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May 2023
11:21am, 15 May 2023
21,102 posts
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larkim
I'm a no for gels in halfs, I only take them in marathons because I'm told I should (i.e. I've never experienced trying to run a marathon without them, and on the basis of success I'd guess they either work or are neutral for me, so I'll carry on doing so!) but I can't see that I'm going to deplete resources in a half enough to physiologically need them.
When I do take gels in marathons I don't feel their impact (I know some people do) so I don't feel I'm missing anything in a half. That said, I've not raced a half since 2019.
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May 2023
11:47am, 15 May 2023
14,834 posts
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jda
I have sometimes taken food in a half just as practice for an upcoming marathon, never felt like I needed it physically. Nearly choked on a jelly baby, the higher pace and quicker breathing made it that much harder to get down.
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May 2023
11:57am, 15 May 2023
40,521 posts
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SPR
Just on the gels and not feeling impact, isn't that exactly what should happen if you get it right (so you maintain energy levels)? It's preventing the change that would happen if you didn't have them?
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May 2023
11:58am, 15 May 2023
21,104 posts
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larkim
All the way back in 2011 when I ran my first ever race (Chester Half) I did have 4 or 5 glucose tablets stashed in my shorts ready to get used just in case. There was no logic to it, other than I thought I'd be running quite fast for a long time so I might need something. But given that at the time I ran training runs at about the same speed as the race I should really have known I wouldn't need anything.
[You do see a lot of runners taking gels etc in training runs when they start out running because they think they need them (a bit of a sense of "all the gear, no idea") and have seen the adverts etc. It's a bit like headphones / water bottles. Given that the standard photo of a runner tends to be someone with headphones on and a bottle in their hand, a lot of people appear to think that those things are required uniform. I certainly started out with headphones for that reason. ]
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May 2023
12:03pm, 15 May 2023
40,523 posts
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SPR
I bought a water bottle belt when I started, lol. With mini bottles to spread weight.
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May 2023
12:18pm, 15 May 2023
3,115 posts
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tipsku
I typically have a gel after halfway (7 miles) which helps me to keep up pace until the end. When I run slowly, I wouldn't need anything even for a 2-2:30 hour run but at HM race pace, I feel that it helps to maintain intensity until the end. But I need to practice that in training first so that my stomach knows how to handle it at pace.
This said, I'm coming from running a half in about 2 hours so then it definitely made sense to top up after halfway. Now, I could probably run a half well under 1:40 without absolutely needing the gel but I fear that I may fade towards to end so I'd rather have it.
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May 2023
12:28pm, 15 May 2023
46,677 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Thanks all. It's probably borderline whether it's necessary physiologically, but I think I will have one with me next time and take it at 7 or 8 miles "to keep me going", even if it's on psychological, no harm in it. Don't think I can blame yesterday's lack of oompf at the end on lack of gel though, darn, thought I had an excuse there!  G
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May 2023
12:37pm, 15 May 2023
5,750 posts
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K5 Gus
I think the scientists reckon on about 2 hours worth of glycogen stored in the muscle and liver for an average person ( assuming they've been eating sensibly in the days before ), so shouldn't be any need for one, but I normally have one anyway around 8 or 9 miles.
What I don't understand is whether it's easier for the body to use the energy available from glucose absorbed from the intestine, or to use the energy from stored muscle/liver glycogen, or is it the same "work" for the body to use either energy source ? Any physiologists in the room ?
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May 2023
12:51pm, 15 May 2023
40,526 posts
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SPR
There was some research that said rinsing and spitting a sugar solution was effective Vs actually taking (under 2 hours I believe).
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May 2023
1:12pm, 15 May 2023
3,118 posts
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tipsku
This sounds like there is a certain placebo effect. I'll take the placebo effect if it allows me to run the half a minute or two faster. As long as I don't have GI issues after taking the gel, it can only be beneficial.
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larkim