I’m running a half-marathon tomorrow, and my plan is to eat a full breakfast about 3 hours before, down a Gu about 15 minutes before the race starts, and then just take in fluids during the race. Does that sound like a reasonable approach? My last 1/2 (this same race, two years ago), I used the same basic approach, but also downed a Gu at about the 1/2 point. I recall the Gu at the 1/2 mark kind of bogging me down a bit.
Run fast and if you get thirsty try to get some gatorade or water in the general vicinity of your mouth.
That’s kind of what I’m thinking of trying. I’ve always run any race of 10K or longer (whether road race or triathlon) with a waist pack with a bottle, but I’m thinking of foregoing that tomorrow and seeing if I can survive solely with what’s available on the course. I just don’t know if I’m that brave! 
Yeah your plan sounds pretty sound. In my experience a few sips of gatorade at the aid stations is fine.
how long are you expecting to be out there? THe longer you are out the more nutrition comes into play.
Definitely you don’t need to carry a fuel belt, so long as you know what the fuel is on course and you know that you can stomach it.
And I will continue to say 1 gel b4, 1 gel @ 40 min and 1 gel at 1hr20 (for my 1hr40-1hr45 half mar) and I will continue to get argued down on ST 
I think if your fluids include some of the gatorade you’ll be fine. If you go all water, you might get fatigues at the end.
(I’m also making assumptions that your total half is maybe 1:45 or less).
GU has BCAA’s in it, which would be the only significant advantage to GU vs gatorade on your situation. But for one race, for 1:45, as long as you get the carbs you should be okay.
Weather forecast?
That mirrors what I do.
Did you drink water with that Gu last time. It shouldn’t bog you down. I know if I’m hammering, I have a hard time with gels, but that is usually more of a stomach issue than an energy issue. If they are serving a sports drink on the course, you are probably fine without the gel.
Victor
As long as you don’t have a particular hatred for what’s offered on the course, I would definitely just use that. I always just use aid stations and carry a gel for mile 8.
how long are you expecting to be out there? THe longer you are out the more nutrition comes into play.
Not sure exactly, but somewhere between 1:20 - 1:25.
I think if your fluids include some of the gatorade you’ll be fine. If you go all water, you might get fatigues at the end.
(I’m also making assumptions that your total half is maybe 1:45 or less).
GU has BCAA’s in it, which would be the only significant advantage to GU vs gatorade on your situation. But for one race, for 1:45, as long as you get the carbs you should be okay.
Yes, fluids = Gatorade for me.
That mirrors what I do.
Did you drink water with that Gu last time. It shouldn’t bog you down. I know if I’m hammering, I have a hard time with gels, but that is usually more of a stomach issue than an energy issue. If they are serving a sports drink on the course, you are probably fine without the gel.
Victor
I guess I didn’t describe it very well. You’re exactly right, it’s not a bog down issue as much as it is a stomach issue (because I’m hammering along pretty hard).
for a time like that you really don’t need much then. I run a couple of minutes slower then that (1:25 - 1:30) and my typical morning would be a bowl of Quaker Oats instant oatmeal about 90 minutes before the race or if I am in a hotel I just have a banana and a gel 90 minutes before. I’ll also sip water up to 30 minutes before.
During I’ll just take water on the course, amount depending on weather conditions. You should have more then enough energy stores to get you through 80 - 85 minutes of running without the need for additional carb intake during. At that speed you don’t want to waste energy making the stomach work to digest calories that aren’t needed. For insurance you could take a gel for the 8 mile mark but I find that typically I am running to hard to take anything in during a half.
So if I am piecing this all together, in the past you may have had both GU and Gatorade.
That may be the source of the stomach troubles, as having both puts a pretty high ratio of carbs to liquids in the stomach.
At your time, you should probably have either Gatorade as needed for fluids, or a GU at 1/2 or 2/3 through, but definitely not both.
As Mike says above, some people can get through without anything - mostly depending on your muscle and liver glycogen stores from your diet the last few days, and training. The Gatorade or GU could be just insurance. If you go with nothing, just be sure to get some post race food right away to start replenishing right away for better recovery.
Good Luck and let us know how it goes.
If you’re able to get a reasonable amount of gatorade down at the aid stations (understandably not easy to do at 6:20 pace) then a GU isn’t necessary. I ran a half marathon in the spring in 1:23 more or less following the same plan. Light breakfast a couple hours before the race (bagel and some cereal maybe), power gel 10 minutes before. I took water and gatorade at almost every aid station, but usually just a splash so I took a gel at mile 8.
The biggest mistake people make with events this short is over hydration and over nutrition.
Eat your normal breakfast, no need for more. I wouldn’t really drink much more than you normally do, otherwise you’ll be wanting to go to the toilet just prior or during the race.
This trend of “sipping” water for the hour prior to the race just leads to trouble. Have an extra glass of water 2 hours prior to the race and you’ll get rid of excess fluid prior to race. Rinse your mouth just prior if you like.
A few sips early on in the race at aid stations should do you. Wouldn’t bother about anything after the 1 hour mark - just bolt for home.
So if I am piecing this all together, in the past you may have had both GU and Gatorade.
That may be the source of the stomach troubles, as having both puts a pretty high ratio of carbs to liquids in the stomach.
At your time, you should probably have either Gatorade as needed for fluids, or a GU at 1/2 or 2/3 through, but definitely not both.
As Mike says above, some people can get through without anything - mostly depending on your muscle and liver glycogen stores from your diet the last few days, and training. The Gatorade or GU could be just insurance. If you go with nothing, just be sure to get some post race food right away to start replenishing right away for better recovery.
Good Luck and let us know how it goes.
I’ve traditionally used both Gu and Gatorade or something else and Gatorade, e.g., fig newtons, Cliff Bars, and never had stomach issues in training, regardless of the length or intensity of the training; however, I have had varying degrees of stomach issues during my two IM and a few, but not all, of my HIM. I had chalked the stomach issues up to race pacing issues, but maybe it’s a nutrition issue, or more likely a combination of pacing and nutrition issues. I have experimented with a less is better approach to nutrition in oly distance races with a fair amount of success, so I’m looking forward to trying it out tomorrow.
Mike Plumb nailed it. No reason to complicate a half marathon with anything other than a reasonable breakfast and proper hydration. It’s really all about effort/pacing and not raceday/race nutrition. My preference (not necessarily recomended for anyone else) is to go into any race feeling the slight edge of hunger, as long as the effort is less than ~2hrs. Breakfast 2-4 hours before race = Banana, yogurt, coffee, good to go. Water on the course.
Mike Plumb nailed it. No reason to complicate a half marathon with anything other than a reasonable breakfast and proper hydration. It’s really all about effort/pacing and not raceday/race nutrition. My preference (not necessarily recomended for anyone else) is to go into any race feeling the slight edge of hunger, as long as the effort is less than ~2hrs. Breakfast 2-4 hours before race = Banana, yogurt, coffee, good to go. Water on the course.
I just finished up breakfast: a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, some chocolate whey powder in milk, and a scoop of peanut butter. Now, it’s off to bed for a little nap before I head out to the race. Stay tuned . . . .