[Complete Pete]

Anyone tried this or knows what advantages/disadvantages there are? I've hear a few people mention it in the passing and was considering trying it on my long run this weekend.

 

[toe jam on crusty feet]

doesn't Gu have added sodium, though? Sodium is important on long runs..

 

[dnagirl]

i've heard this also. how are you going to carry it?! in a fuel belt kind of bottle?

 

[RunsTheBitterroot]

Pete, honey or any pure sugar gives me acid stomach. I didn't care for the gu. In December at the LV Marathon I tried cliff shots, since my experience with cliff bars proved good. The cliff shots for me worked well with no acid on the stomach.<br><br>
The mocha has 50 mg of caffine for an added boost. There is salt and potasium which will help with absorbtion and retention of salt. If organic is an important issue, thier claim is 90% organic. The ingredients are as follows; Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Cocoa Powder, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Green Tea Extract(contains caffiene), Potasium Citrate and Magnesium Oxide.<br><br>
Larry

 

[wyrillco]

There are some gu things out there, called Stingers, which are made with honey.<br><br>
I think (someone may know for sure) it's just a different type of sugar. My tummy did not take well to gu. But Shot Bloks work great. Someone in another forum (MS, I think) told me that it's due to the different types of sugar used to make them.<br><br>
Can you find little honey packets, similar to ketchup packets? Those would work great. Otherwise you'll have to strap that honey bear bottle to yourself. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[Ice Cream]

Stingers are my favorite. I have always used them for running. On long bike rides, I make sandwiches with raisin bread and honey, cut them up in portions that are about 100 calories and have them at regular intervals. I wrap them in wax paper.<br>
If I were going back to ultras, that would be my choice food during races.

 

[diablita]

The raisins don't affect your digestive system? I'm not sure my stomach would tolerate them while running, but good that yours can.

 

[Ice Cream]

I have used raisins instead of gu. Before gels and all that stuff were around, we used raisins and fig newtons. Really.

 

[merigayle]

i eat raisins on my runs, too <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> And in the past i have had dried fruit mixes.

 

[diablita]

I've eaten fig newtons and oatmeal cookies on long runs before. There's just something about the raisins that my stomach doesn't like in large quantities. And actually, I don't tolerate most Gu's well, either. I'd much rather eat something natural.<br><br>
When we go skiing, we'll ski all day except for hydration stops. I love to take a bag with peanut butter-filled pretzels, dried fruit, nuts, etc.

 

[RichardC]

Double Cheese burger before I head out... or two!<br><br>
and a pick me up every now and then... I prefer gummie Bears

 

[RunsTheBitterroot]

Richard you may have hit on something there. Put the hamburger, a little water in a grinder, make your own gu. Yum!

 

[Dove]

I've used honey quite a bit for marathons. Gels don't work for me, but honey digests nicely. I mix my honey with a bit of lemon or lime juice to make it flow better and cut the sweetness, then pour it in a gel flask. I am careful to take an electrolyte tablet every hour for sodium.<br><br>
Give it a try during a training run. You may love it.<br><br>
-Dove

 

[techgirl321]

They sell honey sticks which are straws full of honey. Bite off one end and suck!

 

[LeftRightRepeat]

Both Gu's, shot blocks and many energy bars typically contain Brown Rice Syrup or Maltodextrin (a sugar extracted from Brown Rice Syrup) or, less frequently, Glucose (Dextrin). Honey (as in the <a href="http://www.honeystinger.com" target="_blank">Honey Stinger</a> gels), is about 1/3 fructose and about 1/3 glucose.<br><br>
Some gels, some blocks, some bars have added sodium and other electrolytes. Some don't. Compare the labels.<br><br>
Bottom line - try lots of them and find what works for you.