I think the most telling evidence is that those of us finishing in the top 25% or so in halves seldom see any runners even slowing down at a drink table let alone doing gels. Of course those out there for 2 hours would have a need to hydrate as well have a need for some glycogen. My psychological boost is not from the sip of water but from the 2 - 3 seconds I like to imagine I am gaining on those few I do see taking fluids.
GOML wrote:
Sub 65, never took more than a few sips of water.
I remember reading somewhere that a typical trained athlete has enough glycogen for 70 minutes of strenuous activity before suffering from glycogen depletion, so maybe if you're racing for longer than that it could be beneficial.
How do people race marathons without eating on the course then? If you have really run 1:04, you should be able to put this together. You don't run out of glycogen in 70 minutes, unless you are poorly trained.
When I was first starting at age 11, we ran the Old Kent River Bank Run (25k) every year and there was a training race for our track club in early December. We would all run it when Junior Olympic and TAC XC races were over. So that was TWO 25km races for us a year. Half marathons were not popular then. We also raced a 10-miler (Crim) in August and other 10-milers two other times in the Winter.
When I was 12 I ran my first Old Kent in 1:51.
At age 13 I ran it in 1:47; in 8th grade I went 1:43; in 9th grade I went 1:33. In 11th grade I went 1:27. In the other races (~5 of them 10-13.1 miles each year) I ran times similar . Starting at about 77:00 for 10 miles at age 12 and peaking at 51:20 at age 17.
I never took a gel, not even in the two marathons I did during that time.
Half Mary nutrition wrote:
What is your fueling strategy during a race.. any gel? On course nutrition? Perhaps a gel right before? 1:14 guy told me he uses nothing...
To quote the great Steve Jones, "It is a race, not a f*cking picnic!"