Runners: gel/drink of choice? Energy struggles

[Stumpedasatree]

I have been running for years, usually on trails and often run half marathons. It may be my age (47) but I have been struggling with achieving my usual times for races and with energy levels - none of which are due to lack of fitness or training as I never really stop with my routine!

I have just done a very hilly 12 miler which I had trained for, and the minute I set off my legs were like lead and it was like running through treacle. I felt like I was barely doing more than walking, and I definitely couldn't run the hills. Got to the halfway mark and remembered a chocolate bar I had in my pack, which I had and immediately felt 100 times better in terms of energy levels and ran the rest of the 6 miles.

I had eaten during the day but not massively as I hate to run with a full stomach, and I also get the need to go to the loo if I've over-eaten.

I don't normally have gels as they don't really appeal, but obviously seems as though I need something. I would also never normally eat for a distance less than a half marathon!

Would love to hear distance runners' recommendations for gels/drinks to help with energy and hydration.

Lucozade sport is surprisingly good I find. And available in 99% of corner shops. And if you are really really struggling good old full fat coke is a winner. It totally saved me on an ultra, filled my soft bottles with it at an aid station and sucked on them like a starving baby - got me round the final 10 miles.

For a normal training run I like the flavours of Torq gels, but Maurten is a bit gentler on the stomach (v expensive tho)

Sometimes I just go for old school sweets though. Jelly babies, squashies, strawberry laces 😆

I listened to a really interesting episode of a podcast about building up your tolerance to energy gels/drinks. If you're not used to them often they will make you want to 💩

So consume them slowly from the first one (difficult with gels I appreciate but Maurten are much less sticky than most), once you hit the point where things start to feel dodgy STOP. Next time you're on a run try and take another quarter or half a gel more than you did last time. It's a slow, frustrating process. So don't expect to able to swallow 5 gels on a run for the first time with no issues. Even pro athletes have to practice.

@AHugeTinyMistake on my last half one of the stations had cups of coke. It did really hit the spot!

It's a real life saver isn't it. I honestly didn't get why aid stations had coke until that time I dragged myself in feeling depressed and then left skipping like a newborn lamb. I am a massive convert now!

^Sometimes I just go for old school sweets though. Jelly babies, squashies, strawberry laces 😆

I'd forgotten about this sort of thing for energy. We used to bring jelly cubes back in the day when hiking.

Cola does hit the spot! Agreed!

I can't eat anything much when running as it makes me too nauseous.

Thank you for all your input. I am going to get some Tailwind and leave the gels for now, as I'd prefer to get my nutrition sorted beforehand. Something definitely has changed as I used to have no problems and plenty of endurance without needing anything mid-run, historically I've never eaten during unless I've really needed it as I both feel nauseous or need the loo - double whammy!

During races at aid stations I love hula hoops or anything salty! Flat coke I agree is amazing for a boost.

I don’t get on with gels, and also I like to have some food I like eating so I have something to look forward to during my long runs. I usually go for jelly babies or Soreen (though find it impossible to eat the latter without getting wodges of it stuck in my teeth!).