Can anyone recommend....

[Curlygurly2]

some kind of in-run fuelling that isn't based on sugar, or carbohydrates?

I know there are some low-carb runners here, what do you do? I know we are meant to be able to run on fresh air when we're fat adapted but I've not reached that holy grail...

[nowster Metric Marathon]

If you're excluding carbs (which includes sugars), then the only other types of food energy available are fats and proteins (and maybe alcohol).

I'd be interested to see if there are any alternatives, too.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

There are some Keto energy gels available, but I can't seem to find them...

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

As I understand it even fat adapted athletes use carbohydrates for endurance sports. There is a product called Generation UCAN which is very popular in that community - I have never tried it, mind you!

generationucan.co.uk/

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Thank you, I'll have a look at that.

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Eek! I think I'd probably have some buttered wholemeal toast instead. It's probably just as good as steamed maize starch (which is what this appears to be).

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to nowster]

I'm with you! 😊😊😊

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

Yes, It doesn't sound that good does it? What do you take on your long runs?

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

For something between an hour and 90 minutes, I'll probably just fuel up with a couple of thick slices of toast and a mug of coffee beforehand.

Over that, I'll carry hydration and jelly babies, and I'll start eating two to three jelly babies per km starting at about 10km and sipping from the hydration pack (orange squash) as and when.

My longest run so far is 18km in about 2 hours, so I'm not sure how well that works yet long term.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to nowster]

Me too!

Eat natural 💪

[Speedy60 Half Marathon]

Something peanut butter based? Carbs are the best source of easily accessible energy though.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Speedy60]

I used gels on my last HM, they do keep you going at the time but I found I got an awful crash afterwards.

[Katnap Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

I hate that crash! If you can hold an opened gel gently and sup a bit over 5 minutes or so it helps reduce the insulin spike (crash).

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

Chicken, turkey, egg …..? I’ve not ever tried any of these but there’s nothing to say that munching on a a few chicken bits mid-run would be quite the perk 🐓

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Gnawing on some bones caveman style? 🤣

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

Haha I like that image… running along while nibbling on a chicken leg, then flinging it over one’s shoulder 😂

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

I imagined there the runner behind skidding on it 😁

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

I just remembered C3PO 's cubes of cheese!

[nowster Metric Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Cheese is a good idea. I often snack on a slice or two as an alternative to biscuits when I get the munchies during the work day.

[Forest_Run_Beginner Marathon]

Apparently, the little pouches of baby food work just as well! I think the brand a lot of people use is called Ella's Kitchen (or something like that) and they do a couple of banana based ones, but as long as they have around 30g of carbs per pouch, they should do the same as any sports fuel or sweets. A little larger than a gel though so perhaps not as convenient to carry in large quantities for super long runs!

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to Forest_Run_Beginner]

Thanks Forest_Run_Beginner 👍🏻

I’m going to try that. I try and eat only whole foods so gels or jelly babies are not particularly appealing. I certainly fed my boys enough of those pouches when they were little. That’s a genius idea.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Thanks but that's a massive amount of carb.

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Sorry Curlygurly2 - I didn’t mean to hi jack replying on the baby food. I’m not low carb these days just try and eat whole. I hope you find what works for you. ❤️🏃‍♀️

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Gosh, no apology needed, I asked for peoples opinions xx

[Forest_Run_Beginner Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Do you get a crash from all forms of carbs? I thought the carbs from fruit/veg might be a bit easier to 'deal with' as they tend to be a bit more slow releasing? Unfortunately, I think we need carbs in some form to fuel long runs to a certain degree. Perhaps a more savoury pouch with sweet potato or something similar might be worth a try? 🤷‍♀️

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Forest_Run_Beginner]

I'm thinking back to my last HM training, where I used fruit based energy gels, they had 55 G of carb per sachet and I used 3 - 5 per long run. They got me through the training, and the HM, but I remember feeling dreadful in the days after. I really don't want to go there again....

[Forest_Run_Beginner Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

I know people who have tried to fuel long runs with bananas but they aren't very transportable, so I guess this sort of thing seems like the natural progression. I've not tried it myself so if you do, it would be great to hear how you get on RunWillie . 😊

[Beccym Marathon in reply to Forest_Run_Beginner]

Chewy banana chips

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Forest_Run_Beginner]

The baby stuff and gels are a horrible texture. Gag-making. No! 😁

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to misswobble]

🤣

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

I think Scott Jurek, or maybe it was Dean Karnazes, tried olive oil once.... it did not go well!!

Rich Roll loves an avocado and veganaise sandwich mid run...

What do you prefer to eat when hunger strikes normally? Or what would you snack on at home?

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I tend to eat meat or chicken with salad type veg, greek yoghurt, cottage cheese, berries... I rarely snack.

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Ok, well years ago when I was on a high fat/protein diet I would take cooked bacon to work with me for breakfast. That would help replace salts too. You could also have cheese chunks, carrot pieces, Berries or nuts. Even cooked chicken strips.... jerky too. you wouldn't need a huge amount, just a small portion per hour/x miles. I really think people should mimic what they would have at home. Gels etc are really not ideal on many levels.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

That's good advice thank you. I used the gels on my last HM, they got me round, but I didn't like them, or how I felt afterwards, that's why I was asking... I'll give this a go, cheese and bacon - MMM!!!..

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Jerky! Never tried it but folks seem to like it. You can make your own if you like

[misswobble Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Nuts and a few raisins or sommat👍 Nuts need sommat to wash em down with or you end up coughing them out ☺️

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

My hubby swears by his trail mix, got him round the Highland 550 ok 👍🏻😁

[misswobble Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I like it. You mix your own according to what suits your gut. After trial and error 🙂. It’s dry in the pocket too. I hate sticky gooey pockets, hands or mouth 😝

I took two of my homemade energy bars yesterday. Cor blimey they’re lovely. Two bar run yesterday 😁🏃‍♀️ Glad I took two!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Scott ran with homemade burritos and allsorts He’s a vegan so generally ate his way round. He did have lots of loo stops though apparently 🤨😁

Dean used to order pizza to be delivered to point X on his route 😁. He did clean up his eating down the line though 😃

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Yes indeed. Dean tried the olive oil when he tried to be authentic on his Spartathalon I think. He briefly tried traditional dress too 🙈🤣

[misswobble Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

He’s a character for sure 🙂. A lady at WW gave me his book 📖

[Beccym Marathon]

Gels really upset my stomach. I use dates, chewy banana chips or good old jelly babies.

[Cmoi Marathon]

I hate gelatinous and rubbery textures in food, so no jelly babies for me. Tried one gel, and found the texture bearable, but taste overly sweet and artificial.

So far I've snacked on dried apricots, dates, Decathlon marzipan bars, coconut and chia seed raw bars, and Lidl's "compôte de pommes sans sucres ajoutés" in pouches. Don't know if UK Lidl does the same or not.

I'm going to try saucisson too, once I've worked out how to carry it!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Yes, that's the problem isn't it? How to carry stuff? I took some salami and cheese in a plastic bag the other day, it didn't really stand up to the journey!

[H4CS]

If you run the marathon in Borneo they hand out bananas and water instead of gels

[backintime 10 Miles]

Here on the 7k and 10k I've done they handed out dried apricots and water

[skysue16 Half Marathon]

Interesting post - thanks for the question Curlygurly2 . I found the answers interesting - nutrition really does seem to be different for everyone. I haven't experimented at all yet - ran my longest ever yesterday with no breakfast and only sips of water (nibbled an oat biscuit while walking to meet my lift). Seemed fine but hungry today!!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to skysue16]

What distance did you do on empty?

[skysue16 Half Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

22km!

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to skysue16]

Oh my gosh, that's a loooonnngg way!