Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
Options
High 5 Gel stuff
![[Deleted User]](https://w2.vanillicon.com/2d3161be9f6840e2e7f61d279b49c295_100.png)
Doing Dublin marathon end of October and my training runs are now up to 18 miles on a sunday morning. To date have only ever taken water and lucozade sport but received some gel samples from High5 the other day. I think I am 'coping' OK without them at present - i.e. am hitting my target times..but guess that when I move closer to the 26.2 I'm gonna need some kind of extra boost (and may well help me at current distance I guess). Question is - when should I take these - both from a training perpsective and on race day. Evry 5 miles, sooner, less often?? Havnt tried them yet but aim to use it/them on this weeks 18 miler.
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
Don't forget you can only store enough glycogen for about 18 miles worth of effort so you actually need to start getting it back in your system much earlier than that and certainly before the 9 mile mark. Giving them out at 18 miles is not a huge help as you probably can't get much benefit from them at that late stage - even though I would say that I seem to feel the High5 gels "kick in" quite quickly, which may be just a psychological boost as much as anything else. Possibly they've got quick release glucose in them as well as the carbs you need to keep you going, I don't know, I'm hopelessly out of my depth with this science stuff, I just know what works for me!
Whatever - it's a good idea to start training with them as soon as you can so you can work out a routine that works best for you. They can seem a bit weird to suck down the first few times and you should really make sure you get those liquids in at the same time for best effect. good luck. s.
Sean
sorry to hear the gels didn't do it for you. I had the opposite problem today - I'd run out of gels so had to take an energy bar instead for my 20 miler and a) I can't swallow it after a while (with a severe risk of choking) and b) it jus didn't deliver the instant energy hit that I'd come to depend on from my gels (it takes a lot longer for bars to be digested and deliver their effect).
I'd agree with Sean that jelly beans (either the absurdly expensive american jobbies, or the much more soberly priced Joosters) are a really nice little treat and work pretty well, it's just that the gels are a little more, shall we say, scientific and probably give you a bigger, longer lasting effect. High5 have apparently now added caffeine and choline (whatever that is) which both are meant to give added benefits in marathon running (see RW this month) - so it's maybe worth persevering.
A word of warning too - if you're thinking of ordering more from High5, beware that their mail order department leaves a lot to be desired! Hence my running without gels this weekend.
I am hoping to do my first marathon in October, any advice from all you vets on how to carry all this stuff around the course?
Usually just prefer energy drinks though - lucozade got me through the marathon nicely taken every 15 minutes to give the stomach a chance to rest in between gulps.
Does the Dublin Marathon supply anything en route?
Achilles-any chance of the mail order info?????????
Graham
just go to their website at www.highfive.co.uk which has the phone number and other details - frustratingly the website still isn't properly functional so you have to call them up to order - also it's pretty hard to find the stuff in any shops which is a pain. but you can order a sample pack there which seems like a good idea if you're unsure about whether it's what you really need.
Sheila Anne
Cheers
Bruxy
I've heard you're supposed to put them in one of those little plastic things for holding exposed film when you take it to Boots - except I'd probably end up spilling the whole supply trying to get the thing open. I agree soggy Joosters are a pretty sorry affair - plus it takes ages to get the dye/artificial colouring off my fingers which is a bit worrying.
Down side is I'll sound like a manic Mexican or rattlesnake with rhythmn :-))
I'll experiment on tonight's run and see what happens.
Take your point about the colour - makes you wonder what it does to your insides. It does have a positive side though - I know when my partners been pinching mine as her fingers give it away :-)))
Cheers
Bruxy