I’m looking for a means to carry gels/water/gatorade for my long runs. I train for oly distance, so I’ll never run more than 90 minutes. In the past I’ve simply not taken in any fluids or gels but I know that isnt optimal.
I probably don’t need a 4x5oz flask fuel belt. I was thinking just one of the single clip-on flasks.
Also, when the gel in the flask starts getting low, is it difficult to suck it out?
you can dilute, or try Hammergel, it’s more runny
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carbo pro or coca cola…either way you can’t go wrong. I’ve even combined the two but don’t try that at home. For the coke put a little water in it and it makes not as fizzy so it holds in your bottles better without fizzing out. I also add a little gatorade to the coke- but that’s just me. Both are miracle fluids.
Go long
Spindogg
Incorporate a 7/11 stop with your run. That is unless you are in a remote area, in which case you might want to stash some fuel in bushes in advance of your run.
Buy one of those mesh zippered pockets that are made to slide over your race number belt - you can fit 2 or 3 gels in there. Weighs next to nothing. And try e-gel from www.cranksports.com - best gel on the market.
Last year I bought a Camelbak hydration system they designed for runners. (http://www.camelbak.com/rec/cb_prod.cfm?catid=6&product_id=397) I have been very happy with it. It holds 28 oz which for me is enough for up to three hour runs. Frankly I think with a good sports drink you don’t need gels. Either go water and gels or just sports drink…not both.
Get the desoto shorts with pocket(s) - they hold a gel or anything pretty tight against your leg.
Or, get a 4 bottle fuel belt, only use 2 of them for shorter stuff. You can also put a gel flask in the desoto pocket if you like that better.
either pin a pack of gel to your shorts waist band and tuck it in (reply if you’re not sure how to do this) or if you mean you want to carry fluid too get a belt with only two bottles. I’m liking the Fuelbelt and the Amphipod belts.
Keep it simple; try a bottle carrier that you wear around you waist and you can take the bottle right off your bike and throw it in. Quick easy low maintenance.
Re:camelbak I’ve used many many times—pain in the ass to fiil and clean and takes too long if your doing a t-run.
Fuel belt with flasks great for racing but I don’t like it for training and they’re harder to refill. I do my long runs in 8 mile loops (highly recomend this) so I can refill at the end of each 8. I do them as out and backs to custom the mileage. I’ll do two 8 mile “loops” and then add a 4 mile real loop. You’ll get better quality training if you can stay fueled. Who wants to carry a full camelbak anyway. Just fill your reg bike bottles and use the waist bottle carrier.
Spinney
I’ve never had much luck with the bottles that are carried around the waist. Either they jostle around too much or I try to tighten the strap to avoid that and end up with a side stitch from not breathing deep enough. I either do gels in the pocket and plan my route around water fountains, or I use a camelback. I use a 52oz camelback which is small & lightweight. Was very cheap through CampMor.
I also hate the waist water belts and camelbaks. For 90% of my runs there is a water fountain within about 2-3 miles spacing. This restricts what I can do, especially because the idiots put in a nice running path but no water fountains…trust the guv’t to screw things up I guess. Anyway, I have more or less settled on every 3 miles for a Gu gel, and I can carry two in my inner shorts pocket. This gets me up to 9 or 10 miles total, and it doesn’t bother me to carry one in my hand. I sometimes do that in races, since I would use 3 in a HIM. The first one is gone at the first water stop so it’s no big deal.
I have been known to occasionally carry a small bike bottle with me running, but that’s only on insanely hot days where I know I can’t go 3 miles between drinks. Trail running is totally different though, as the only trails around here are total wilderness.
For a 90 min run I’ll take two bottles in my fuel belt and put a gel in my hat.
jaretj
Fuel for a 90 min run??? Why do you feel the need to eat during a 90 minute run? If so when would you gel-it after an hour, do you really think it makes a difference for the next 1/2 an hour. Just mix up a good drink and go, no need for a fuel belt or flasks for a 90 min run IMHO.
Training for my first IM this Spring really opened my eyes on what I dont need for Olys.
For most of my training I seldom do just one workout a day (except for the off season) so for anything over 1 hour I normally eat a gel because I don’t want to be depleted for the later workout.
jaretj
For such a short run, you son’t really need gels/drinks (unless you live out somewhere really hot, in that case, stash some gel/drink in a bush along the way , before the run). Other than that all these fuel belt people on short runs make me laugh (go to Central Park and you’ll see 85% of runners with all that crap just for a 6 mile run or less…)! Stay basic dudes, keep it simple and y’all get along fine…
Fuel belt with the front or back pocket. The 4 bottle one should be enough for 90 minutes although i usually take only 2 because the bottles are small. Maybe one gel just in case…
Peace
I agree with Drock - for 90 mins, I don’t need any food. I only need GU/Cliff, etc. for 2 -3 hour runs. In the winter, I really don’t need any fluid at all for 90 mins if properly hydrated.
A good carbo drink (Gatorade endurance, etc.) should suffice for 90 mins. In the summer, 90 mins needs water - check out InfinIT Nutrition and make your very own “summer blend” and “winter blend”
If you never run for more than 90min you don’t need fuel.
I don’t fuel at all on runs up to 2 hours. Train your body to run on fumes.
Refuel as soon as your done.
I use the 4-bottle Fuel Belt on runs of over 5 miles. 2 Gatorades/2 water, and freeze them the night before so they’re nice and cold. They thaw in like 10 minutes!
The little pouch on the Fuel Belt would easily fit a couple of gel packs. I have a flask, but don’t use it because it’s super hard to suck the gel out of.
I also keep a business card in the pocket of the Fuel Belt and write on the back of it that I’m allergic to penicillin in case I keil over or get nailed by a car (insert wood-knocking sound here). Cheaper than those ID badge things.
Agree with Drock and rroof. For a 90min run, eat a piece of toast, a cookie, a banana, anything beforehand, drink water from fountains or spigots along the way, eat and drink well when you get back and you’ll be fine for your next w/o. If it’s real hot, take $ to stop for gatorade, or carry a handheld bottle (the kind w/ the hand strap).