For those who run sub90 or better in the half marathon i have a question!

I only would if it is really hot. Even then I would put more water on than in. Anything drank late in the race won't help, except perhaps a psychological boost, and I would worry that drinking early would make me have to pee before the finish.

1:19 PR.

kimani wrote:

fdsfasdfasdf wrote:

I suck at drinking and running.

Yes, it is hard--consider practicing the water cup grab (obviously a bottle is much easier). I don't usually need fluids until around 2:15, but in a race I'll usually at least try to grab fluids once or twice either to dump or take a tiny sip from.

It's even worse when you don't know if they're holding out water or Gatorade. There's nothing worse than trying to dump cold water over yourself only to find it is full of sticky syrup.

Age 48, 1:30:05

Drank about 8 oz of Gatorade shortly before the start, drank a few oz of water around 8 miles but that is all. Did 13.1 training runs in 1:36, 1:35, and 1:34 without any water or nutrition in the six weeks before. Even pace, no problems. Never seemed to be a problem. Highest temp was mid 60's with sun in the actual race.

If hotter, probably should drink.

See how you do in training to project how you will cope in the race.

Usually water. Depends on the temp. Generally, you're not running long enough for much more than water if you hydrate and eat right before hand.

PB is 1:10

Fair point...I've been extremely undertrained recently due to injuries so my body probably isn't that efficient. I notice I start to feel a little light headed about 75 to 80 mins in without anything. Not a true bonk but I think the gel at mile 5 when I'm still feeling pretty comfortable helps a little.

just a bit of water and a gu packet at 8-9 miles if the temps are comfy

do not do what @darkwave does.that is sillyif you can handle it at race pace, a Gu w/ caffeine at mile 5.5 - 6.5 and a sip of water is a good idea, but otherwise just keep moving and dump the water on your head/neck.i did a Gu when i was a 1:15-1:16 HM guy, but now as a 1:12-13 I feel it isn't worth it to risk coughing or choking on a Gu and upsetting your rhythm

darkwave wrote:

My PR is 1:26, so a bit slower than the others (but closer to your goal).

I run with a handheld water bottle for the first 5-8 miles before tossing (if it's a really hot day, I'll hang on to it until the end). I also take half a gel around mile 5, and the other half around mile 8-9.

I'm 48 and recently went sub 1:20. I ran with two GU packs (chocolate outrage!). Downed one at mile 5 (even tho I felt I didn't need it), and downed the other at mile 10. I think the one at mile 10 gave me a little boost. I only took water once during the race (this was Nov) and that was somewhere between mile 5 and 10, I forget exactly.

Do long hard tempos with a couple gels, and see what seems to work for you. One of my favorite tempos is 3 mi easy warm-up, 8 mi at half-marathon goal pace + 5-10 seconds/mile, and then 3 mi easy. During the tempo part, see what type of fuel your body reacts well to.

practice in training wrote:

do not do what @darkwave does.

that is silly

if you can handle it at race pace, a Gu w/ caffeine at mile 5.5 - 6.5 and a sip of water is a good idea, but otherwise just keep moving and dump the water on your head/neck.

i did a Gu when i was a 1:15-1:16 HM guy, but now as a 1:12-13 I feel it isn't worth it to risk coughing or choking on a Gu and upsetting your rhythm

darkwave wrote:

My PR is 1:26, so a bit slower than the others (but closer to your goal).

I run with a handheld water bottle for the first 5-8 miles before tossing (if it's a really hot day, I'll hang on to it until the end). I also take half a gel around mile 5, and the other half around mile 8-9.

I'm curious if elites gel or not during their sub 62 half marathons??

I take fluids at each station and if they have an acceptable gatoraid like drink I'll do that.

I usually stop once I hit mile 9-10 as by then I'm feeling like too much shit to drink.

practice in training wrote:

do not do what @darkwave does.

that is silly

if you can handle it at race pace, a Gu w/ caffeine at mile 5.5 - 6.5 and a sip of water is a good idea, but otherwise just keep moving and dump the water on your head/neck.

i did a Gu when i was a 1:15-1:16 HM guy, but now as a 1:12-13 I feel it isn't worth it to risk coughing or choking on a Gu and upsetting your rhythm

darkwave wrote:

My PR is 1:26, so a bit slower than the others (but closer to your goal).

I run with a handheld water bottle for the first 5-8 miles before tossing (if it's a really hot day, I'll hang on to it until the end). I also take half a gel around mile 5, and the other half around mile 8-9.

I think that this discussion reflects the difference between racing for around 70 minutes and racing for closer to 90. When I race a 10 miler (about 65-70 minutes), my perspective is closer to Practice in Training's. But for the longer duration, I need something. And I think, since this discussion is for 90 minutes or under, I think my advice is probably more relevant than that of someone that races the distance much faster.

Donut Dan wrote:

I'm curious if elites gel or not during their sub 62 half marathons??

No. Gels are a hobby jogger thing. I use them in Marathons, but elites don't need them because they do high enough mileage that liquid calories are enough. At that pace you will mess up your stomach and have to slow down.

When I was doing 90 miles a week I didn't take any gels. At 45 mile weeks I take 3 in a marathon but still don't take any for a half.

The only time I have e er taken a gel during a half-marathon was when I was using it to prep for a marathon, making sure that particular one didn't upset my stomach at race pace.

Don't think you need them for 1/2 marathon.

PR of 1:17. I only had a swig of Gatorade at mile 9 and poured a bit of water on my head. I didn't stop, just slowed to Maybe 9 minute pace for just under a minute. Shook out a bit and then went back at it. Find what works for you.

+1I do take gels in a half when I am prepping for a marathon.And whether you run 70 or 90 minutes for the half, you are essentially burning the same number of calories, so I wouldn't think there would be a change in caloric need. Still, some people may just enjoy the sugar rush that comes from the glucose hitting their bloodstream 15 minutes after they consume it. I would suggest it is a placebo effect; but if it helps in any way during a grueling race, then have at it. I just don't see the point and think that the risk of an adverse reaction outweighs the benefits (which would only be psychological).

Mr. Obvious wrote:

The only time I have e er taken a gel during a half-marathon was when I was using it to prep for a marathon, making sure that particular one didn't upset my stomach at race pace.

Don't think you need them for 1/2 marathon.

Am right in this demographic & never drink/eat during a 1/2. And hardly ever see runners in front of me take water and can't remember ever seeing a runner in front of me pull out a gel.

Smoove wrote:

Same here. I rarely take in any fluids in the half. I often take water and dump it on my head for cooling purposes. If it is really hot, or if I am prepping for a marathon, I will try to drink some. I just find it to hard to reliably take in fluids while at race pace.

25 years ago I could run 1:19, but now I'm happy to break 1:45.

But my handling of fluids really hasn't changed between running 6 minute miles and 8 minute miles. I usually drink a few times during a half-marathon unless it's really cool, but only water and only small sips. Most of the water I grab gets poured on my head. (Make sure you don't do this with Gatorade--yuck!) Refueling during a half-marathon is completely unnecessary and just risks an upset stomach.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

The only time I have e er taken a gel during a half-marathon was when I was using it to prep for a marathon, making sure that particular one didn't upset my stomach at race pace.

Don't think you need them for 1/2 marathon.

I was just going to say this. If it's a tune-up race for a marathon, then yeah, you need to practice with the gels and water. If it's a half marathon for it's own sake, don't take gels at all and I wouldn't bother with water unless it were ungodly hot.

test2 wrote:

Mr. Obvious wrote:

The only time I have e er taken a gel during a half-marathon was when I was using it to prep for a marathon, making sure that particular one didn't upset my stomach at race pace.

Don't think you need them for 1/2 marathon.

I was just going to say this. If it's a tune-up race for a marathon, then yeah, you need to practice with the gels and water. If it's a half marathon for it's own sake, don't take gels at all and I wouldn't bother with water unless it were ungodly hot.

I agree with the practice of gel and water, but if it's ungodly hot, it's probably best not to run that race at all.