Can you combine a gel with energy drink?

[Boxcar]

I’m up to 11 miles & experimenting with fuel. I definitely feel tired around 9 miles. This week I tried a gel around then. I was too scared to take it earlier in case I needed the loo!

Anyway, no adverse effects but it didn’t really help. I’m wondering if I took it to late. Maybe I should have taken it before I feel tired?

Also I’ve been drinking Lucozade Sport once I’ve finished & this seems to have helped in that I can then function instead of crashing out on the settee. It didn’t seem to cause a problem that I’d had a gel.

I know on half marathon day there will be a Lucozade Sport station at 9 miles. So I’m thinking a gel at mile 5 or 6 then Lucozade at mile 9. Does this sound ok? There doesn’t seem to be much info on combining the two - people seem to either do gels or energy drink. Any advice?

[Boxcar Half Marathon]

Should have said I’m not planning on carrying drink, just using the water stations every 5k.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Many people do use an energy drink and gels.

Whether you use gels or snacks you definitely need to have them before you feel you need it. Once your body is telling you, you've missed the best window of opportunity.

[Hidden]

I have in the past: bottle of Tailwind and a gel or two. Now I take Tailwind and naked bars. I sip the drink on and off through the run and eat half a naked bar every 5k on a long run. I’m hoping that combination will get me round my half marathon in October.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

I’m currently only taking along plain water on my long runs and nibbling jelly babies, but I too would be interested in your replies. I pop an SIS electrolyte tablet in my post run water, but I’m wondering if I should up my in-run fuelling too. Will watch with interest. I’ve done just over 11 miles too. 👍😀

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

I would def use the tablet for your in run water as that's when you're sweating the most. 11 miles I'd want at least one snack. Its good to think along the lines of a snack every hour or just under. 👍🏻 my snacks are usually only around 120 calories.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Yes good idea. Maybe a separate little bottle with the tablet and keep the bladder for plain water. I tend to nibble JB’s every km or so after 10k. I’ve never tried Tailwind but I feel like I should!

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Whatever works for you. Personally I use tablets in my bladder, neutral flavour in flavoured sugar free water, which is 1.5 to 2l so the bulk of my water. Then I have 500ml sports drink (SiS Go) and 500ml plain. I'm a heavy sweater though so feel the need to put back those salts etc. The sports drink gives extra carbs so energy along the way. The plain is just for when I feel like I need a rinse. 👍🏻

I've bought a trial size of TW but I'm pretty fussy with flavours etc and having found I like SiS tropical am reluctant to test it yet.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Good tips there, thanks JoJo. I’m not a heavy sweater at all, although I feel very hot and do go 🍅 coloured. Will experiment. 👍

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Hi Jo, I sweat loads too, do you run with a hydration jacket? (If that's what they're called!) Is that what the bladder is? I feel like I need plain water as well as my sports drink and I don't want to run my marathon without all I need, just incase..... I like knowing I have my own water. But I'm not sure how to carry it all. And I don't want too many toilet stops! 🙈 xx

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to Clairecandothis]

Yes, I've just upgraded to a larger hydration pack/vest to increase capacity both for water and for extra layers come the cooler weather.

Yep, a bladder comes in a pack or vest type configuration. I started using the Salomon Agile Set 2 over 9 mile runs which comes with 2 500ml soft flasks that sit in the front. I bought a cheap (5.99) slim 1.5l bladder which, if I put 1l in and folded it right I could fit in the rear kangaroo pocket, this gave me 2l capacity. It did my first marathon distance but it was much cooler that day, I didn't even need to refill.

The new one gives me 3l water capacity plus loads of room for snacks, layers etc.

I'll still use the old one for shorter runs but I know the back pocket will give out eventually being stretched like that.

I really like having a choice of 3 differing drinks when out for different needs.

I have yet to need a loo break... but I do drink a good amount every day and I believe it's this which trains your body/bladder. The first few weeks you increase your intake there's a definite increase in loo visits but this settles down.

The longest session I've been out for was 6.5/7 hrs I think (got rather lost) but still never needed a wee.

I have cycling... but there is usually a bush or tree 👍🏻😁

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thank you. There is so much to learn..... I was drinking loads of water when I was following my lower carb diet and eating better too. And you're right I didn't go to the toilet loads then. I need to hydrate consistently and consider that my previous way of eating and fuelling was working lol so maybe I should stick with what I know! I was told lemon juice water and salt is as good an electrolyte drink as any other today too. So many different things that work for people. Ideally anything that means I can avoid the gels is my aim! Thank you for answering my naive questions. 😊 x

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to Clairecandothis]

Personally I wouldn't enjoy salted lemon water for hours. It has to be something I want to drink or it will put me off.

We tried several options back when we started cycling 2 years ago now and finally settled on SiS. Many cheaper brands I actually find contained a yellow dye which marked my bottles and bladder and believe it or not... came out of my skin in the bath!

I drink Tesco still flavoured water all day every day in strawberry or plum and enjoy that so it works for me to just add the neutral tablets to it.

Does the 'sports' stuff do anything more than lemon and salt? I really don't know but I'm lazy, I'd rather just buy them on offer and pop one in than faff about getting any self mix right. 🤣

Gels can easily be replaced with snacks. Anything you enjoy eating on the sofa really, just practice eating on the go.

All questions are worth asking! 👍🏻😁

[Teresa1632 Half Marathon]

I find ges can be sore on your stomach, though they do really help. I take an electrolyte drink in my water bottle (mixed half with water as I find them too sickly). I take 1/2-1 gel just before I start off, then take wine gums at mile 6.

It's all personal preference though, and little & often works for me. (The added complication is that I have type 1 diabetes, so have to watch blood sugars and even inject insulin at the halfway point to convert the carbs.)

[BarbieW in reply to Teresa1632]

Must be awkward for you having to carry your pen with you all the way? Or are you pumping? Do you have a CGM or Libre to help? (I’m still learning all about the right BS level to aim for when running and still get it horribly wrong on my 5ks so cannot imagine how difficult it must be for longer distances! )

[Teresa1632 Half Marathon in reply to BarbieW]

I have a libre sensor, have been waiting for the pump for 9 months.

Yes it's a bit of a faff! I find that stress increases the BS too. To date, what works for me is a very light breakfast, bit of insulin. Check again before I set off in case I need to top it up.

I ran the Belfast half, and bumped into my diabetic nurse at the end! She was waiting for her son. So she remembered about me being on the waiting list 😁

[mrrun Ultramarathon]

I can't stand gels and only used Tailwind for the entire marathon. Worked for me perfectly.

[Boxcar Half Marathon]

Thanks everyone. Doesn't seem like there's any reason not to give it a go. I'm trying to avoid wearing my bladder or carrying a bottle on race day. I don't like carrying a bottle and as there's water stops I can go bladder free (there's a reason for this - sponsored T shirt that's important to me). The Lucozade is an organised stop at mile 9.

So I'm going to try it on my next long run this weekend. Will wear my bladder for water and carry the Lucozade this once. Gel at about 5 miles then Lucozade at 9. See how it goes!

I'll look into Tailwind after the half if I decide to stay at the half distance or go further. Not sure at the moment. This may be a one off! Saying that, I had no intention of going beyond 5K when I started this journey yet here I am...