Hi Trev,

I waited until Holland and Barratt had a special on and brought a couple of energy gels at half price. I used one of them at 10 miles into my first half marathon and they are a bit gluppy but I think it did get me though to the end as it was a really hot day (in fact 40 bailed out cos of the heat) and I was starting to fell a little feeble as I was pushing hard.

Finished in 1:39;38, bit light headed but nothing a banana, a Mars bar chaser and copious amounts of water couldn't sort out.

As well as that it was one of those squeezy packs with a little screw on top so I could tuck it into my water bottle belt. Got the other in the fridge ready for the Birmingham Half in October.

Hi Trev,

I've been trying out various things as part of marathon training. Like you I was a bit sceptical about the cost of these things but I must admit they do seem to help to keep energy levels constant throughout the distance. My last half marathon I used carbohydrate jelly beans (lucozade) and just munched on a handful eery 2-3miles and this really worked for me (plus water and lucozade at stations). I have a wristband I keep the packet in - this stops them rattling as you're running which can be annoying. I'm not keen on gels, I feel slightly nauseuos at the gloopy consistency and end up getting gloop all over hands when tearing the top off sometimes which can be annoying.

Have recently got some shot bloks which are quite good too, easily chewable and disappear quickly.

When I first started "eating" on long runs I used to refuel every 4-5 miles - I've now found that smaller quantities every 2-3 miles seems to work better for me and don't wait until you're really tired to refuel, have something before you start to feel tired.

Hope this helps!

Clif Shot Bloks are fairly new I think, you can get them from www.wiggle.co.uk (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/search/run/8/?nav=Ntk:All|shot+bloks|1|,Nea:True,Ny:True)

Unfortnately some of these things appear to only come in volume, couldn't find anywhere to buy a asingle pack to try out before forking out on loads of them. They are relatively palatable option and you don't have to chew them very much. Although I do like the jelly beans they are  bit chewy when running and I wonder what damage I'm doing to my teeth (dentist visit next week!) having all that sugar in contact for quite a while.

Hi Trev, if you need to eat you will be probably better off with a carb drink or sugary sweet such as jelly babies and the like. I've not seen as yet anyone packing a couple of banana pistols, although I have seen someone dressed as a banana. Then again you could start a new craze.

Like I mentioned previously I purchased the gels with a little screw on top so apart from the gloopyness I was relatively clean. 

I've tried the Lucozade energy tablets and to my surprise they dissolve very easily. I expected them to be a little chalky but they're not.

And...BONUS...they actually taste nice too.

I went into the supermarket today to buy some more as tomorrow I'm schedule for a 10 miler. But they were out of stock. So I found an alternative called "XXXTREME"..........19 tablets for 20p !!!! BARGAIN !

I'll report back tomorrow to let you know if they work or not.....(thats providing I dont get carted off to A&E with to a dose of rat poison inside me)

Well, tI think they worked.

The packet states 9 x tablets = 1 serving. (Didn't quite get the jist of what this actually meant but nevermind)

I took 4 before I set off, and took another 4 on the run with me. They were a little bit crunchy but once I got through that initial crunch they dissolved really easily in my mouth. Quite tastey too.

I took the other 4 tablets at mile 6. (Not because I felt like I needed them. but just to prepare myself for the later stages)

But, I didn't take any fluid of any kind on my run and found the tablets did add to the dehydration which I began to experience at mile 8. But I'll put that down to bad judgement on my part for not taking any fluids.

All things considered, I acheived a decent time.  Did the tablets help..??? The jury is still out. I'll try them again next thursday on my 8 mile run and then decide.

But what I did discover is that as I approached the final 200 mtrs, I was able to really put some effort into a sprint finish without really feeling knackered or gasping for breath. So was it the tablets kicking in ? - or was I just having a good day ?     Time will tell !

Gunslinger or bandalaro style Trev?

I don't bother with gels, etc for a half as a good breakfast usually suffices. However it's different for a full marathon as you need to replenish lost energy, and I've been experimenting on my long runs and come to the conclusion that suits me are normal gels at 5, 10 and 15 mile then a final high caffiene gel at 20 miles. The gells are supplemented by jelly beans and water but I do find that jelly beans do tend to get stuck in your throat which is not ideal, I might try barley sugar but I think they will be sticky and somewhat the same.  

I think I'm repeating what a lot of people have already said, but I think for a half-thon it's not really neccessary and risks upsetting your stomach. For marathon training it's essential though.

I am in the middle of Marathon Training and I dilike the gels so much that I stick to sports drinks.  I do carry some raisins with me and will occassionally take some, when I remember, so far not having gels has not affected me at all