How many gels do you eat during a marathon?

1 per half an hour, so 18 overall.

Zero because I use the gummy/chews instead of gels. It is just easier and less messy. I don't really understand why gels are more common.

I despise gels. I don't eat them. They sit at the bottom of my stomach begging to be ejected vertically. Sometimes they get their wish.

Gatorade and water only for me. Every other stop.

Refueling is for hobby joggers.

Zero. I second the Gatorade and water.

55yo hobby jogger running 3:15-3:20. 4-5 gels depending on how I feel. No Gatorade, etc. Just water. Haven't bonked in a few years, but I've been running conservatively.

I would wager your bonk is more about exceeding your fitness than not fueling correctly.

carb load for the three days prior. a short intense workout 24 hours before the race. gatorade on the course. no bonk.

Gummy not gel wrote:

Zero because I use the gummy/chews instead of gels. It is just easier and less messy. I don't really understand why gels are more common.

I can't swallow gummy/chews when running hard. So it's gels for me.

Rick Sanchez wrote:

I despise gels. I don't eat them. They sit at the bottom of my stomach begging to be ejected vertically. Sometimes they get their wish.

Gatorade and water only for me. Every other stop.

I had the same problem for my first 2 marathons when I took the recommended 5-6. That many gels just doesn't digest in my body.

For the 3rd marathon I only took 2 gels on the course and ran my goal time of 2:56. I plan on doing the same thing again for this fall. Here's the thread from last fall when I had some doubt about whether it would work or not:

I'm a hobby jogger.

51 years old, shooting for sub 4, 5-6 gels. Usually every 30 minutes or so. Keep those calories coming in.

When I was 40-45, running 2:35-45, I'd carry 4, 10-20-30-40k. 2 would be caffeinated.

I could never choke down one @ 40. But I had it if I needed. I remember Geb taking his feeding bottle @ 38km during his WR, and I thought this a best practice.

Generally a minimum would be 2 (for me). Mostly because you never know how you will react. You might be fine and not need any, you might feel yourself bonking.

It was probably overkill, but it sucks to get caught out when you are 10-15km from the finish of a marathon

5-6 during the first two hours, then none to the finish.

I took at 8 mi, 16 mi, and 21 mi at Boston in 2015 (ran 2:38) - roughly at 47 min, 1:35 & 2:10. At a previous marathon, I took at 10 mi and 18 mi and felt weak late in the race, fading to 2:46. The switch to 3 gels vs. 2 seemed to help - training leading up to each marathon was similar. Pretty consistent water/gatorade throughout the race in both.

Yes, Geb is certainly a hobby jogger.

http://www.runnersworld.com/sweat-science/haile-gebrselassies-world-record-marathon-fueling-plan

McGrupp wrote:

I've had issues with bonking and I am curious about what others are doing.

Please respond with:

-Number of gels per marathon

-Which mile(s) you eat the gels

-Marathon finish time

Are you bonking, or just getting fatigued and fading at the end? Big difference but people saying bonking all the time when it really is just poor pacing or lack of endurance.

3 or 4, for me eating every 6 to 7 miles has worked

Inconsistent wrote:

Are you bonking, or just getting fatigued and fading at the end? Big difference but people saying bonking all the time when it really is just poor pacing or lack of endurance.

Agreed, though bonking isn't really binary. It's not like you're just cruising along and suddenly the fuel is gone. As fuel stores run low, perceived exertion increases, even before your'e really depleted. Taking adequate carbohydrate ensures that your brain doesn't sabotage your performance.

Ok so Elites like Feb get handed lovely bottles at convenient places, that's fine for them but us joggers have to make to with tiny paper or plastics cups...I find getting anything out of these and into my mouth impossible when running and I run slow! Anyone have any tips? Do you down it in one? Take sips?

Banner wrote:

Ok so Elites like Feb get handed lovely bottles at convenient places, that's fine for them but us joggers have to make to with tiny paper or plastics cups...I find getting anything out of these and into my mouth impossible when running and I run slow! Anyone have any tips? Do you down it in one? Take sips?

Walk. Bill Rodgers walked through the water stops while winning the Boston Marathon in 2:07. You don't really lose much time walking a few steps here and there.