Fact: I was one sugared up little kid.
As a child, Cap’n Crunch was a standard part of my morning routine. My lunch typically included potato chips, Little Debbie Snack Cakes, and pudding. And when I got home from school each day, I drank 2 cans of soda.
Yes, I was VERY sugared up as a kid.
One thing about being a sugared up little kid is that you learn not to trust other people’s versions of what tastes good. Why? Because the kids whose parents give them diet soda and are deprived of the real stuff will tell you that diet soda is “good.” Seriously, they think that aspertame tastes good. Now, it’s not their fault! Having been denied legitimate sugar for their whole lives, they don’t know any better! But they are wrong. Aspertame does not taste good.
So, when it comes to fueling during a run, I’ve been tentative. I know that people tell me that chocolate Gu tastes just like chocolate frosting. But I don’t believe them. I fear that they grew up in non-sugary households and have no idea what “good” is. I still remember how the girl in the Hood to Coast movie tasted a gel and said, “It’s like chemical masked by terrible berry flavor. This is disgusting.” I bet you anything, that girl grew up in a sugared household and actually has tastebuds that work properly. So I trust her.
Because of this, I’ve been afraid to try fueling during the run. I’ve had strongly-mixed Gatorade make me nearly puke during a race (hence why I now drink Nuun), and that experience scared me away from trying to stomach anything substantial during a run.
But, this past weekend, I looked at my training schedule and realized that the 6.5 miler that I had scheduled would take me more than an hour, since I’m still walking for 33% of my runs. I decided that I had to bite the bullet, and start experimenting with fueling.
About 45-minutes into my run, I decided that it was time to try a Cliff Shot Block. I didn’t want to eat it. I wasn’t hungry at all. The idea of eating made me feel queasy. But I decided that I had to try it if I wanted to progress as a runner, and I popped the block into my mouth.
It tasted…like candy! Real candy! Not like those poisonous sugarless lollipops that pediatricians give to kids, but real, genuine, sugary, sweet, delicious candy. Yum!
It was funny that I thought I wasn’t hungry, because after the first one tasted so delish, I went for a second. Yum!
I’m a total convert. I know nothing about gels. In fact, I’m still scared of gels. But shot blocks are fabulous candy goodness.
What’s your favorite way to fuel during a run? What does your fueling schedule look like?
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Julie @ Sweetly Balanced
January 31, 2013 at 5:25 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I used to be addicted to diet coke, now the thought of it makes me sick.. It’s so gross! I don’t usually eat when I run, but I did just get those bee stingers gummies so my next long run I’ll try them out!
Donna Boudreau
January 31, 2013 at 6:03 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Those are my favorite!
runfundone
January 31, 2013 at 5:32 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Ha! I actually do occasionally drink diet soda, and I’m not totally anti fake sugar, but I fully admit that the fake stuff tastes kinda gross!
Abby @ Change of Pace
January 31, 2013 at 6:27 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’m totally craving running fuel now!
I, personally, find gels really gross but do eat them sometimes during an Ironman. My absolute favourite store-bought fuel is GU Chomps (the strawberry kind). To me, they seriously taste like candy!
Last year, I tried to fuel more with regular food like pretzels, homemade muffins, Rice Krispie treats, etc. it’s a lot easier to do that on a bike than run though!
runfundone
January 31, 2013 at 5:33 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I liked the shot blocks so much, I’m not sure if I’ll try gels…but I am curious about those chomps.
Steph
January 31, 2013 at 8:26 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
The chocolate Gu isn’t exactly like frosting, but I try really hard to convince myself it tastes like pudding. I’ve wanted to try the Bloks, but I worry about them getting messy when I don’t use a whole pack.
runfundone
January 31, 2013 at 5:36 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
It wasn’t messy for me at all, but that might have been because it’s not hot where I live. The blocks state firm, and I just folded over the top of the packaging and put the package back in my SPI belt.
Alex @ Cookie Dough Katzen
January 31, 2013 at 10:15 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I’ve never tried fueling for a run actually. I heard they are great though so I’ll have to try it once I get a long run in one of these days!
runfundone
January 31, 2013 at 5:39 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I keep wondering if I would have run faster back when I was a better runner if I had known to fuel! I just knew nothing about it…they say that after about 1 hour, your glycemic tank kinda runs out, so fueling should help a great deal!
Sherry
January 31, 2013 at 11:04 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
For me, anything too sweet makes my mouth feel dry and sticky when I’m running. That is a totally different story when I’m not running though!
Of the gels I’ve tried so far, GU seem to be the most palatable – and the chocolate could be one of my favourite flavours! I haven’t tried Nuun yet – must do!
runfundone
February 1, 2013 at 12:42 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I am curious about chocolate gu, because I love chocolate! Nuun is good if you want to replace electrolytes without a ton of sugar!
Jac @ Challenged & Running in the Bike Lane
January 31, 2013 at 5:46 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Bloks are my favorite. I love them. I hate Gels. Every time I’ve taken a gel, I’ve felt like someone should have bought me a steak dinner beforehand! Just sayin’! But I love the bloks. I am digging on the sport Jelly Belly’s for my shorter runs!
Tasha @ Healthy Diva
January 31, 2013 at 9:55 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
My favorite long run fuel are fruit smoothie honey stingers. They are awesome tasting and easy on my stomach.