Marathon - Carrying Gels

Only ran one marathon but I took one before the race and carried one in each hand, took at miles 9 and 18. Easy.

Wouldn't want to carry more, a clip on pocket may work for that.

Also going to Amsterdam for my first marathon!

Would try to do sub-4 rather than your sub-3.

As they would apparently offer Isosport Cola gels, I went out and bought some to test it.

I did not like it, too syrupy and overwhelmingly sweet.

Would probably stick to my trusty glucose tablets and H2O

z

RobG wrote:

Hay all....I'm approaching my first marathon (Amsterdam) and wondered what advice people can offer on the best way/ways to carry gels during the race.

I know the water stations will have gels available, but I don't necessarily want to rely on them....preferring to sink a gel in advance of the station. Looking to carry between 4-6 gels. My target is sub-3 and I'll be wearing racing/split shorts.

Carry your gels in a small plastic sandwich bag.

EZ10Miler wrote:

I've safety pinned them into my shorts and taken as needed, but then I wasn't trying to chug down 4-6 of those things. Taking 1 every 4M would cause me no end of stomach distress. I probably maxed out at 3, probably kept it to 2.

I do the same.

Ask for 4 extra safety pins when you pick up your bib. Pin the top of 2 of them near each hip on the inside of your shorts. When you need 1, flip it to the outside of your shorts, and rip it off. Usually the safety pin remains closed. Check to make sure.

Also, wear boxer briefs to stop the bottom of the gel packs from rubbing against your legs. This also helps to stop your shorts from chaffing against your legs.

Choose a thick (high viscosity) gel. The liquidy ones heat up and spill when you open them.

Finally, know where the water stops are. take the gel at least a quarter mile beforehand, so you can wash it down with water.

Carries six gels tight against your waist, no digging in pockets or fiddling around with safety pins / rubber bands. Negligible weight (1oz). And you can cut off the bib toggles.

Jzs wrote:

You don’t need gels or goos or anything ...just run

And you don't need water either.

As long as your name is Salazar.

Jzs wrote:

You don’t need gels or goos or anything ...just run

has never run a marathon^

Mr. Bouncy Pants wrote:

theRanMan wrote:

What is going on in here? Don't you guys have pockets? Or are you bringing 20 gels?

I can't run 50 feet with stuff in my pockets without getting annoyed by the constant bouncy feeling. Do you not have that issue? What shorts/pockets do you use to avoid being Mr. Bouncy Pants?

(and I take 4 gels but only use 3 in marathons... I can't explain why other than some irrational fear of running out and needing another one).

What kind of pockets? If it's the "handwarmer" type on the front of course those suck.

There are any number of brands/models of shorts out there with pockets built along the outside of the waistband - it's amazing what you can fit without any bounce. Patagonia Pro Striders and Race Ready (brand) are just two examples, there are many others. I have two pair of some old Asics that have 4 open mesh pockets and one zipper pocket built along the waist band - these shorts are so comfortable I've worn them in everything from 5k to 100M. Generally only use the pockets for the longer stuff of course, but when I do I don't even notice gels, gloves, arm sleeves, or anything else I've put in them OTHER than 10oz flasks (that worked but water is heavy no matter how you carry it).

haver of a clue wrote:

Jzs wrote:

You don’t need gels or goos or anything ...just run

has never run a marathon^

^ actually I’ve run 8 ..my top three- 2:42, 2:43, 2:46 ..no gels, none of that crap.

Mr. Bouncy Pants wrote:

theRanMan wrote:

What is going on in here? Don't you guys have pockets? Or are you bringing 20 gels?

I can't run 50 feet with stuff in my pockets without getting annoyed by the constant bouncy feeling. Do you not have that issue? What shorts/pockets do you use to avoid being Mr. Bouncy Pants?

(and I take 4 gels but only use 3 in marathons... I can't explain why other than some irrational fear of running out and needing another one).

No I don't have that feeling. I wear splits and tigthen the pants in front if i have something in pockets. Otherwise short tights.

No problemo.

Jzs wrote:

haver of a clue wrote:

has never run a marathon^

^ actually I’ve run 8 ..my top three- 2:42, 2:43, 2:46 ..no gels, none of that crap.

Big love for this guy! Great marathon times and no gels! Nice. I want to follow your example on sunday and destroy the letsrun boards if i succeed.

I recommend using a “spibelt”. There different models but for your use case get the minimal version. I use the two pocket model (I like to carry my phone in the larger pocket) and I never get bounce, even when sprinting.

Lots to think about...thanks all. I certainly won't be carrying a phone, so maybe a small, stretchy waistband/pocket thing could work, or indeed I like the sound of skin-tight shorts with pockets....I have some similar bib-shorts with pockets for cycling and they work well.

As for targeting a sub-4 over a sub-3, no way! I appreciate that the planets will have to align somewhat in order for me to crack the sub-3 at my first attempt, but sub-3 is what I've trained for, and it's what I WANT :)

Jzs wrote:

haver of a clue wrote:

has never run a marathon^

^ actually I’ve run 8 ..my top three- 2:42, 2:43, 2:46 ..no gels, none of that crap.

I've also run 2:43 with no gels... and 10 minutes faster with them. I

RobG wrote:

Lots to think about...thanks all. I certainly won't be carrying a phone, so maybe a small, stretchy waistband/pocket thing could work, or indeed I like the sound of skin-tight shorts with pockets....I have some similar bib-shorts with pockets for cycling and they work well.

As for targeting a sub-4 over a sub-3, no way! I appreciate that the planets will have to align somewhat in order for me to crack the sub-3 at my first attempt, but sub-3 is what I've trained for, and it's what I WANT :)

Flipbelt sooooo easy, and works great.

Use the shorts you like most, cut up an old pair and sew extra pockets. My split shorts had 1 inner pocket on the right leg. I added 1 inside the other leg, 1 at the back behind each glute and 1 in the middle. Make the pockets small so that you fold the gel a little and that way it won't bounce around. I am OCD and if it doesn't bother me unlikely to bother anyone. I carry 5 gels for marathons also for marginal sub 3 so we probably run a similar pace. I had my mother sew pockets, I'm certain a tailor could do easily.

Find a cheap, light weight, loose fitting cycling shirt with pockets in the back; stash them there. Modify the shirt by cutting the sleeves if necessary. Remove any elastic from the waist. This will work better than pockets in shorts or a fuel belt.

Love the tough guys on this board saying they don't need gels, when literally every single elite runs with either gels or a special carb mixed drink, i.e. not Gatorade.

When you run faster than 2:10 with nothing, come back.

I am also a first time marathoner going for sub 3 in Amsterdam! I have settled on using the gels provided at the feed stations because I think it is more convenient than running a marathon with stuffed pockets. I would consider carrying one in each hand too. Just hate running with anything bulkier than a set of keys in my pocket.