Race not offering gel packets, only re-fills for gel flasks. Discuss.

I occasionally use a gel flask when training, although don't enjoy it.   The reason I use one, and I suspect might be their real reason, is that it's a LOT cheaper.

It gets sticky, it's hard to get out the right portion, and no matter if you empty it you still have this bulky thing to carry.  It's NOT easy to fill, so even if I were going to use a gel flask I would bring enough so that I didn't have to stop.

I much prefer using a packet for a race.  I'd rather see them enforce a no littering rule.  I think people will just bring their own packets and toss them just the same.

I prefer flasks over packets for long course racing.  I would not be opposed to a rule saying that only flasks are allowed and gel packets are banned.  I know it wouldn't fly with most people, but it wouldn't bother me.

I'm not sure I would refill my flask at an aid station though...but just put another flask in special needs.  For a HIM, one flask should be more than enough on the bike and one on the run.  I don't even want to imagine how many sweaty hands may have touched the pump head of the refill bottle.  Especially when you consider what an athlete may touch over the course of an IM.  Snot, pee, drool, or chamios cream that was rubbed on their taint, etc.

So the county I live in banned regular 1 time use plastic bags, and just about everyone uses those nice re-useable bags. It took a few months to remember to grab them but I quite like it now. Just don't forget to wash them out once in a while.

As for the gel flasks... Um gross, I don't want to know who had the bottle before me to fill my flask. I know I get nasty all over myself on the long runs, when snot rockets misfire.

Nice in theory (though I don't buy the "going green" thing - it's all about the almighty dollars they'll save this way), but I just don't think it's going to fly.

No WAY am I going to want to stop and re-fill a flask at some point along the way.  I can see most people just bringing their own gels and so the litter is still going to end up on the ground where it always does during races. 

There was a running race either Mary or 1/2 Mary a few years back that didn't give out cups to racers. They gave racers these pouches that they had special drink holders athletes could fill on the go. It was a complete cluster f*** and I think in the end the race company caved.

Reality there is a lot of waste generated at races and dropped on the ground. It all does not get picked up. When healthy I would ride a certain area where there was a race in June and another in July. I would see race waste weeks and months after the races.....race numbers from bikes and bibs plus gel and sport nutrition packaging.

One suggestion I have is have volunteers or a group go over the course very slowly by foot or bike and pick up all the garbage but that isn't very practical.

I have used gel flasks in all 6 of my long course tri's and have only used the single serve packets at a few running races.  I hate the packets, especially when they are some random, gross flavor.  With the flasks, I get the flavor I want and can rely on having what I need on the bike and run.  For an HIM, I carried two in my back pockets and exchanged for two more in T2.  Rounded out my calories with sport drink.  Pretty simple.  IM did the same and had extras in the special needs bag.  Did get sick of gel on the run and started grazing.  I always mixed four parts gel and 1 part water which makes them much easier to drink.

So, this change would work good for me as long as they had flavors I liked and I could fill all my own flasks.  I want them all filled before the race though.  No way am I going to take the time to squeeze them into a flask during the race and then add water??.  With shakey hands you are going to have a sticky mess.  As if aid stations don't get clogged up enough already at big races.