stomach can’t handle anything else.
In a race or even a training run I hate carrying (or wearing)anything extra so generally I fuel up the night before with both food and water. The only time I carry anything is during a half marathon or better, then I stash gu in my key pockets and take water at the aid stations.
I just drink water or sports drink for halves, and for a full I’ll do electrolyte and carb sports drinks with a gel of some sort depending on my energy level. I try to train on long runs w/o extra carbs to get my body used to using it’s own fuel (ie fat, and glycogen).
I tried a sample of the cherry Shot Blocks at an expo a few years ago and became obsessed. It was all I could do not to eat them as a snack. So I grabbed two boxes off Amazon for training and races to use last summer-so much cheaper than buying them one-off at the running store. Then, after only using a few packages, I got pregnant. I wasn’t comfortable downing that much caffeine during an endurance race with the little one, so I switched to LaraBars. They are like packed fruit bars. I prefer the Cherry Pie ones. The gel-like consistency fills me up, and the natural sugar gives me a boost. I highly recommend them for anyone who is pregnant and trying to find a natural way to keep their energy up during the race-I found 2 of them, rationed carefully, could get me through a marathon!
Cliff shot blocks with my own water for longer runs (over an hour) and I just tried a Stinger Waffle for the first time and LOVED them. No tummy issues what-so-ever. They’re like “real food”.
I love the stinger waffles too! But how do you carry them?
I haven’t run a race long enough to require mid-run fuel yet, but I’ve been testing things in preparation… so far Shot Bloks are in the winning position. I like the taste of Honey Stingers, too, but they make me burp! No bueno.
Vanessa, me too! I’m training for my first half, so am just starting to need to experiment with fuel. I love the shot bloks and have a stash of GUs to try but haven’t taken the leap yet, as the consistency of them makes me a little nervous.
I often have PB and toast as a pre or post run snack, so I am all over that M&M sandwich in the picture!
Gels (pretty much any brand) have never sat well on my stomach (besides feeling like a warm/raw oyster in my mouth, which is gross). I was using Honey Stinger chews, but logistically, they aren’t easy to carry when you need enough for a marathon. So, I JUST tried the Honey Stinger gels. The “Gold” flavor (pretty much just honey) is AWESOME. I tried the “Ginsting” flavor and I don’t like the taste as much, but like that it has caffeine. I can only do water, as I haven’t found a sports drink that doesn’t cause major intestinal issues after a long run.
For 10+ mile training runs I carry a handful of jelly beans left over from Easter each year. I plan my route around 3 water public fountains to wash em down. For a race I do the same thing- jelly beans and water from aid stations.
I eat a couple of organic bunny fruit snacks throughout a half marathon (I just take one pack) and an orange slice at mile 10. I take 1-2 small sips at every water station but limit it quite a bit because I don’t want to make a pit stop.
For a Half, I usually do Clif Caffeine Free Gels or Shot Blocks every 3 miles. I wear my own hydration belt with Gatorade G2 (low cal) in it and I still stop for plain water on the course. I usually have my own G2 left over, but I’ve done halfs with not enough course support, so I always play it safe. For anything shorter, just water stops. And on casual long runs, I’ve been known to carry Pretzel M&M’s. :)
I like sports beans that I eat when they hand out gels on the race course, and water/gatorade. if its hot, its more gatorade, if its not, then its water.
My longest race is a 10mi trail challenge. But for anything longer than six miles I use a gel before the run and then another at just over an hour and fifteen minutes in. I carry my own water and rarely stop at the aid stations for water. I drink mine sparingly so I am usually still ok.
I am currently doing only Hammer Gels (easy on my tummy!) and water. I like to carry a small hand held Amphipod for little sips rather than deal with crowds at the stations. Plus, I can refill if need be. I prefer the little sips along the way rather than giant gulps and I like to control when I get my water/gels.
Ok ladies, what about a full? I usually do three gels during a half, about every 4 miles. I am not sure I can get down 6 in a marathon. Thinking about trying the waffles. Any other suggestions?
6 is a lot of gels! I have done 5, I think, in a marathon once or twice. Too many gels leads to tummy trouble after long runs or races for me. But I am curious about the waffles?? If they are portable, even better! I am picturing carrying an Eggo around and I am not sure which pocket that would work in :) Good luck!
I usually do one Gu/hour of running….that has worked out well so far!
I was nervous before my first longer run, so I stashed a handful of golden raisins in my pocket and ate a few when I started to hit a wall around mile 4. They tasted so fabulous to me at that point! I ate a few more and suddenly my energy picked up and I felt I could run forever! Now I always carry raisins in my pocket on longer runs. Cheap, small, easy to chew, and we always have them on hand!
Love the idea of raisins! Definitely going to try them!
Raisins! Genius!!!
I love this thread. I never thought of taking Annie’s Bunny snacks but I am definitely willing to try on my marathon. What’s the scoop on the Fig Newtons? I’d be willing to try but need a tad more info. Help!
I have no tummy tolerance for Gels, beans, Gatorade, etc…so far Honey Stingers are my thing, but I can only eat 1 at a time. I’ve done 10 full marathons and my best success was with honey water with a pinch of pure sea salt added in for sodium replacement. Otherwise, a big bowl of steel cut oats mixed with a banana, chia seeds, walnuts, cinnamon, and a bit of maple syrup. Cinnamon is a natural blood sugar stabilizer, maple syrup is a naturally low glycemic sweetener, oats are full of carbs and fiber to keep you full for a long time, the banana has potassium and magnesium for muscle cramps and quick energy. Essentially, it’s way more important to eat well leading up to the race (and I’m not talking large bowls of pasta!) than during the race.
Always water, maybe with Nuun. Still trying to find the perfect marathon fuel that doesn’t mess with my belly and isn’t too bulky to carry. Shot Blox were the best for me fuel-wise but you have to have some big pockets to carry 26.2 miles worth.
Shot blocks cut in half or quartered then I shake them in a bag of a little powdered sugar to keep them from sticking together. That plus some water.
Still playing with this for my half marathons – so far the best bet for me is GU gel or Chomps at 4/8/11 and I carry my own water & Nuun. My stomach is touchy so Gatorade and I are not friends unless I water it down. I also couldn’t handle Sports Beans at all.
Cranraspberry shotblocks are my fave and Nuun in my water bottle. I have been doing some reading about drinking every 15 min and I have to say my last two long runs have been way better than any before that.
I love my gels during races (and even training)…but I actually did a bunch of orange slices yesterday during a full. I’ve never done that before and it felt great during the race, but my stomach was a wreck afterward. Not my finest moment!
Wild cherry life savers for the sugar, sometimes a Stinger cookie, and water. Anything else and I puke like a mother in her first trimester! :)
In August I’ll be part of a relay team for a 92-mile race. I’m slowly beginning to build my miles in preparation. I’m trying to find ways to replenish that are gluten, dairy and soy free. The joys of food intolerances!! :\ Thankfully I found that some Gatorade products are ok (I have one of their pre-drinks 15 minutes prior and a bottle afterwards), PowerBar’s Strawberry-Banana gel might be the most foul tasting thing I’ve ever consumed but it does the trick without causing any GI issues and recently during the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge I tried Shot Blocks. Popped the whole damn thing in my mouth at once…yeah, next time around I may need to cut those in half prior to the race.
ray ban sunglasses