I'm with you jhudalla. I'm doing California at the end of March too (my first half) and I'm looking for recommendations. I was researching Optygen...Have heard very good things about it. I'll do some searching...

I agree with throughthewall, try them all in training what works for one may not work for another. Gu gels seem to work best for me. During a half or full Ironman I will take a Gu before the swim, 15 minutes after I have started the bike leg and then one each hour on the bike. Also making sure I am drinking gatorade excel and water along the way. For the run I usually just utilize the aid stations (oranges, pretzels, whatever they are handing out).

Other foods that have worked for me are: vanilla wafers, take-5 candy bars, nutter butters and pretzels.

Hope this helps.

I did the Silverman as my first full distance tri back in 2006, mostly because it is close to where I live in SLC, UT, not knowing that it is so difficult. In spite of its difficulty, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, returned in 2007, and will be back for 2008. It's very well run and in a great setting. I'm a dedicated Hammer Nutrition fan. I use Perpetuem as my main drink for long events, having had great success with it in ultramarathon events before I started doing triathlons. In any case, at that first full-distance event, I wanted to be able to use Perpetuem throughout the event but didn't want to take along extra packets. So, even though I hadn't tried the approach in training, I tried a recommendation on the Perpetuem package for a 5+ hour bottle and used enough of the powder in one bottle to last 6 or 7 hours (which of course results in a very thick drink) -- sipping enough to last the full distance. Then, I also had water or Gatorade from the aid stations along the way. I also have a couple of small flasks of Hammer Gel (which are about 5 packets each). Sometimes I add a bar or two during the bike and run. I also learned that, in endurance events and training in warm weather, I need to take electrolytes and use Hammer's Endurolytes and will take 1 or 2 / hour depending on the heat. I also take Tissue Rejuvenator, another Hammer product, which contains some natural anti-inflammatories and really seems to help me recover from workouts more quickly; and, during the events, will take one or two of those each hour as well. Finally, I've also started taking MAP (a collection of amino acids) from BodyHealth.com, which also seems to help me recover from workouts more quickly. But, with all of that said, we are each an experiment of one, and, as the other posters note, you need to try everything in training before using it in the event.

Well, first of all, I'll see you in Nevada!! I'm really looking forward to that race! I like some others here swear by the Hammer Products. I used a concentrated (multi hour) bottle of Perpetuem during the bike portion of the Redman Iron Distance in 06 and Florida IM in 03. During the run I used a GU flask with Hammer Gel. I love their products. The only problem I ever had was a trail 50k where the temp got up to 100F with 80% humidity and the Perpetuem was not sitting in my stomach very well. 9k feet worth of up and down every 10 miles probably didn't help either. The picture to the left is from that day.

Oh .. Ultrarunner's post promoted me to remember -- I also take Digest Caps from Hammer. By taking those before and during an event, I've been able to avoid stomach issues -- even during a really hot Wasatch 100 a few years ago when there was a good deal of ralphing going on.