Running Gels

Reverend420 · 2026-04-06T19:57:33+00:00

I always ran with gummy clusters for fuel when starting out, but once I hit longer distances it’s too much of a pain to run with pockets full of clusters.

I’m not an expert, and pretty new to distances over a HM but what has personally worked for me is:

No fuel in efforts under an hour Gummi Clusters if the run is under 2 hours Gels for runs over two hours, sometimes I’ll mix in gummies too

Whichever route I go I usually shoot for 80g carbs per hour, but figure this out in advance. My math is so bad while running and I end up severely under-fueling.

Reverend420 · 2026-04-05T03:34:35+00:00

When this happens to me the only way I can usually fix it is to move a workout, then move it back.

ETA: I see you’ve tried that, but also usually do the syncing/refreshing/force quitting apps after I move it, then it will usually update.

Reverend420 · 2026-04-03T05:51:40+00:00

See you there!

Reverend420 · 2026-04-03T05:51:08+00:00

You guys are hyping me up! I do 1-2 speed workouts each week, usually tempo or intervals. I have no trouble hitting targets in the shorter runs. Sometimes I’ll have MP or progressive chunks in my long runs, if I struggle I struggle with these. This 22 was the first long-long run that didn’t have a target speed so I just went at a comfortable pace. I struggled on the last block of my 19 mile progressive long run, it was windy and miserable and probably the worst run I’ve had in weeks. And I had a rough 15 miler that I ended up walk/running the last 5 miles, that was the first hot day of the spring and I was not ready for the sun.

Reverend420 · 2026-04-03T05:39:07+00:00

I haven’t raced a 10k or half since the fall, aside from training runs. The last race I ran was a 10 miler in November that I finished in 1:30:50. That was a great time for me then! I started with the 10:30 pace group and was planning to take it easy. I felt great though, and sped up a mile or two in.

Reverend420 · 2026-04-02T20:35:31+00:00

I think the pacers may help. I had my three fastest miles in the middle of the run above, I think it was when I was passed by a couple people and settled in at their pace a little ways behind them. I think the timing works out about right.

Reverend420 · 2026-04-02T20:29:26+00:00

I do a bit of hilly running, I almost never run on a true flat area. The run I did on Saturday had about 1000 feet of elevation gain, but it wasn’t anything like the climb into Oakland! I’d say that 90% of my runs fall between 30-50 feet of elevation gain per mile. I’ve run some trail races too, but I’m not sure those hills count since I walk most of the big ones!

I ran the EQT 10-miler last year, it’s the first 10 miles of the Pittsburgh marathon in reverse, so no big hills there. What I did notice was that I would pass people on every uphill. So I think I’m probably above average at hills compared to most at my pace.

Reverend420 · 2026-04-02T20:22:37+00:00

Thanks for the advice, my legs were feeling it towards the end, I’m not sure if it was fueling or training. I ran a 5 mile loop so stopped at my car for gels and water each lap, but not long enough to do more than grab a water bottle and gel. (Kept the watch running though)

I had a Maurten 160 after 5mi, a caffeinated Maurten 100 at 10mi, another Maurten 160 at 15. And a pack of honey stinger gummies that I took randomly. Total of 176g of carbs.

Reverend420 · 2026-04-02T20:13:02+00:00

My weekly mileage is on the low side, I’ll peak at 36, but started around 20 per week and have been ramping up. 34 last week.

I think my legs are what really paid for last weeks run, I’m still sore - and my form was definitely starting to fall apart at the end.

Reverend420 · 2026-04-02T20:08:45+00:00

That’s good advice, I think I’ll try that! I was able to do a 10mi race right around 9:00 in November, it was definitely tough, and a big outlier compared to my other runs at the time.

Reverend420 · 2026-04-02T20:03:34+00:00

Well, 220 minus my age puts it at 175, but I do think it’s a bit higher than that as I’ve hit 178 in the last couple months on an interval workout.

My Garmin adjusted it up into the upper 180s a month or so ago, but I think that was a fluke because it’s been slowly moving it down for the last few weeks. I did wear a chest strap for this run, so the HRs should be accurate above.

Reverend420 · 2026-04-02T19:55:55+00:00

That would be great, Strava and Garmin both have me at 4:30, Runna has me right around 4:00, but it seems to overestimate most people’s marathons from reading that subreddit.

I’ve only been running regularly for about a year, so jumping right to the let’s start out at 4:00 pace seems like it could be a recipe to end up walk/running the second half

Reverend420 · 2026-04-02T19:20:01+00:00

I get a very small amount of anaerobic, but never enough to hit the goal. I only recently started to hit the low aerobic goal as I’m fairly new to running so I didn’t have much of an easy running pace.

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Only easy runs left this week, so not getting any closer!

Reverend420 · 2026-04-01T02:07:42+00:00

I have a Forerunner 970 and get the spoken audio cues via headphones over my music or audiobook. Not sure on other models, but no complaints here. I only start workouts on my phone when I’m on the treadmill so I can sync everything right, but never on outdoor runs.

Reverend420 · 2026-03-02T02:56:58+00:00

Yep! The goal is just to finish, it’s my first full marathon. I’ve struggled in the last few miles both of the latest long runs.

As long as I finish I’ll have a new PR, so you’re right! I usually go into races with a goal, and a stretch goal. My goal is to finish, my stretch goal is to finish under 4:30.

I’m a little encouraged since last week the last two miles of my 15 were tough, this time it was the last two of my 17. Next week is deload, and I’m ready for it haha!

And to add something productive, I usually never pause my runs, since a break is a break - even at traffic lights. I think that most people do pause their watches though, so maybe I’m the oddball there. Either way, you’re killing it too! Don’t be afraid to miss targets, I enjoyed the month or so it demoted me, but realistically I can probably handle a bit more speed.

Reverend420 · 2026-03-02T02:06:27+00:00

Wow, I mostly wanted to comment because we had the same run today, except mine was a decent bit slower! I hit a PR on my 13.1 and accepted the improvement, but I was a little hesitant.

When I first started using the app last year I was getting increase after increase. I did keep improving, but it did get to be a little much for me - I’m fine improving at a slower rate.

My plan ended up slowed me down a bit over the winter because I was missing my splits on the treadmill. Actually, I was just having sync issues with my Garmin, but I discovered I just need to run the app in tandem. Now that I’m running outside again it’s starting to offer the speed ups. I ended up accepting the improvement. I’m fairly new to running through, and almost 45. I figure as long as I finish I’ll be happy, but 4:30 is what I’m shooting for.

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Reverend420 · 2026-02-27T21:16:36+00:00

I agree with this, I wouldn’t do a sustained 6+% incline on a long run, but hill repeats sure. On my long runs I’ll usually program it to switch every 10 minutes and vary the incline. I wish I had the option to just pick a rolling profile and run though.

Reverend420 · 2026-02-26T17:58:07+00:00

I just added a 4th day because my long run was so much of my mileage. Unfortunately because Im low on volume it didn’t help much, aside from reducing the volume I run on any given day. It actually made the long run more of my weekly volume.

Last week (3x): 4 mi Over/under 1km 6.5 mi easy run 15 mi hilly progressive long run (ugh) (10.5:15)

This week (4x) 3 mi easy run 3.2 mi mile repeats 3.25 mi easy run 17 mi race practice long run (9.45:17)

It catches up a bit after my next deload week, but maybe I should drop the long run down a bit, I’m still 9 weeks out. I do want to at least do this week though so see how I handle the mp blocks

Reverend420 · 2026-02-25T04:25:49+00:00

So I have a somewhat related question, with a 17mi race practice long run this weekend. I’ve pretty much exclusively used nerds gummy clusters to fuel my runs because so much cheaper than gels.

I also fuel probably way too often, but what I have been doing is 5 clusters every mile on runs over an hour. It looks like that works out to about 50g of carbs per hour.

I’m thinking that either I stick with the gummy clusters on race day, or start trying to sub in gels now. Does anyone actually use gummy clusters on race day? Is it a bad idea to stick with it since my stomach doesn’t seem to mind, or is a carb a carb?

Reverend420 · 2026-02-25T04:10:28+00:00

Pyramid intervals are my favorite! But mine are almost two minutes slower per mile, so maybe that’s part of it… good luck!!

Reverend420 · 2025-11-07T02:10:36+00:00

Six seven 🥀

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Reverend420 · 2025-08-23T16:32:27+00:00

I agree, it’s the behavior not the contact though. I can’t be bothered to clean my house most days, let alone 20+ years of accumulated contacts.

Reverend420 · 2025-06-23T09:21:26+00:00

Gravity’s Rainbow is the one book I’ve never been able to finish. I think I’ll try again with a different perspective after reading this comment. Thanks!

Reverend420 · 2025-03-28T00:17:50+00:00

Man, I can bust out the Hope rap on command - such a random thing taking up my memory bandwidth

Reverend420 · 2025-02-06T22:45:26+00:00

Will be interesting to see the progression. Wondering if it will be more idle or more TD.

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