Marathon fuelling in the 70s

Water sponges and frank shorter drank flat coke.

Ynys wrote:

There were no gels in the 70s/80s so what did runners use for marathon fuel, if anything.

Did they run without any food, just took on water for the full distance only.

The idea that food is needed to get through a marathon is another piece of advertising disguised as "science" that's been drilled into you by the sports nutrition industry. Like the false premise of a "30 minute anabolic window," it's just another way of getting people to part with their money for products they don't really need.

CrockOfUKnowWhat wrote:

Ynys wrote:

There were no gels in the 70s/80s so what did runners use for marathon fuel, if anything.

Did they run without any food, just took on water for the full distance only.

The idea that food is needed to get through a marathon is another piece of advertising disguised as "science" that's been drilled into you by the sports nutrition industry. Like the false premise of a "30 minute anabolic window," it's just another way of getting people to part with their money for products they don't really need.

Thanks for the Illuminati insight. How about answering the question?

I didn't know anyone who ate during marathons then but head stories of guys who'd tuck a small pouch with jelly beans into their shorts and would eat some as they raced. Some races had orange slices at their aid stations and spectators at Boston sometimes handed them out. Personally, I never drank either but a lot of people, maybe most, did. Water was the most common drink. When Gatorade came along people tried that. The consensus seemed to be that it was too concentrated but some people did a 50-50 water Gatorade mix. Then Bill Gookin invented ERG, aka Gookinade which was something like watered down Gatorade. It was very popular but as I didn't drink as a rule I didn't pay too much attention. It replaced electrolytes and supposedly got into your system more quickly than water did. I had a friend who said that if you mixed it with something like whiskey you'd get drunk a lot faster than if you mixed whiskey with water or pop. Shorter popularized the idea of drinking defizzed cola but to do that you had to arrange for that yourself. I don't recall any races that provided it as they sometimes did with Gatorade so flat coke never really caught on in a big way.

Did people smoke back then ?

I asked the original question because I have been running long runs lately, between 20- 24 miles without any refuelling (water or gel). First marathon training cycle I have tried it and it feels fine. I was curious as to what the 1970s runners did. Come race time I will just take on water. Saves the hassle of carrying gels.

Thanks for the info.

Me at 1974 Boston Marathon. I had a friend hand me water and a sponge. I think I got it a couple of times. There may have been some additional tables with water. Can’t remember, but certainly far less science and organization to it then. In my first marathon in 1972, water was forbidden first 10k.

https://imgur.com/a/FjnaZ1V

Gotta love the guys in the background just hanging out by their car. Such a different scene as compared to races today.

Ynys wrote:

I asked the original question because I have been running long runs lately, between 20- 24 miles without any refuelling (water or gel). First marathon training cycle I have tried it and it feels fine. I was curious as to what the 1970s runners did. Come race time I will just take on water. Saves the hassle of carrying gels.

Thanks for the info.

I did gels as a master and would recommend it. Try them to make sure they don’t upset your tummy. I safety pinned two on each side of my singlet tail. Took them shortly before water stops and chased them down with fluids.

nice shot! wrote:

Gotta love the guys in the background just hanging out by their car. Such a different scene as compared to races today.

Yes and I took a piss along a house by the starting line. That year was the largest marathon field ever with 1,500. I really can’t imagine the hassel of racing a major today.

Ghost of Igloi wrote:

nice shot! wrote:

Gotta love the guys in the background just hanging out by their car. Such a different scene as compared to races today.

Yes and I took a piss along a house by the starting line. That year was the largest marathon field ever with 1,500. I really can’t imagine the hassel of racing a major today.

No bib required? I thought they had them back then?

no bib? wrote:

Ghost of Igloi wrote:

Yes and I took a piss along a house by the starting line. That year was the largest marathon field ever with 1,500. I really can’t imagine the hassel of racing a major today.

No bib required? I thought they had them back then?

Ever heard of banditing a race?

Bandits wrote:

no bib? wrote:

No bib required? I thought they had them back then?

Ever heard of banditing a race?

He mentioned not being allowed to take water for the first 10k so I assumed he was officially in.

They cut of the water because he pissed on someone’s house

Ghost of Igloi wrote:

nice shot! wrote:

Gotta love the guys in the background just hanging out by their car. Such a different scene as compared to races today.

Yes and I took a piss along a house by the starting line. That year was the largest marathon field ever with 1,500. I really can’t imagine the hassel of racing a major today.

Me and Don Kardong stopped for a beer at the Happy Swallow just after the 10k mark in Framingham.

no bib? wrote:

Ghost of Igloi wrote:

Yes and I took a piss along a house by the starting line. That year was the largest marathon field ever with 1,500. I really can’t imagine the hassel of racing a major today.

No bib required? I thought they had them back then?

Here is Neil Cusack the 1974 winner and looks like he doesn’t have a bib.

Ghost of Igloi wrote:

Here is Neil Cusack the 1974 winner and looks like he doesn’t have a bib.

How is that even possible. What if he missed a timing mat. Derek Murphy would have had a field day with this guy.

Used the bib to wipe his a$$