Marathon - Carrying Gels

They make racing/split shorts with pockets for plenty of gels. Check out the Nike Aeroswift; the pockets are built into the brief - not the outer short - so zero bouncing around.

Cheers :-)

The half tights I wear don't have any pockets so I use a RooSport to carry my gels. I have the 2.0 version and it can fit 4 in there just fine.

I use Fusion C3 Short Tight. It has pockets on each leg and one on the back. Easily fit my 6 Maurten gels that I use for marathon. Comfortable fabric in these tights as well.

I usually carry 4 in my hands (2 in each), strapped on with rubber bands. No messing about with pockets, never dropped one.

I have worn the Patagonia strider shorts. 4 pockets + one with a zipper. so can carry a lot if needed. The short is also very lightweight and comfortable

4 in one hand, 3 in the other. Take one 10 minutes before start, then 1 gel (gu) every 4.5 miles. The last gel.. which would be the 7th, is generally an in case of emergency gel. I take it 50% of the time.

The best part of carrying like that is they act as sort of a countdown. When I have 3 gels left, I know it's truly game time.

Every one of you is offering the wrong advice.

You take all 4 to 6 before you start.

Problem solved.

If it is cold enough to wear arm sleeves, you can tuck at least one in each sleeve. If your shorts don't have pockets, you can safety pin the gels to the waist band as well, inside and on the side. IF you are wearing gloves, I have known folks that tucked a gel inside each glove as well. Experiment with a few ways and go with what is most comfortable. I am using half tights and can fit 3-4 in the side pocket at Berlin this week.

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

Every one of you is offering the wrong advice.

You take all 4 to 6 before you start.

Problem solved.

AHhhhh so thats the secret. Trying this on sunday! I will run a bit faster in the first 3k (MP - 20sec) to get the gels to really setlle in... I see a potential huge PB !

asdfasdf wrote:

I usually carry 4 in my hands (2 in each), strapped on with rubber bands. No messing about with pockets, never dropped one.

Same here.

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.

If it's cold enough to need something on my head, I'll tuck some inside a Buff, in my arm sleeves, or in my gloves.

I am running my first International marathon and I'm carrying 4 gels in a spi belt. I plan to take 1 before the race and 3-4 during the race. I have shorts that can fit 4-5, but I don't want to have to worry about my shorts being weighed down.

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

Do you wear a hat? Put them in your hat. That's what I do. Bonus: if you are short like me, you don't have to reach up very far to grab them.

I've used a Flipbelt before. It worked well to carry my keys and gels and didn't bounce. I practiced with it on exactly one train run, and gel access was pretty effortless on race day. They have some silly looking colors, but if you buy black and tuck in your shirt, you can't even really tell it's there.

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

I always carry 3 in total. 2 in my inside key pocket in split shorts and one tucked into my watch band (this is first to take)

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).