It is a belief almost universally held by runners that gels, while not enjoyable, must be consumed for energy on long runs. What other options are there: chugging neon-hued Gatorade or risking a bonk during your race – or so it seems.
Gels are highly concentrated forms of carbohydrates that can be consumed in one swig and must be taken with water. Typically, gels are sticky sweet in taste – and sticky when they inevitably get on your hands mid-run. Many runners don’t like the taste but rely on gels out of necessity. However, there is another option – you can fuel long runs with whole foods.
I’ll admit, there is a benefit to gels. They are convenient and easy to eat in a race situation and for some runners, gels work well. But gels are by far not the only option when it comes to fueling long runs. Whole foods provide an excellent alternative, although they can be intimidating for runners accustomed to gels. In this post, I will discuss how to fuel long runs with whole foods.
Why Fuel Long Runs with Whole Foods?
For some runners, gels can cause GI upset on runs. The concentration of carbohydrates can be difficult to digest if taken all at once (which is why you want to sip your gels slowly if you do take them). This can cause bloating, cramping, and general discomfort, especially if you are taking several gels over the course of a marathon. Some runners will reach the miles of the marathon where fueling is pivotal and diverge from their training plan because gels are off-putting at that point in the race.
Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy on a run, but they are not the only source of energy (especially for female runners, who burn a higher percentage of fat than men at the same intensity). By opting for whole foods, you will still consume ample carbohydrates while also taking in some fats and small amounts of protein as well. This can reduce GI distress and improve energy levels.
Some other reasons to fuel your long runs with whole foods include:
- Novelty: Palate fatigue is a term for when you just can’t stand to eat another gel or another pack of sports chews. Whole foods are something different, both in terms of taste and texture. If you find yourself bored with one type of whole foods fuel, there are a wider variety of options.
- Reward Stimulus: A gel is not fun to eat, nor does it always taste good. A thin waffle or a cut-up sandwich, on the other hand, does taste good – and the pleasure from the taste stimulates the reward center of the brain. This boost can be beneficial on a long training run.
- Budget-Friendly: Depending on what you use, whole foods are a budget-friendly alternative to gels.
Whole Foods Fuel Options
Options abound for whole foods on long runs: pick something that contains carbohydrates, is easy to eat and digest, and is portable. Some good options include:
- Honey Stinger Waffles/GU Stroopwafels
- Homemade waffles or pancakes, broken into bite-sized pieces
- Cut-up sandwich: PB&J, Banana & Honey, Jam
- Energy bites
- Dried fruit: Raisins, dates, banana chips, etc.
- Picky Bars, LaraBars, CLIF Bars, or homemade bar
- Boiled baby potatoes with salt
- Cooked sweet potato chunks
- Fruit puree packets
The cookbooks Run Fast, Eat Slow by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky and Rocket Fuel by Matt Kadey offer numerous options for whole foods to eat on the run. If you like the ease of gels, you can even make your own at home and carry them in these reusable running fuel flasks.
What You Want to Avoid:
- Too much protein: While a little will increase satiety, too much protein can slow down digestion, thus causing GI distress and a slower release of energy. Your body needs carbs to process energy for running, so while protein-rich foods may satisfy your appetite, they are not optimal for performance.
- Too much fat: This will vary based on the individual, but too much fat can slow digestion. That said, female runners in particular may find some fat beneficial on the run, since women burn a higher percentage of fat during exercise compared to men.
- High volume foods: You want to pick calorically dense foods, so that you aren’t eating as much volume while running. High volume food can also be tricky to carry while running.
- High fiber: Again, this will slow digestion and could cause stomach cramping or GI distress.
How to Fuel Long Runs with Whole Foods
Using whole foods on the run requires patience and experimentation. Start on long runs that are on the easier, shorter end of the spectrum and earlier on in your training cycle. These tips will help you fuel your long runs with whole foods:
- Plan for your needs: Ideally, you want to take 30-45 grams of carbs per hour, depending on the intensity, your height and weight, and gender. Another option that Stacy T. Sims, author of ROAR, recommends for female runners is approximately 0.9-1.13 food calories for every pound of bodyweight per hour of running; so if you weigh 130 pounds, aim for 130 calories from a combination of carbs and fat every hour.
- Don’t skip electrolytes or fluids: Many gels are manufactured to contain electrolytes in them. If you are fueling your long run with whole foods, you will need to take in electrolytes separately. The simplest way is electrolytes in your fluids. Pick a hydration mix such as Nuun Performance, Skratch Labs Sports Hydration Mix, or Osmo Hydration. Whole foods also require plenty of fluids to digest (and really, you should be consuming sufficient fluids during a long run – don’t let yourself become dehydrated), so drink at frequent, regular intervals throughout the run.
- Spread out your fuel: Since whole foods are less concentrated than gels, you want to spread out your calories more throughout the run. Start fueling earlier and take smaller amounts at more frequent intervals. This method is effective no matter what you use (even if you use gels or chews), as it maintains blood flow to the stomach muscles and therefore promotes gastric emptying. Going too long without any fuel can delay gastric emptying as the blood flow directs to your working muscles and away from your stomach. Delayed gastric emptying creates that sensation of a heavy, full stomach and nausea that runners dread.
- Divide it into bite-sized pieces before you start running: This simple step will make eating whole foods on a long run much easier, as you do not have to manipulate packages or large pieces while running. Smaller bites are easier to eat while breathing heavily.
- Adapt your nutrition for race day: If you are nervous about using whole foods on race day, you can still use whole foods throughout training. This approach can be beneficial – you still have quick, easy-to-eat fuel on race day, but your palate isn’t fatigued on gels from weeks of training with them. Alternatively, you can take a combination of whole foods early in the race and gels near the end of the race. Whether you choose whole foods, gels, or a combination of the two, practice your race day fueling on a couple of your peak long runs leading up to the race.
Personally, I switched to whole foods instead of gels at the start of this year. I might still use gels for racing (or, more likely, a combination of whole foods and gels). I had developed palate fatigue from gels and wanted to try something different, and I found that Honey Stinger waffles provided me with energy, worked on my stomach, and were more satisfying than a gel. I break the waffle into four or five pieces before the run and slowly eat over the course of several miles in the middle of the run.
If you want to learn more about using whole foods on long runs, as well as other sports nutrition topics such as gut training, avoiding the wall in your next race, and how to use caffeine and other supplements to race, you may be interested in my Fuel Your Fastest Running E-Course! This course lasts 4 weeks, with twice-per-week email lessons and videos, plus the option to schedule a call for individual guidance at the end of the course. You can register at any time and learn more here!
Linking up with Coaches’ Corner and Wild Workout Wednesday!
Have you tried whole foods on a long run? What worked for you?
Receive Weekly Running Tips & Motivation
Subscribe for my weekly newsletter and receive a free download of injury prevention exercises for runners.
I’ve experimented with Whole Foods and really liked dates and energy bites. The problem is chewing and breathing when I’m really working hard. It gets a little sketchy!
Chewing is the hardest part, especially if the food is extra chewy!
I really want to try whole foods on long runs but I still havent tried it. I usually eat a honey stinger waffle before a run, so I havent really wanted to take one on my run too. It can take a little more planning but I definitely think it will pay off to avoid about stomach issues!
I used to do the Honey Stinger before, so now that I’m doing it during I’m back to my old pre-run snack of banana and toast with PB. But there are lots of options for during the run to try!
I started eating whole foods for racing and training when I started triathlon. I feel like I can eat almost anything on the bike (as long as I unwrap it before biking!) and I have a pretty big case mounted to my bike that can fit larger, whole foods. I’m not sure if I would be able to do the same in a half or full marathon but I would definitely try since I suffer from “palate fatigue!” I also drink Skratch electrolytes with my water as you know I subscribe to the Stacy Sims rule of food in your pocket and electrolytes in your bottle!
I imagine the bike is easier – less jostling! Running definitely limits the options a bit more.
I am not a gel person either the texture bothers me and they have too much sugar. I do like the waffles and use those a lot on long bike rides.
Waffles have a much more appetizing texture!
I used to have a hard time consuming whole foods , but it seems to be easier now (probably because I’m so much slower ?), I have also made my own gels, and that has been the best solution for me. I use dates, a little fruit, citrus juice and a pinch of salt. They taste good and aren’t too sweet. I also occasionally use some type of chew, though I always have this feeling that somehow I’m going to choke on them!
Those homemade gels do sound good!
This is, indeed, how I fuel my runs. I love Rocket Fuel! And I haven’t used gels in many years. I actually like the taste of gels, and the consistency doesn’t bother me, but I prefer taking in a little more often. I also use the HoneyStinger chews.
I agree – it’s easier to portion out whole foods, and there’s something rewarding about getting a little bit of food more often!
I do 1/2 marathons on the elliptical every morning. But I am the type that cannot eat prior to working out/doing cardio so I save all my whole foods for POST work out – and it just works awesome for me! Fuel me up with salmon! 😉
Whole foods are great post workout!
Although I typically use gels, I have been thinking about fueling with whole foods. During my marathon on Sunday a kind spectator was handing out pretzels at mile 20 and it was like eating the best meal I’ve ever had, lol. It got me thinking about if I should incorporate more whole foods into my fueling. Thanks so much for providing a list of whole food options!
Pretzels are a great option as well, especially with the salt! I bet the salt did taste amazing at that point.
Hmm….this gives me a lot to think about. While I use gels, the palate fatigue is real and something I have experienced before. Maybe I will start with throwing in a Honey Stinger waffle mid-run. It is certainly worth trying out to see how/if my gut reacts (positively or negatively).
Thank you for the helpful information. I know we have briefly discussed before, however, I think I have continued to reach for gels because they are just easier…and I do not need to think about things as much.
The honey stinger waffles are a nice because they are convenient like gels – I buy a big box so they’re always on hand. You should definitely give them a try!
wait is that a totally new course? I think it is?! sounds so interesting! my stomach handles fuel pretty well while running (at least it used to lol) — I started with Trader Joe’s organic jelly beans as mid run fuel years ago then switched it up with raisins and then went to hammer gels.
It’s a reboot/update of the course! Raisins and jelly beans are both good options – small enough to chew easily.
My iron stomach was always fine with gel, but now that I’m struggling more with a sensitive stomach this cycle I’m mixing it up. Unfortunately, nothing has really worked so I’m kind of winging it for race day and hoping my gut cooperates!! But I’m definitely going the whole food route. This is great info!
I hope your stomach cooperates soon and you can find what works for race day! And thank you!
This is actually what I have been thinking about doing during this training cycle. Although I cannot stand PB and J sandwiches due to my last training cycle. I’ll have to give the Honey Stinger Waffles a try!
They’re nice for a long run! I can see PB&J getting old after a while.
I have been considering switching to whole food(s) from gels. Honey Stinger gels are alright, but GU gels do NOT work for me anymore.
GUs are rough on the stomach! Whole foods are nice because it spreads out the fuel more throughout the run.
I’m all about dates and energy bites!
They taste so good!
What a great post – recently had a discussion with one of my clients at the studio about this – going to forward it along to her 🙂
Thank you! I hope it helps your client!
Yes! Thank you for sharing this. I use way too many chews, and I have been looking for alternatives.
I hope you are able to find some good alternatives that work for you!
This is really great advice! I’ve tried Honey Stinger waffles and they are delicious, but I’ve been too intimidated to try it out on a long run. I do like their chews and they’ve worked well. I didn’t know palate fatigue was a thing…it certainly explains why I began to really hate taking Shot Bloks a few years ago!
Hi Laura! I ran my first marathon today and unfortunately experienced the dreaded digestive distress at mile 16 using gels and sports drink. After this and a few previous bad experiences with processed gels / sports drinks, I’ve decided to fuel my next half Ironman and marathon with whole foods. Thank you for these tips – definitely going to try them!
Hi Melanie! Congrats on your first marathon! I am sorry to hear that you had GI distress. I hope these tips help for your next races!