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Original poster

Marathon - no gels/food?

54 replies

adventurer2020 · 07/01/2025 14:47

Has anyone got experience of running a marathon (looking at c. 4 hours ) without eating anything or taking any gels? They never seem to sit right with me but I also have never run that far! Marathon isn't til October so I have time either way. TIA 😊

OP posts:
BogRollBOGOF · 07/01/2025 14:56

What time of day are you likely to start?

I did mine in about 5 hours, so 1) that's a long time to not eat and 2) my wave started at 10:50, so finished at around 4pm. I had to leave the hotel at 8:40 to get public transport to the start, so my overnight oats and fruit for breakfast were not going to last me until 4pm even without running 26.2 miles along the way.

Plus my appetite for breakfast was dented by nerves.

I ate food along the way. Running when ravenous is not fun. (I don't get on with gels/ artificial sweetners so that makes real food the better option for me)

A faster runner starting earlier in the day has different needs to consider.

broccolienthusiast · 07/01/2025 15:13

what’s the furthest you’ve run so far? Your body can store enough glycogen for approximately 90min of intense cardio so I normally don’t bother for a half but for a full marathon I’d always take gels. Even in training, if I run 30km with no gels I feel like death after so it also helps with recovery. Just experiment with different ones in training, I find maurten gels very easy on the stomach

JacquiDaytona · 07/01/2025 15:20

No you will need something!! Gels are gross but with practice they’re doable. Could you deal with jelly babies or the energy balls?

Riverswims · 07/01/2025 15:22

I did and it wasn’t nice. the best marathons I’ve done were smaller ones so you can start earlier and eating almost until the start then plenty of snack stations, and sips of tailwind or it does live up to its name

BarnacleBeasley · 07/01/2025 15:28

I have, but only when I was running slower than I normally would have raced it to support a friend. If I were pushing myself to run the best time I could, I'd take the gels. Have you tried different brands? I couldn't stomach the Hi-5 ones, but the SiS ones were okay for me. Also I can't stomach any caffeine when racing, so I only ever used the non-caffeinated ones.

The other thing you could focus on in your training is running on an empty stomach. The idea would be that you'd do this at a very slow easy pace, and it helps your body to become more efficient at burning fat instead of glycogen. You have to do LOTS of this, but then on the day if you set off at a pace that is not too much effort, you would be able to benefit from fat reserves before things get tougher and you need your 90-minutes' worth of glycogen stores.

midgetastic · 07/01/2025 15:30

Jelly babies or
Dextrose ( globose ) tablets
May suit you better

LaPalmaLlama · 07/01/2025 15:30

Try Spring- they are not gels but are rice based. Used a lot by endurance runners. The black ones are berry favour and about 200 cals each.

BuzzieLittleBee · 07/01/2025 15:34

It wouldn't be sensible to try and run a marathon with no fuel - your body simply isn't geared up for it.

Have you tried different brands of gels? I find Torq much more palatable than SiS, for example.

Jelly babies (or similar) will do a decent job, but you need quite a lot of them.

I did my last marathon with mainly Kendal Mint Cake. It's much more refreshing than gels, and gets plenty of sugar in you. There are some versions that also have electrolytes in them too (which can be important if you're a sweaty runner).

I have recently started using Velo Forte chews. They are very easy to eat on the go, and give you plenty of carbs - they're easier to eat than Jelly Babies. They're not cheap though, so I save them for longer runs.

I have a friend who uses dates as her 'on the run' fuel. Not something I've tried, or am keen to, but it works for her.

You've got plenty of time to experiment - start fueling on all your longer runs now, even if you're not officially training yet, and you'll find something that works for you!

Eliffant · 07/01/2025 15:55

I never got on with gels, but I did find the clif shot blocks a lot easier on my stomach. It sounds silly, but when I did a marathon I used packets of puréed baby fruits. Downside is you need more of them than you do gels as they're not as thick. They taste better though!

I did mine in just under 4 hours and I don't think I'd have finished if I hadn't had anything. You can train your stomach to take food better when you're running, and you've got plenty of time

BogRollBOGOF · 07/01/2025 15:59

BuzzieLittleBee · 07/01/2025 15:34

It wouldn't be sensible to try and run a marathon with no fuel - your body simply isn't geared up for it.

Have you tried different brands of gels? I find Torq much more palatable than SiS, for example.

Jelly babies (or similar) will do a decent job, but you need quite a lot of them.

I did my last marathon with mainly Kendal Mint Cake. It's much more refreshing than gels, and gets plenty of sugar in you. There are some versions that also have electrolytes in them too (which can be important if you're a sweaty runner).

I have recently started using Velo Forte chews. They are very easy to eat on the go, and give you plenty of carbs - they're easier to eat than Jelly Babies. They're not cheap though, so I save them for longer runs.

I have a friend who uses dates as her 'on the run' fuel. Not something I've tried, or am keen to, but it works for her.

You've got plenty of time to experiment - start fueling on all your longer runs now, even if you're not officially training yet, and you'll find something that works for you!

I use Kendal Mint Cake too.

I'll have a couple of Nakd bars in the first half then the KMC is more refreshing, and instant energy in the second half.

Another suggestion is drinking Tail Wind.

A random tip I came across in training is that it's helpful to change flavours through the run. It helps with the monotony.

AuntieStella · 07/01/2025 16:13

I find most gets slimy and disgusting, but am OJ on Roctabe and on the orange SiS ones. I like the Clif shot bloks too.

Mini packets of pretzels or even twiglets can be good to get a bit of salt in to you

And sweeties are good for morale (I would go for mini haribo or extra strong mints)

You can hit the wall very badly if you do not take on fuel after a couple of hours, and it’s probably better to start before you get close to depletion.

If I’m running a half, I don’t usually fuel (but carry bloks and sweeties just in case, with twiglets for after the finish line). But for a marathon l would start at about 8-10 miles and every 2 miles thereafter

The night before, for breakfast on the day and afterwards I’ll have a sachet on electrolyte powder in water

Edited to add: try out different fuelling strategies on your longer training runs. And always remember nothing new on race day

UnaOfStormhold · 07/01/2025 16:26

I think you will need something to avoid running out of carbs and "hitting the wall" but it doesn't have to be gels, so practice and experiment. Your gut does get better with practice. Personally I can't stand gels but fuelled my last marathon with tailwind, plus soft dried apricots. I also find I crave something savoury but options there are harder to transport so I tend to hoover up tortilla chips at the aid stations.

Original poster
adventurer2020 · 07/01/2025 21:45

Thanks all! I figured that would be the consensus. I can comfortably run a half without any water or gels etc but I've never really run much further. I just really really HATE the gels - the taste, texture, everything! And haven't ever been able to eat / drink and run at the same time without it being a bit clunky and making me lose my rhythm.

I'll have to start trial and error with the food bits and gel brands suggested on some long runs and see how I get on.

OP posts:
Runninghappy · 07/01/2025 22:15

I did. I have a real problem with eating and running. I started late (11.15) so unusually I did eat before as usually I I’m on empty. I did have things with me (food like jelly babies and flapjack rather than gels) in case I felt poorly but I didn’t have them. When I finished I still couldn’t eat and had about 3 crisps.

I am marathon training at the moment and it’s a real problem. Last week I thought I’d eat first so ate 2.5 hours before I ran and was sick so now I’m scared to eat again! I wouldn’t recommend being like this though.

i think I did have some jelly babies training for my last marathon: I also remember someone handing me a jelly baby towards the end of a brutal half about 10 years ago

Sheknowsaboutme · 07/01/2025 22:45

Ive done 5 marathons (the same one and a glutton for punishment as its a toughy!) and I struggled with gels.

so i took jelly babies, some flapjacks and chocolate. Mini mars bars.

water freely available on route but I also had a hydro vest. Just a litre.

Nextyearhopes · 07/01/2025 22:48

Following.
I can’t use gels due to hyperthyroidism, the caffeine shot would send me mad and they really affect my stomach.
I get by on jelly babies but tbf I haven’t done a full marathon yet.

Original poster
adventurer2020 · 08/01/2025 17:01

I really can't imagine running while eating a flapjack or a mars bar! I think it's a me problem but how on earth do you do it (beyond the obvious...shoving it in ya gob 🤣)

OP posts:
BuzzieLittleBee · 08/01/2025 17:04

adventurer2020 · 08/01/2025 17:01

I really can't imagine running while eating a flapjack or a mars bar! I think it's a me problem but how on earth do you do it (beyond the obvious...shoving it in ya gob 🤣)

Me neither... but plenty of people do!

Divide into small pieces and eat them one at a time, I assume.

For me, the issue with 'real' food isn't the practicality, but the digestion. When you eat, your body then has to process it, and doing that can make running a lot harder. It's different for ultras when you're out for 10/15/24hrs, but for a marathon, I'd stick to fuels that are designed to be taken on the go.

AuntieStella · 08/01/2025 17:05

adventurer2020 · 08/01/2025 17:01

I really can't imagine running while eating a flapjack or a mars bar! I think it's a me problem but how on earth do you do it (beyond the obvious...shoving it in ya gob 🤣)

You have a short walking break - I do this for drinking as well.

Or combine refuelling with a pee break - some out, some in!!
(Edited to add - not literally simultaneously! Just during the same break)

BTW, talking of pee breaks, with carrying a small tin of Vaseline or similar in case anything chafes

mitogoshigg · 08/01/2025 17:13

Just asked dd, she doesn't eat during the run but does take a banana and flapjack to the at queuing up to set off, usually over an hour to get going minimum

kittenkat5 · 08/01/2025 17:30

Try tailwind, I did an Ironman on just this alone. It's really easy on your stomach x

BuzzieLittleBee · 08/01/2025 17:37

mitogoshigg · 08/01/2025 17:13

Just asked dd, she doesn't eat during the run but does take a banana and flapjack to the at queuing up to set off, usually over an hour to get going minimum

Only at big races like London! Small races you can rock up near the start time and have no hanging around at all.

Does she really take on nothing at all during a marathon? That's pretty unusual (and not recommended).

BogRollBOGOF · 08/01/2025 19:12

adventurer2020 · 08/01/2025 17:01

I really can't imagine running while eating a flapjack or a mars bar! I think it's a me problem but how on earth do you do it (beyond the obvious...shoving it in ya gob 🤣)

I nibble.

I like Nakd bars because they're relatively moist and easy to chew compared to similar bars. I have a 30min timer to remind me to eat and have half to a whole bar. I get on better by grazing from early on so there's little to digest in one go.

grafittiartist · 08/01/2025 19:21

I have never had a gel- done a couple of marathons.
I had proper food instead- slices of apples were nice. But- I'm slow and steady, so eating isn't too bad.
Not really sure of what suits me best yet.

mynameiscalypso · 08/01/2025 19:26

My DH uses jelly babies