For those who train with a Fuel-Belt do you or will you race an Iron distance race with one? If you will race with it, why?
I train with one
Will Not race with one.(Plenty on the course)
I am currently training for my first IM, and I wear my Fuel Belt on my long runs. Still trying to decide whether or not to wear it during the race…kinda thinking like you that there will be plenty on the course.
Spot
train with it.
never race with it.
train with it…never race IM brand races with it. If you want your own special brew, take is - if you are going to live off the course, you can do with out as the water stops are 1 mile apart.
train with it… b/c it’s hot out and not c-stores along the trail
dont race with it… b/c water and shots are every mile
Ditto.
Train with it sometimes.
Never race with it.
Rely on race aid stations.
Train with it if going long distance off-road running. Otherwise it makes me look stupid.
Race - no, this is what aid stations are for.
Never used one( Fuel Belt was not even around when I was racing). There is very well stocked aid station every mile in most IM races. No need to carry anything at all from my experience.
Fleck
For my one and only IM, I did my long training runs with a Fuel Belt, but with an aid station every mile I didn’t see any reason to add to my burden in the race.
I see no reason to race with one unless you simply can’t tollerate the drink selection offered at the race.
I train with it simply out of necessity. I raced with it in my first IM but put it in my SN bag at the half because it was basically “dead weight” I didn’t need. Never raced with it since. I dring gatorade and water and eat Gu, all of which I get at the aid stations.
Train with it. Raced with it a IMLP in 04, dumped most of the contents as it was unappealing. Won’t race with one again as there is a virtual buffet on the course.
I have trained and raced with it, and never will again. Pain in the ass, makes everything taste like plastic.
Wow, everyone here really seems to agree for once!
I train with it on almost every run, even those as short as 4 miles (when are they going to adopt my neighborhood aid station idea?). I raced with it last season, but I’m not going to any more. There is usually too much aid on the course. Plus, if you train with it a lot, then you feel much lighter/faster on race day! It’s like a set of race wheels for your body!
-C
Thanks for the help. Nice to see us all agreeing. I guess it is for sponorship that I see many pross using them at races.(However, they do look empty most of the time.)
train with, but dont race with it. they have plenty of food and drink on the ironman course.
OK fine, I’ll be different.
I train AND race with it. During races I carry one bottle of a slurry mixture of Carbo Pro since I know I can get those calories down and one bottle to drink from when I want between aid stations. With the fluids I get from aid stations I only have to refill it every 5 - 6 miles.
Why - I hate the taste of gels after 10+ hours and I like to drink when I want it. And if I am low on fluids it is easier to catch up if I have 7 oz. with me.
I only wear one when training to be a Palestinian suiside bomber. I am sure they are functional but have to be the dumbest looking piece of gear out there… 
Mike
Hey Mike, there was an abandoned Fuel Belt (full) at CdA in one of the run station PortaPotties.
I train with two small flasks with water for my long runs where there are no fountains for miles. Stick 'em in my singlet pockets with a couple of GUs.
Race with one? No freakin way. I do a ballet just to keep water out of my shoes to save weight.
Never wear a Fuel Belt in Isreal…you will be taken out by machine gun fire pretty quick…
I do all my long runs with one. I was amazed the first time I wore it at how comfortable it is. I am considering wearing it at IMLP because last year they ran out of coke on the run course. I really like my Red Bull and would love to have some with me! I may put the Fuel Belt in my S.N. bag for the second half of the run…haven’t decided yet. I also found that if you cinch it up tightly it works like a weight belt to support your low back if it’s getting fatigued. The down side of THAT is that it can disrupt the emptying of your stomach…I wore a gun belt for 6 years so I am used to having something bulky around my waist, anyway!