As a newbie, I’m just breaking into running for more than an hour on my long runs.
Last Saturday I ran for 85 minutes and used hammer gel (raspberry flavor) at the 60 minute mark. Maybe it was psychological but I felt like it pepped me up.
The question is, when should you gel on the long runs?
More often than once an hour, probably for long runs. But more importantly, put some Body glide on those nips. Ouch.
I actually did use a bit of body glide, apparently not enough.
My wife bought me those nipple guard things, I’ll have to give them a shot during races…but for my next long run I’m sticking with a bandaid, I think.
So one gel per 45min, you think is a good ratio?
I’m 6’ 207lbs…pure Clydesdale…
what type of shirt are you running in???
Long run rule #1
Never run in cotton, go out and get a good dryfit running shirt and it should solve it
I use bandaids most of the time, you will find certain fabrics are better than others.
I disagree with dire wolf. It’s only an hour, you should have more than enough fuel to go an hour and a half. Besides it takes a few (10-15) minutes for the gel to kick in, about the time you were done. If your take it do it right before you start.
I rarely consume (eat is not quite the right word, is it?) gels unless I’m running at least two hours. You should be able to run at least 90 minutes and probably a lot more without them as long as you are increasing your longer runs slowly amd eating properly. Only exception is if you are running long as your second workout of the day. Gels will certainly pep you up, as they usually contain caffeine with the carbos, but one point of runing longer is to teach your body how to use stored energy in your body.
You should, however, start thinking about drinking on runs when they exceed an hour, especially during the summer. If you drink some gatorade or other sports drink, it would also give you some extra energy in addition to the fluids.
Athletic tape prevents the first problem. It also becomes less of a problem with a few years of running.
So one gel per 45min, you think is a good ratio?
I’m 6’ 207lbs…pure Clydesdale…
I’m 160lbs and usually start eating gels about 1 - 1:30 into a long run (figure what I ate before will be plenty till then) and then start eating a gel every 15-20 minutes. Depending on the gel that 400-500 calories an hour… not really that much.
For me, it makes a significant difference to how I feel in the later stages of a long run and how I feel at the end. YMMV.
Yeah, what type of shirt are you wearing? If it’s cotton that could be a big part of it. I’ve just started doing some long runs myself, have done maybe 6, and I had bloody nipples on only one of them and I attributed it to the cotton shirt I was wearing. Most of the time I run in a dri-type shirt, but the maid must have been on strike that day.
I should clarify my earlier comment: I don’t eat a full gel packet at a time. I spread it out over a longer period. Also, I find that it is better not to wait too long before eating them. Therefore, if I’m going on, say, a 2-hour run, I’ll start eating the first gel around 30 minutes in and will probably only consume 1.5-2 gels over the full 2 hours. The difference is that I will finish the second one by about 1.5 hours. What’s the point of having a gel 15 minutes before the end of my run?
I only use gel when I’m running for 2 hours or longer. Then, I have a gel at 1.5 hours, and every half hour or so until I’m done. I agree what someone said about water, too. As much as I hate to carry water or wear a belt with a water bottle, what I hate worse is getting so thirsty the run turns into misery. It’s helpful to know where there are parks with a drinking fountain and plan to go past them during your run.
I actually never run in cotton, this was a coolmax type shirt, I guess I just have sensitive nips. 
“…I actually never run in cotton…”
It is easier to run in cotton if you run between the rows instead of across the rows. Running in corn is hard enough even when running between the rows, and impossible to run across the rows.
FWIW–My wife had bloody nipples and a dry mouth when she was nursing. She didn’t use any gel on her nipples though, I think she used udder cream. The doctor told her to drink a beer every day to help with the dry mouth.
Hope this advice helps…
Snort 2 gels, then stick the wrappers on yer nipples - you’ll kill 2 birds at once 
But seriously…
Slather the bodyglide on pretty good, and don’t wear cotton, and that should fix the bloody nips problem (which I had earlier this season myself - OUCH.)
As for gels, where and when - everybody’s different.
I usually try to hold off on gel for the first 45 mins or more of a long run or ride. Then, mebbe one every 30-45 mins thereafter.
Hammer raspberry flavor is yummy. And, it probably did pep you up.
On long runs, once my shirt is completely soaked with sweat and dragging down in front the blood starts coming no matter what material I have on. I use a lot of bodyglide but the only reliable cure for me is a secure band-aid (or taking off my shirt, which works very well too).
I feel your pain.
I’m hearing some people holding off for a while on the gels. I don’t eat for a couple hours before a long run, but usually gel about 45 mins in and always carry water/gatorade which I drink at regular intervals. Some people say to wait till 1.5 hours, but I am only trainging for a half, so i don’t run much more than 2 hours. Also, I say you should train like you race and when race day comes you are going to be reaching for water, gatorade , gel or anything to give you a push and your body needs to know how to use it. So use it.
As for gelling shortly before you finish–its not actually that stupid though it might waste money. You need to refill those carb stores quickly (within .5 hrs of finishing) so I would think the “unused” gel would top up your fuel and help recovery…though someone might disagree with me.
you can actually buy “nip-guards”. they look like sticky foam lifesavers, bandaids work too. I’ve never tried them but have had good luck wearing Patagonia silk weight capilene shirts. they make great under-shirts for cycling too. With some shirts, I used to come back from long runs with 2 blood stains on my shirts. on runs up to 2 hours, I just drink gatorade but eat a gel right before I leave.