Hi guys, I’m wondering what you all take with you on longer runs? Im training for a half marathon and I’ve just started longer runs and I was wondering what do people take with them for energy on route? So far I haven’t taken anything with me and just rehydrate when I get home but I’m finding by mile 7/8 I’m really running out of energy. My problem is I don’t like the thought of having to carry anything. Should i suck it up and carry a water bottle or is there anything better?
Any tips welcome, thanks
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AbiPa
10 Miles
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I am not surprised you are running out of energy..... I used to take allsorts, the most effective was flapjack. Sweets gave immediate energy which then sloped off quickly. I have a salamon backpack which is so comfy you barely know its there. Good luck with your training
I got a pack for Christmas! Not tried it yet. I got a cheaper one from Amazon but it looks cool. Can't wait to hit the trail with it I did an 18 k recently but didn't take a drink. Doing another this weekend but surviving on home-made power bars, which just go in my pocket
No sticky post, but there is certainly a Half Marathon Group! Please do come and have a look, the latest post is here, and all the other posts are linked at the bottom:
In new to this as well but I have a running belt with two small 25l water bottles which makes them easy to carry, I forget about them after a k or so. I experimented with adding Tailwind to my water to avoid having to carry food as well: I’ve only done that once but it seemed to work and I think that’s the direction I’ll take. I was jeffing a HM distance which took 3 hours, 1k runs separated by 3 min walks, and I drank half a small bottle (ie 125 ml) during the walk after runs 7, 12 and 17, keeping the fourth quarter bottle for the finish. Only done it once so far but it worked for me.
Thank you, I’ve just ordered a running belt so hopefully I get on okay with that. I’ve been running 10K okay but now I’m starting to go out for well over an hour I think I need to starting taking drinks with me.
Personally I like to take some sports drink in a soft bottle in one of my backpack's pockets. You will see a lot of people discussing the sports drink Tailwind, so you may want to check that out:
I got that that one from Santa but would have preferred the 10 litre one as it has extra side storage cubbies Never mind it’s still going to be a boon on my long runs
Thank you, lots of people have suggested these backpacks so I’ll have a look into them. I’ve ordered some trail wind so hopefully that helps. Thank you for your advice.
I always have storage for any run over an hour and will carry 1 snack per expected additional hour, (nakd snack bars, frusili, other oat based snack bars) plus hydration at roughly 400ml per expected additional hour. My small pack carries 1l fluid and I can shove a bit more in if needed, my large pack takes 3.5l. Both have sufficient space for a handful of snacks.
Mine are the Agile Set 2 vest and Adv Skin 12, both from Salomon. The Agile is much more affordable and has done a couple of marathon length runs happily with refill stops.
Thank you, lots of people are suggesting the same backpacks so I’ll go have a look at those. I need to get baking myself some flapjacks I think. Thanks for your advice
This time of year, I do 10k loops and have a drink after loop 1. I used to have a couple of biscuits or a clif shot blok but just have water these days unless I am racing. In spring/summer I go out on the trails for longer runs and use a light backpack and water bladder so I can drink on the run in the warmer weather.
Thank you, I’ve been okay in my 10K runs but as I’m trying to run further distances I really feel like I need something with me. I’m going to have a look at the backpacks as everyone seems to recommend them. Thank you for your advice
Similar to everyone else, I use a backpack/bladder with very diluted Tailwind in warm weather for runs over 10k, along with jelly babies. I haven’t needed anything yet this winter, although I could have done with a bit of energy towards the end of my 14k this week. I also have a belt with 2 small bottles, one for Tailwind and one for plain water. I haven’t used that one yet.
Everyone’s different, so experimentation is useful. 😀🏃♀️🏃♂️😀
Thank you, I’m going to have a look at these backpacks as Everyone recommends them. I’ve been fine on my 10K runs but like you, when stretching to further runs I’m really feeling I could do with a little boots. Thanks for your advice.
I have a belt with a couple of bottles that I use if I am going to be running for more than an hour or when it’s very hot. I find oat based cereal bars work best for fuel. I don’t like gels.
Thank you, I’ve ordered one of these belts so hopefully I get along with it okay, I’ll have to start baking some flapjacks I think. Thank you for your advice
Have you got a route you know well can you place items out on route and grab them like you would when racing?? I've dropped off clothes and extra gear at our local fire station before and had to call back later to collect
Ive run out of water on a long summer trail run and ran into the local rugby club bar for some, there used to mud and sweat in the clubhouse so was fine and have offered there bar for future use whenever required (I was so Muddy tescos wouldn't let me in)
I run up and back on a cycle path that’s really well used so I wouldn’t feel confident leaving things lying around, I do pass a Morrison’s, I’m not sure how they’d feel about me in there sweating everywhere mid run 😂
I carry a Two water bottle belt on longer runs and can honestly say don’t know it’s there! I also have dried apricots in the pocket, which are supposed to give you a sugar boost. Not sure they work though but still it can’t hurt. I’m up to 11 miles at moment!
I find I need a pickup at 12k so have a 500ml bottle of tailwind which I sip from about 9k onwards. I haven’t felt the need for anything else, but we are all different, so just experiment.
Thank you, I’ve ordered a belt so I can try taking a drink with me and see how I get on with that. I’ve ordered some tailwind as everyone’s been recommending it. Thanks for your advice.
For me, I've discovered dried apricots and also jelly babies (husband recommended from his cycling and oh my god do they taste good when you are flagging!). Probably not brilliant for long term energy but in conjunction with the apricots, it seemed to work.
I use a small backpack with bladder (Decathlon) for water. Tried it out for first time on long run last weekend. Once I'd got over the sloshing sound I didn't notice it was there. Took on surprisingly small amount of water, but the occasion sip was nice.
Thank you, lots of people are suggesting dried apricots so I’m going to give them a go, I’ve ordered a running belt with water bottles so I’ll see how I get on with that, I think I’ll need a backpack and bladder when the warmer weather comes, Thank you for your advice.
I have a couple of jelly babies before I set off and take a small water bottle and a couple more jelly babies with me. So far so good but I've not done more than 10 miles yet.
Thank you. I’m going to have to play around with different things, see what works for me. Thank you for your tips.
I have a hydration vest thingy. I can get two bottles in if I have to, or a bladder in the back. Room for phone, energy bar, space blanket, and other little bits and pieces. I use Tailwind, which is a really good powder you mix with water. It is liquid food with electrolytes really. I carried a bottle of that and two nak’d bars for the half marathon I did in October, but honestly the tailwind on its own would have been enough.
Thank you, lots of people have recommended Tailwind so I’ve ordered some to see how I get on with that, as well as a running belt with water bottles so hopefully that combination will work otherwise I’ll be on the search for a backpack. Thanks for you advice.
I hate carrying water, and on my HM day I was fine as there were water stations. On my long training runs I used a place where I could do a long lap back to the car, grab water, do a small 1k lap, ditch the bottle and back on the long lap... worked quite well, partly because I have electric doors and so could open and close the car without stopping, but I think a few seconds of stop would be ok. I didn’t fuel with anything different, but boy was I hungry after anything 10 miles plus! I’m looking at tailwind for going further now as I’ve heard lots good about it. Hoping that it suits me as I really don’t like to run with belts.
Loads of people have suggested tailwind to me so I’ve ordered some and I’ll see how I get on with that. I also ordered a belt with water bottles but I, not sure how I’ll be with drinks sloshing about while i run, or something wrapped around my waist but I’ll give it a go. I managed 10 miles with nothing but I was really flagging come mile 7/8 so hopefully this will help me with stamina. Thanks for your advice.
That’s a good idea. Non of my current running gear has pockets so maybe I just need to invest in something so I can stuff the pockets with food! Thanks for your advice
Thanks everyone, you’ve all been really helpful. I’ve ordered some tailwind and a running belt with two small water bottles so I’ll see how I get on with that and come summer I’ll look at getting a pack pack and water bladder. Hopefully this will help me with my training 🏃🏽♀️🏃🏽♀️ Thanks again.
I don't like carrying things either, and I really hate having things in my pockets too, but I have to concede a water bottle is necessary for longer runs. I take the smallest one I can though, a wee freebie High5 doughnut bottle with Active Root in it. On >20k adventure runs where I know I'll be in the hills and away from civilisation I take a bigger bottle just in case, a camelbak one that lashes to my hand so I can still scramble if I need to. On race days I just take the mini bottle but I have a towelling wrist pocket too, I stick a gel down it and zip my bank card inside so I can get a treat at the end of the race. 😄 I basically go as minimal as I can!
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