Skip to main content

12-Miler and Fuel Reviews

After the normal oatmeal breakfast (with almonds, flax, dried cranberries, and fresh strawberries mixed in) I  got ready for this week's long run. No, Tuesday is not a typical long run day, but lately it has been for me. I managed 12 miles in 1:56 (9:40 pace) which was right on target as far as I am concerned! I have to really remember to run my long runs sloooowly, otherwise I burnout half-way through.
I'm always a little unsure about what to do for fueling during long runs. Often I just stick with water, but as my long runs increase in distance I know I need to play around with what will keep me going. A trip this weekend to Rock/Creek meant a chance to buy some new goodies to try out.
Today, I tried 2 new things:
1. GU Chomps (Cranberry Apple w/Caffeine)
2. Nuun electrolyte tablets
Cran-Apple Flavor

The GU Chomps I really loved! I'm wary of the normal gels because the consistency kind of grosses me out. Plus, these look like gummy candies so I was excited! I ended up eating half the pack (4 gummies--90 calories) during the run. I ate them at mile 4, 6.5, 8.5, and 11. It wasn't hard for me to chew these and run, although I can imagine if you are running a lot faster it would be tough. 

Nuun--Lemon+Lime Flavor

These tablets were great! They are basically calorie-free (6 per tablet) so I guess they don't technically count as "fuel". But they are chock full of electrolytes and really hydrated me better than water. The tablets fizz up in water and keep it semi-carbonated, which sounds weird for a run but somehow works nicely. The hubster actually had one with his lunch, just as a soft-drink replacement and liked the flavor too. 

I'm pretty happy that this combination worked, I felt like I drank a bit less water than normal but felt just a hydrated, which is a good thing. I also avoided any, um..."G.I. issues". Let's just leave it at that. 

How/when do you fuel for long runs?






Comments

  1. Running RicigMarch 30, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    I love Chomps, but can't eat them while I'm running. I usually eat them before or after or if I'm just training, I'll stop for a sec to eat them. I HATE the consistency of the gels, but I've found that when you really need fuel during a run, you don't even notice the consistency because you swallow them so fast and they work really well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vanessa @ Gourmet RunnerMarch 30, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    Hmmm...I may have to retry a gel and see how it goes!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Emily @ eat.drink.run.March 30, 2011 at 12:52 PM

    I love chomps too! Its hard for me to stomach much when I run, but I know that if I don't I'll run out of energy. Sometimes when my running fuel (chomps, GU, etc) runs out I use other replacements that are less expensive and you can get them anywhere: gummy bears and swedish fish work really well! Basically you're just trying to replace the carbs you're burning, so sugar does that quickly! I've also used honey packets (or made honey water which is a good alternative to sports drinks) and fig newtons before.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Race the Bar 5k Recap (AKA: A Personal Worst!)

Do you remember a few weeks back, when I was all braggy about running in Florida in February/March? Sunny mornings around a lake with a light breeze off the water have turned, cruelly, into humid stretches of time where I am humbly reminded of my own limitations. You guys, I see these gazelle-like creatures, men and women alike, who prance on my running route with compression socks, a soft glow of perspiration at their brow. It's beautiful. It's also a harsh reminder that I am not them. I am currently running in the thinnest, smallest items of clothing I can without offending anyone (shirt stays on, people). I dare not step outside without some awful visor or wide-brimmed hat. When I hop in the shower after a run, my face is a deep crimson that causes my husband to voice his concern for my general well-being. Have I mentioned this is what happens after my easy runs, with a few walk breaks thrown in? Yeah. It's humbling. Now, I'm not complaining. It's beautiful
63 comments
Read more

Brace Yourselves: Cuteness is Coming

One of the hardest things about moving, for me, was wondering how the cats would adjust each time. Although our cats are super travelers at this stage, I feel really guilty every time we have to pack them up and force them onto a plane. I remember my grandma telling me years ago that when she moved with a cat, they put butter on their paws. That way, the cats spent the first day in a new house licking their paws to get them clean, and that was enough time to lose the "smell" of the old house. I love that story, and I wish the same principle applied to longer moves. Anyway, that's a super long intro to say that for the fellow cat ladies out there, our three fur babies are insanely happy in this jungle gym of a home here in Florida. It's warm, there are plenty of sunny spots to curl up a take a nap, and they have lots of room to spread out. Despite the space, of course, they still usually want to take a nap on my head at night. Obviously. They also love climbing on ou
6 comments
Read more

Running Jewelry Giveaway from The Run Home!

Running has a tendency at times to make me feel just a little less feminine that I might like. The curves might disappear just a little (well...the top ones at least. Bottom ones are still out in full force) and I spend more time fiddling with my Garmin than I do putting on make-up. So I love when I can show my interest in running with a beautiful, feminine piece of jewelry. I recently received two necklaces from the great people at The Run Home.   They have an Etsy store full of inspirational necklaces, bracelets and more for athletes. I received this beautiful necklace in the mail from them: A cute running shoe, heart, and a hand-stamped 26.2 charm. In all honesty, I don't think I'll wear this until I have finished the marathon in November. Kind of like wearing a race shirt before you completed the race! But it will make the perfect reward and I can't wait to wear it with pride. The Run Home sent everything to me perfectly packaged--like it was a gift. I loved that:
187 comments
Read more