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Original poster

Fuelling long runs- help please!

33 replies

Jellybunny98 · 04/04/2026 16:37

Hoping for some advice! I have been a runner for quite awhile now, have done halfs & marathons, and always used a specific gel- the only one I ever found that I actually liked the taste of and didn’t make me feel sick, felt like it worked etc. I’m now getting back to longer distances after my second baby and this gel simply doesn’t exist anymore it has been discontinued!

Can anyone recommend a good gel they use? Or if you don’t use gels, what do you use instead?

I have so far tried (and didn’t like)

  • Maurten gel- texture was okay but the lack of flavour I just didn’t like.
  • SiS Go- got a pack to try but didn’t enjoy any of the flavours, they all felt really sickly sweet to me. Could tolerate if it was just one gel but training for marathon/ultra distance I definitely couldn’t have multiple.
  • Someone recommended taking food instead of gels specifically a banana, this actually work and I was happy with that but it’s quite bulky to have in my running vest and not sure I could fit two into my running vest, or eat two😂

Any ideas welcome!

OP posts:
Original poster
Jellybunny98 · 04/04/2026 17:57

DownThePubWithStevieNicks · 04/04/2026 17:20

Can you tell us what you liked about the flavour, consistency, etc of your old gels?

Yes! The flavour I loved, tasted almost exactly like a red slush and the consistency I would say wasn’t really very “gel” like but more of a thicker water, sort of like a lucozade sport, a bit syrupy but not thick like lots of gels seem to be.

OP posts:
TheChosenTwo · 04/04/2026 17:55

I never got on well with any gels either and just used to take a handful of jelly babies on long runs or the cherry SIS chews. I found the gels mostly too sickly and thick/gloopy.
i can’t run anymore due to injury, will do a short one on a gym treadmill to warm up now but there have been a tirade of products that have arrived since I stopped so fingers crossed you can find something you don’t mind.

Savoretti · 04/04/2026 17:54

I like bloks best. Also take flapjack

Original poster
Jellybunny98 · 04/04/2026 17:52

Scruffysquirrels · 04/04/2026 17:11

Which ones were they?

I find thr High 5 Aqua ones easier than some of the others, less gloopy.

The Kendal Mint ones have been successful for a friend who has a fragile stomach, but I haven't tried them yet.

It was a “strawberry blast” flavoured one from Start fitness and it tasted exactly like a red slush, wasn’t too thick or gloopy and never had any issues!

I’ll try the High 5 Aqua ones! Do you have a favourite flavour you would recommend?

OP posts:
Original poster
Jellybunny98 · 04/04/2026 17:51

Clefable · 04/04/2026 16:54

Depending on how long your long runs are, I like to just take stuff like jelly babies or Nerd clusters. 5 jelly babies is about 25g of carbs, or a 40g pack of Nerd clusters is about 35g of carbs.

Gels make me feel quite gross while taking them whereas eating sweets is something I can do any time!

Edited

I have found this with lots of gels, I don’t know if its the texture, taste, the feel or a combo but they just don’t seem to work great for me! I’ve used Haribo’s on some runs, I tend to just take a little bag of Haribo’s & water on anything sort of 8-13 miles, I eat before I run and I’ve always find that fine. I wonder if that would be an okay strategy for 13+?

OP posts:
DownThePubWithStevieNicks · 04/04/2026 17:20

Can you tell us what you liked about the flavour, consistency, etc of your old gels?

Scruffysquirrels · 04/04/2026 17:11

Which ones were they?

I find thr High 5 Aqua ones easier than some of the others, less gloopy.

The Kendal Mint ones have been successful for a friend who has a fragile stomach, but I haven't tried them yet.

Clefable · 04/04/2026 16:54

Depending on how long your long runs are, I like to just take stuff like jelly babies or Nerd clusters. 5 jelly babies is about 25g of carbs, or a 40g pack of Nerd clusters is about 35g of carbs.

Gels make me feel quite gross while taking them whereas eating sweets is something I can do any time!

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