Jelly Babies or Carb Gels

Dear all just in case anyone is interested I have been testing the merits or jelly babies or the gels, find the jelly babies give you a little hit and you suddenly feel perkier but doesnt last that long, tried the carb gels yesterday for the first time there was no hit seemed to just phase in so will probably use those for the marathon dont taste as nice as the babies but I just want to get round at the end of the day, just in case anyone is still thinking what to use may help have a good day :D

Not a "sweetie " person but been eating jelly babies just for an energy boost . Also tried a lucozade gel yesterday and didn't really like all that sticky goo in my mouth , so i'm in a bit of a fix . Will probably persevere with them both though not sure they gave me any more energy . Going to get some energy bars next or maybe some chocolate . Think i'm going to need a rucksack soon to carry all this around , my belt and grip bottle may just not be enough .

Definitely persevere with the gels. Yes, they do taste and feel strange the first time you try them but after a couple of weeks they are nowhere near as bad. I have been using them in training for a couple of months now and so far I haven't run out of energy so feeling very positive for the marathon.

As for which gels to use, I have tried most of them and have settled for a combination of Carb Boom and Lucozade gels. Carb Boom are a bit like eating paste but the apple and cinnamon one is just like eating apple pie!! And the guys in Runners Need swear by Carb Booms.

How many gel sachets do you use in a long run? I had one over a 12 mile run, which did help, but I couldn't have gone much further. I was also unsure of how much water to drink with them. Am going to try some chocolate next!

I did 18 miles at the weekend and used 4 gels. I usually take my first one about 8 miles. The trick (apparently) is to take them before you actually need them and it stops you hitting the wall (well I hope it does but as I have not reached the 20 mile mark yet and that is where the dreaded wall lurks I will have to keep you posted on that). Once you are exhausted its too late.

Thanks Cookie - I will try two or three next time - if I can force them down!

I did 20 miles on Sunday and i took with me :

3 sports jelly beans
large lucozade sports drink - orange flavour
Altu chewy bar (from waitrose)

I survived. ..... but when i got in the car to go home i had a banana

Debbie, when you say you had 3 x jelly beans do you mean 3 packs or just 3 beans? Me and my friend usually go through a whole packet of jelly babies/jelly beans during our long runs (but maybe its just an excuse to pig out on something sweet and they are not the sports ones, just the bog standard ones from Asda)

Is there that much difference in using own brand sweeties instead of the sports designed ones?

Use gels and jelly babies, I do! :D

Over 13 miles on Sunday I had 2 gels and 2 Lucozade Sports pouches. I got round and I am putting it down to them! I did scoff half a Malt Loaf in the car on the way home though!

My marathon will be 5/6 hours long, should I still be looking at having a gel every half hour or so? By my reckoning I will need to carry at least 10 gels with me! Is that advisable to have so many?!

Angela x

I use the SIS isotonic energy gels

You dont need to take them with water like you do with the Lucozade ones and they're not as sickly. Upto 20 miles now, and have one before start and two during the run.

On the day will probably have one before start and four during race at 6 mile intervals, will break up the distance nicely too I hope!

Have fun out there!

littlegillies
Debbie, when you say you had 3 x jelly beans do you mean 3 packs or just 3 beans? Me and my friend usually go through a whole packet of jelly babies/jelly beans during our long runs (but maybe its just an excuse to pig out on something sweet and they are not the sports ones, just the bog standard ones from Asda)

Is there that much difference in using own brand sweeties instead of the sports designed ones?

im planning on taking both - a gel followed by a baby, all washed down with a drink in fact i may stop and have a picnic ;)

Def jelly babies...~

Nooooo....Jelly BEANS everytime !! 

Jelly babies for me

i'm following this with interest as i am going to attempt my first half marathon in October

I need try the gels out, but i've heard they taste foul

and didn't realise that jelly beans are effective, although i'm not a fan of jelly beans ( prefer jelly babies ) but are they easier to carry?  How to people carry jelly babies ( I know it is probably a daft question ) cos if just put them in my pocket i imagine them all to be sticky

at what sort of distances do you start popping jelly babies/beans as well