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What to eat during long runs? Need replacements for gels and gummies!


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Runners - what do you eat *during* long training runs? This is my first day of Whole 30 and my half-marathon training mileage is starting to climb. Feeling intimidated - first long run is in 2 days.

 

What are good substitutes for gu, shot blocks, etc?

 

Easier to carry is better. I don't have a whole lot of room in my race belt to go lugging a sweet potato around with me. :)

 

Thanks!

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I think I saw someone make a sweet potato paste and put it in a little ziplock and ate it like a gu. Also baby food in the same fashion, if you can find it without the sugars. There is a recipie floating around for larabars... Dates and nuts. Beef jerky if you can handle that?

I have my first triathlon since whole30 on saturday... So going to go with some of these. But I am not an expert!

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Check out posts from these runners on this topic -- fuel ideas, what worked, what to expect while becoming "fat-adapted." Scroll down, some have more than one post:

 

Katie: http://iseetrails.wordpress.com/tag/whole30/

 

Me:  http://www.ultrarunnergirl.blogspot.com/2013_05_01_archive.html

 

Olga: http://runmoretalkless.blogspot.com/2013/05/fueling-salt-intake-and-recovery-drinks.html

 

Good luck and keep trying until you find what works!

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Check out posts from these runners on this topic -- fuel ideas, what worked, what to expect while becoming "fat-adapted." Scroll down, some have more than one post:

 

Katie: http://iseetrails.wordpress.com/tag/whole30/

 

Me:  http://www.ultrarunnergirl.blogspot.com/2013_05_01_archive.html

 

Olga: http://runmoretalkless.blogspot.com/2013/05/fueling-salt-intake-and-recovery-drinks.html

 

Good luck and keep trying until you find what works!

 

THANKS! Extremely helpful blogs.

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Dates stuffed with homemade nut butter. Drop the nut butter into a ziplock bag, cut off the corner and squeeze into each end of the pitted date. Flash freeze in a single layer, then wrap individually (or sets of 2) in wax paper. Keep frozen until you leave for your run, keep them in a ziplock bag during your run. The nut butter will ooze a bit so it helps to have any potential mess contained in a snack-size ziplock. They have been my saving grace during my long runs (currently training for a marathon, running 20 tomorrow).

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Dates stuffed with homemade nut butter. Drop the nut butter into a ziplock bag, cut off the corner and squeeze into each end of the pitted date. Flash freeze in a single layer, then wrap individually (or sets of 2) in wax paper. Keep frozen until you leave for your run, keep them in a ziplock bag during your run. The nut butter will ooze a bit so it helps to have any potential mess contained in a snack-size ziplock. They have been my saving grace during my long runs (currently training for a marathon, running 20 tomorrow).

Bethany- I'm curious, what did you find most useful aside from your cool date/nut butter strategy? I have a 20mile run tomorrow and typically I've never used gu, blocks, or anything during my runs. But since W30, my legs have felt lead heavy and I want to make sure I recover properly. 

 

I'm open to trying something new tomorrow in preparation for my marathon in a few weeks :-) They say training is the time to experiment, right? haha

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Bethany- I'm curious, what did you find most useful aside from your cool date/nut butter strategy? I have a 20mile run tomorrow and typically I've never used gu, blocks, or anything during my runs. But since W30, my legs have felt lead heavy and I want to make sure I recover properly. 

 

I'm open to trying something new tomorrow in preparation for my marathon in a few weeks :-) They say training is the time to experiment, right? haha

 

Carmen -

 

I would try RXBars (www.RXBar.com - use discount code 'whole30' to save 10%). Rise Bar also has a great bar with 3 ingredients (almonds, honey and whey protein isolate): http://risebar.com/products/almond-honey/

 

Sweet potatoes in the form of baby food (as someone mentioned) work really well, also. Hopefully this helps :)

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Carmen -

 

I would try RXBars (www.RXBar.com - use discount code 'whole30' to save 10%). Rise Bar also has a great bar with 3 ingredients (almonds, honey and whey protein isolate): http://risebar.com/products/almond-honey/

 

Sweet potatoes in the form of baby food (as someone mentioned) work really well, also. Hopefully this helps :)

Sorry, the Rise Bar is not Whole30 compliant due to the honey and whey protein: neither of which are allowed on a Whole30.

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I  ran 20miles today and took along a Buddy Fruit Pouch. Basically it's pureed fruit (baby food). Very easy to eat while on the run. I never used gu, gels, blocks, gummies, etc before but knew it would be helpful to have something to help get me through the last few miles. My stomach reacted neutral, no different reactions and my run was GREAT! Was it the Buddy Fruit or the Whole30? ;-)  haha

 

Has anyone else used Buddy Fruit? I looked at other brands, but they weren't very pure and natural. Just pureed fruit, no additives, preservatives, etc. Whole 30 complaint. :-)

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I'm at day 12, and used dates during my long run (16mi) this weekend.  They were like heaven and I couldn't help but smile every time I had one (probably because I wasn't used to the sweetness!).  In the past I've also used dried apricots which travel well and don't bother the stomach. 

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I'm at day 12, and used dates during my long run (16mi) this weekend.  They were like heaven and I couldn't help but smile every time I had one (probably because I wasn't used to the sweetness!).  In the past I've also used dried apricots which travel well and don't bother the stomach. 

I keep hearing good things about dates. I need to try this :-) 

 

I'm training for a half Ironman so I will need something during long bike rides and training runs. 

 

Way to go on running 16miles! Are you training for any race in particular? 

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Happy to find this topic :) I'm not a "runner", but I am running a 15K in 2 weeks... I know it's not a "long distance run", but I'm curious to know if you avid runners think I should take any of these suggestions with me, just in case I need them? 

My thoughts, I'm not an expert. First thing, you run and running a race, so YES you are a runner :-)

 If you haven't been running long distances, I would not make any changes. A 15K is a decent distance, however, I personally don't think it's long enough to need to use dates, buddy fruit, bananas, etc. during the run. Your body should be able to handle the race without refueling. Again, this is just based on my personal experience. I would drink plenty of water and refuel post-race with protein/carb. 

 

Good luck in your race! ;-) 

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My thoughts, I'm not an expert. First thing, you run and running a race, so YES you are a runner :-)

 If you haven't been running long distances, I would not make any changes. A 15K is a decent distance, however, I personally don't think it's long enough to need to use dates, buddy fruit, bananas, etc. during the run. Your body should be able to handle the race without refueling. Again, this is just based on my personal experience. I would drink plenty of water and refuel post-race with protein/carb. 

 

Good luck in your race! ;-) 

Thanks! haha, okay I guess you've got a point... I guess I'm "sort of" a "runner"... anyway, so do you have any suggestions for me as far as - I tend to cramp up in my legs before anything, they burn and hurt and it's so uncomfortable and it makes me want to just stop. I know for sure I have tight IT bands, so I'm really trying to stretch those out already until race day. Anything else?

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Thanks! haha, okay I guess you've got a point... I guess I'm "sort of" a "runner"... anyway, so do you have any suggestions for me as far as - I tend to cramp up in my legs before anything, they burn and hurt and it's so uncomfortable and it makes me want to just stop. I know for sure I have tight IT bands, so I'm really trying to stretch those out already until race day. Anything else?

Drink plenty of water, add at least 1 sweet potato a day for potassium, maybe a banana if you're not trying to lose much weight. 

 

I use a foam roller to help stretch. It hurts, but it helps so much. Have you or do you do yoga? I found when I'm doing yoga, i have more flexibility and the less my legs are sore. 

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I had a trail marathon last weekend and this is the "gu" I made. It worked well. I also eat dates on my runs. I love them.

 Bake a sweet potatoe or how many you need.

Mash it up with coconut butter (if you don't have that you can use cocnut oil)

mash in banana, chia seeds, cinnamon and a dash of salt. Add water if you need.

Put all of this in to a squeeze tube (you can get them at REI) or double up on a freezer ziplock bag.

 

I'm 2 weeks into my Whole 30 (vegan) and it's going great. Can't wait for next weekends race!

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Thanks for sharing this "gu" recipe. I'll have to give it a try. How long will this last for? If you can make a few days before will it still be good? 

 

I had a trail marathon last weekend and this is the "gu" I made. It worked well. I also eat dates on my runs. I love them.

 Bake a sweet potatoe or how many you need.

Mash it up with coconut butter (if you don't have that you can use cocnut oil)

mash in banana, chia seeds, cinnamon and a dash of salt. Add water if you need.

Put all of this in to a squeeze tube (you can get them at REI) or double up on a freezer ziplock bag.

 

I'm 2 weeks into my Whole 30 (vegan) and it's going great. Can't wait for next weekends race!

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OK all...it is official...just signed up for the 2014 October MDI marathon. Soooo I will be taping into all of your suggestions for long distance training 'gu'...for now just getting back into strong base runs. Serious training won't be for a while yet...but getting myself psyched up!!! yay!!! :P This race means a lot to me...sort of a reward and incentive!!

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My husband, son and I used fruit slices (aka PURE SUGAR) for our marathon training for Philly in November. My husband had do do a long run yesterday for his next race and panicked as it was DAY 1 of our Whole30. We had a buddy fruit in our pantry and that's what he used. Said it was delicious, easy to carry and did the trick!!! Now what to do with the 10 bags of "fruit" slices I have....haha

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