Manatees - 2018 Edition Now CLOSED (Page 35)

Originally posted by amd723

Anyone use cliff shot blocks or gels? I don’t like to eat while training or racing for various reasons, one being most food upsets my stomach - especially on the run. However, IM stuff actually requires I eat! I’m going to make an effort to use the cliff blocks and or gels- already tried the bars and they are a no go, and am looking to see which flavors are ok. So, if you use them, which do you like, or at least not hate?

Originally posted by amd723

Anyone use cliff shot blocks or gels? I don’t like to eat while training or racing for various reasons, one being most food upsets my stomach - especially on the run. However, IM stuff actually requires I eat! I’m going to make an effort to use the cliff blocks and or gels- already tried the bars and they are a no go, and am looking to see which flavors are ok. So, if you use them, which do you like, or at least not hate?

Originally posted by rrrunner

I'm not a huge fan either, but I did use the blocks for training so I would be used to them on race day. I didn't like ginger ale, watermelon, or margarita. I preferred the spearmint and cran raspberry but mixed it up so I wouldn't get tired of them. By the end of the bike in Choo... I was tired of them.

Originally posted by lisac957

Gel-wise, I can only stomach the non fruit flavors like chocolate and peanut butter - with the exception of the pineapple Rocktane. 

BUT, other suggestions, especially for IM distance, would be an all-in-one drink like Infinite (there are other options that folks here can chime in on what they use). What I do is concentrate it into 3-hour bottles (as opposed to 1 serving per bottle) so I only need 2 bottles on the IM course. You have to chase the sips with water, but it's super easy on my stomach and you can customize flavor strength, caffeine levels, etc. 

One last suggestion as a gel replacement, hear me out, is dates. I have recently replaced my run nutrition with those gooey, medjool dates you find in the produce section. I buy them pre-pitted, so they are easy to put in a little baggie and stick in my pocket. They are full of natural sugars and are about 70 calories per date. Worth trying if you like the taste!

Originally posted by rrrunner

I'm not a huge fan either, but I did use the blocks for training so I would be used to them on race day. I didn't like ginger ale, watermelon, or margarita. I preferred the spearmint and cran raspberry but mixed it up so I wouldn't get tired of them. By the end of the bike in Choo... I was tired of them.

Originally posted by amd723

Anyone use cliff shot blocks or gels? I don’t like to eat while training or racing for various reasons, one being most food upsets my stomach - especially on the run. However, IM stuff actually requires I eat! I’m going to make an effort to use the cliff blocks and or gels- already tried the bars and they are a no go, and am looking to see which flavors are ok. So, if you use them, which do you like, or at least not hate?

Originally posted by amd723

i wouldn’t like those flavors either - especially water melon! I’m going to try the ones you mention you like plus others. 

Originally posted by jmkizer

So clearly you are getting a variety of opinions!

Originally posted by StaceyK So my 10 year old neice has started running with my Mum and E. She liked our team turtle jumpers and thought if she started running that maybe she could have one too. We are taking it easy with her and limiting her to the short run days 3 days a week - so no more than 5k and doing run walk. She is up to a 2/1 split now. Mum said she can't keep up with her cause she is too fast. The other day mum rode her bike whil J ran and she let J wear her Garmin. Mum was complaining that J beat her 5k record and has messed up her stats She has started her medal collection (mum has signed her up for some short virtual runs) and she has the goal of blitzing the field at her school cross country race in September. She wants to be the first person in the history of the event to be able to run all the way up the massive sand dune (almost the entire run is in sand. I think it is 2-3k long). Any tips would be greatly appreciated. J also swims in the local swim club and plays tennis, but she seems to have really taken to running. She is even contemplating spending her life savings on her own running watch. So thank you Manatees your influence is reaching to the next generation.

Originally posted by glfprncs 4 days into taper, 9 days until the marathon, and who gets sick? Every single big race, as soon as I get 2-3 weeks out, I get sick. This. Bites.

Originally posted by jmkizer

Racing Manatees!!!

February 24-25
Jen - Arctic 10k
Stacey - Swissmurdie Trail 12k on Sunday

February 28 is Lisa's birthday

Originally posted by amd723

yes, it’s funny! i don’t like real watermelon, so assume I wouldnt like it in a gel or block. I’m also not partial to raspberry , so probably won’t try it. I didn’t notice the flavors for the race anywhere, so will just try a variety and see if I can avoid getting sick with them!

Originally posted by jmkizer

We can find out what flavors they use in Santa Rosa from Kirsten and Jackie and I'll try to find out what they use for IM Raleigh.

Originally posted by amd723

Anyone use cliff shot blocks or gels? I don’t like to eat while training or racing for various reasons, one being most food upsets my stomach - especially on the run. However, IM stuff actually requires I eat! I’m going to make an effort to use the cliff blocks and or gels- already tried the bars and they are a no go, and am looking to see which flavors are ok. So, if you use them, which do you like, or at least not hate?

Originally posted by Hot Runner Power meter--I have had one since shortly after I started working with my coach. Actually I had trained with power periodically before that when I was doing a lot of my cycling on a spin bike at the gym. I prefer it to HR or effort, because it's a reliable way to structure workouts and track progress across different weather conditions (i.e. US vs. Vietnam) and indoors/outdoors. I just don't put on the Garmin if I am doing easy recovery rides or pleasure rides. (Anyway, wouldn't normally use my tri bike for the latter.) I have a P2Max crank-based unit, paired with a Garmin 520. No complaints. It's really useful for me because I don't have the same intuitive sense of pace for the bike that I do for swim and run. Have been doing the latter two sports since I was a kid; I've run everything from the mile to the marathon since I was a teen, and my best event in HS swimming was the 1500m, so I have a good feel for pacing. But the bike has always been a struggle! Gu/Race Nutrition: There are only a few flavors that I like, and even fewer that I can get and keep down at race intensity. For the latter, we are basically talking PowerBar tangerine and Hammer Apple Cinnamon. Cliff Lemon Ginger (fairly new flavor) isn't bad, but it's thicker than PowerBar and Hammer gels and harder to get down. I think most everyone knows I use dark chocolate as my primary training and racing fuel for HIM distance. All I can say is it works for me. For long rides, I also usually have some nuts and a local product called "sports balls" that are made from, basically, dates and peanut butter. I don't think they actually have any other ingredients--very yummy and minus anything like wheat or milk products that might cause havoc. I am hours or days away from biting the bullet and entering a full IM. Have the feeling I may have to change up my nutrition plan a bit for that distance. That might be more chocolate than even I can stomach!

Originally posted by jmkizer

Racing Manatees!!!

February 24-25
Jen - Arctic 10k
Stacey - Swissmurdie Trail 12k on Sunday

February 28 is Lisa's birthday

Originally posted by amd723

yes, for the bike I Think I’m going with Ucan, but will be testing that during training. For Louisville I used Tailwind and it was fine, but I want to try ucan.  Ucan also makes bars and I used them for the ruN- at least 14 miles worth, but I really would like to not have to carry anything while running and just live off the cliff products along the route.

i love dates, but they Have a lot of fiber which makes me nervous!

Originally posted by melbo55

This makes me smile.  What a feeling for you and the turtle crew to have such a positive influence on your niece! 

Originally posted by melbo55

Good luck to you both!  Have fun playing in the dirt, Stacey!

Happy early birthday, Lisa!

Originally posted by amd723

Anyone use cliff shot blocks or gels? I don’t like to eat while training or racing for various reasons, one being most food upsets my stomach - especially on the run. However, IM stuff actually requires I eat! I’m going to make an effort to use the cliff blocks and or gels- already tried the bars and they are a no go, and am looking to see which flavors are ok. So, if you use them, which do you like, or at least not hate?

Originally posted by glfprncs I used to use Infinite on the bike and gels on the run until my stomach was in such a state of distress during a 70.3 that I resorted to eating potato chips and pretzels on the run just so I didn't have to consume anything sweet. I then switched to Ucan, but found that it just wasn't supplying me with nearly enough energy for long distance. I tweaked my intake a lot during the year, and just couldn't make it work. This winter, after grabbing a few of the ginger ale Bloks on course at Augusta in September, I switched to them for run training. The ginger ale isn't overly sweet, and my body has been ok with them throughout marathon training. Now, when I add the bike back in in 2 weeks, I'm not sure what I'm going to use.

Originally posted by ceilidh

I am kind of surprised. I thought I was the only Manatee that didn't have a power meter.