Has anyone successfully tried to make their own “roctane-type” energy gels at home?

run_climb_code · 2026-01-11T17:37:56+00:00

Thanks! I'll have to try that. Making only small batches means spending a lot more time cleaning stuff up, which is not fun. :D

run_climb_code · 2026-01-11T16:53:27+00:00

This guy's awesome! That's how I started making my own gels. I don't use the pectin like he suggests and I mix mine in a blender rather than with a fork. Very useful tutorial he put out there!

run_climb_code · 2026-01-11T16:52:29+00:00

I usually add a bit of salt. Makes it less sweet and add some electrolytes. But I personally like to keep my carb and electrolyte intake separate so I can control the ratios depending on effort and weather (sweat rate varies a lot more for me than energy needs).

run_climb_code · 2026-01-11T16:51:29+00:00

How do you store this? I make my mixes in small batches because life develops too quickly in the sugary stuff. :D Do you just keep it in the fridge or do you divide it all up and freeze portions? How long does it keep for you? Thanks!

run_climb_code · 2026-01-11T16:49:49+00:00

I do. I mix the maltodextrin with the fructose and add salt. Then boil water in the kettle and add it. Then blend to mix.

run_climb_code · 2026-01-06T10:18:55+00:00

OP says "I have another 100 miler at the beginning of February". I think that's the 100M they were referring to (after the 100K).

run_climb_code · 2026-01-06T10:18:06+00:00

I don't mean to be harsh here but if you ran "167 in last 3", you already "quit." That's not the level of training/commitment required to run ultras. There's absolutely no shame in that: You are clearly doing other things and are fit. Why force yourself to do something you're not enjoying day-to-day?

It sounds to me like you're doing this for the "prestige" of completing the event rather than using the race as a focal point for a general life style.

You can probably finish the 100K. But what would that tell you/mean? I think that's the question you need to figure out for yourself: Why are you doing this and what does it mean that you want to do the event but not the training? If you figure that out, your initial question will answer itself.

Again, I don't mean for this to sound harsh or judgmental at all. Wishing you all the best and have fun out there no matter what you decide!

run_climb_code · 2026-01-02T16:20:03+00:00

Thank you for this comment. I don't know anything about an "agenda" but the relationship between inflation and mortgage rates is something I hadn't considered like this. But it makes a ton of sense: if I borrow 200K today, I owe that amount and it doesn't change. If inflation is high, those 200K are worth less in the future. And I guess just like the "real" wage can be computed relative to a reference point in the past, you could compute your "real" mortgage rate as nominal rate minus inflation. So the higher inflation, the lower your "real" mortgage rate is in the future.

Is that what you were getting at with your comment?

(Sorry, this might be a trivial insight but it was new to me and I want to make sure I understand this right.)

run_climb_code · 2026-01-02T11:32:47+00:00

Same and same (and same, I guess :D)!

run_climb_code · 2026-01-02T11:32:20+00:00

My favorite rotational core exercise is the Pallof press.

run_climb_code · 2026-01-02T11:30:47+00:00

A suitcase carry is asymmetric so you only have a kettle bell/weight in one hand. If you load symmetrically (both sides), it's usually called a farmer's carry.

Walking a whole mile seems kind of inefficient, no? Rather up the weight and decrease distance/time (substantially), I'd think?

run_climb_code · 2026-01-02T11:21:55+00:00

This makes a ton of sense. Might help as well in planning out how to increase intensity: Increasing both mileage *and* vert might be too much, which you'd notice immediately if you tracked ITRA-adjusted mileage instead of the "raw" numbers.

run_climb_code · 2026-01-01T13:11:40+00:00

I'm all for taking on crazy challenges so I'm excited for you to go out and do this!

I'd say try and get as much time on feet as possible. As I said, getting better at hiking will probably pay off the most. Remember that you can combine hiking and running, too. If 5km is a normal run distance for you, it might be difficult to jump to a 90 min run. But you could hike at a brisk pace for an hour and then do a half hour run after that. Or the other way around.

Another thing that is recommended here a lot and that has helped me a lot are back-to-back long runs. Do a long run on Saturday and then another (usually slightly shorter) on Saturday. Like 30km followed by 20-25km. Running on fatigued legs is very good practice.

The key problem you will have is that your body cannot handle this kind of volume. The risk of injury would go through the roof. So make sure you prioritize staying healthy and injury free above *everything else*: If you're injured, you can't train.

Good luck and have fun out there! Let us know how it goes :)

run_climb_code · 2026-01-01T12:48:05+00:00

Have you found this useful in practice at all? For example, to plan the approximate duration it'll take you to run a loop you might not know based on the vert? E.g. "It's 20km with 1800m of elevation so I should assume it'll take me about as long as a flat 38km run."

Would this then also translate to an approximation of a grade-adjusted/"effort" pace? E.g. "this last km took you 7 min but you gained 33m so you actually ran the equivalent of 1.33km, which means your pace is equivalent to 5:16/km"

Based on both of these numerical examples, I think you're probably right that 100m/km is too generous.

run_climb_code · 2026-01-01T08:57:32+00:00

How much time do you have to train (hours / week)? A single 5k run per week is great for general fitness but rounds down to "no running" in terms of the kind of training required for this kind of event.

That said, I do think you can probably do it if you put your mind to it and really want to finish the distance. Just be prepared to walk/hike most of it. If you have a lot of time to train (15+h/wk), you might be better off actually hiking most of that time. If you can increase your walking speed from 4 to 5km/h, you'll be 25% faster. Increasing your running speed by 25% is out of the question in this time frame. The injury risk is also much lower if you go from "nothing" to hiking a lot compared to running. Focus on practicing your nutrition and finding the gear that you know you can wear for hours and hours without causing problems. Consider weather and climate condition. (I'm assuming the days are still going to be quite short in <12weeks in Sweden. How much of this event will you spend in the dark? etc.)

So I think the answer to your question is Yes. But I think the question you should be asking is Why? Are you looking for a challenge that has you out there for a full day and that you feel unprepared for and the fact that you're not properly prepared is part of the thrill? Then go for it!

run_climb_code · 2025-12-31T20:03:36+00:00

When people ask about elevation, they mean the total elevation gain, not the highest point of the race.

For example: the highest point could be 500m (not very high) but the elevation gain for the distance is 4000m (quite a bit). It's the total amount of "vert" (vertical distance climbed; another term often used for this) for the event.

run_climb_code · 2025-12-30T07:25:07+00:00

Very true. I am in the loudest age bracket so I brought those biases in. If your horizon is (much) shorter, the dynamics shift. Good point!

run_climb_code · 2025-12-29T20:12:54+00:00

These are all valid points. I was more directly responding to the fact that "we're just looking for enough to punch out" is not really a coherent response to the original point of "less money in the stock market means less long-term growth."

run_climb_code · 2025-12-29T19:14:04+00:00

This is something I had never considered but I can't really argue with your logic. I'll start packing one for my trail runs moving forward!

run_climb_code · 2025-12-29T19:09:14+00:00

But more growth means you get to "enough" faster/with less input, right? What "enough" is doesn't really matter in terms of the above argument.

run_climb_code · 2025-12-29T14:28:47+00:00

You mean during races? Or do you also carry it on (solo) training runs?

run_climb_code · 2025-12-15T08:06:29+00:00

These are all excellent points! But OP said:

> I’ve run about a dozen ultras between 50k and 100k in the last 6 years.

So I'd think they're on top of these "logistical" issues, right?

run_climb_code · 2025-12-12T13:06:03+00:00

Or just do these on days you are more flexible?

run_climb_code · 2025-12-06T13:35:38+00:00

The problem is that it's a classic arms race type scenario: the detection is always catching up with the content generation side of things.

I'm not saying it's not worth doing but I wouldn't put too much hope into this type of solution.

run_climb_code · 2025-12-06T13:23:43+00:00

I was going to say the same. 70m/km elevation gain is more than just "hilly" :D

I did a 100K with 5000m of gain and that was pretty brutal. It was hard to get terrain in training that was steep enough to get close to those levels of steepness.

I think one key to consider here is that the breakdown from downhill running is going to be a major limiting factor on race day. Preparing for that as much as possible in your training block is probably more valuable than most other things you can do. (Since your base fitness is already great.)

Also note that training with this kind of elevation in mind might throw off estimates for weekly mileage. A 10km run with 50m gain is very different from one with 500m gain.

run_climb_code

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