Last year, when I was training for IMAZ, I used EFS liquid gel and LOVED it. I used it on long run and long ride days, not exclusively, but as my main source of calories. I never got tired of it. I raced IMAZ with it but by the last 10k of the run, I was OVER it. Completely and utterly. I thought if I took one more swig, I would hurl. So, I left about $15 worth in the lg bottle at the hotel, and figured when I started training long, I would just buy a new bottle, which I did, last week($30). So I went out for a 60 mi ride yesterday and figured I should start using it again since I am racing in April. Ya, I took my 1st swig about 45 min into my wkout and felt "blech". It was cold, the gel was kinda thick, I figured, next time it'll be better. It wasn't. It did thin out a bit as it warmed up, but the texture and flavor just grossed me out, and as a result, I didn't take in enough and, as we all know, that doesn't end in a great ride :(. I am gonna try it again next weekend, and take other stuff with me just in case, but I'm SOOOO BUMMED! The whole formula just worked for me nutritionally. UGH! Just venting.
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Sorry, but Hey... you're
Sorry, but Hey... you're riding a shiny new bike. Could be worse!
Beautiful weekend here, glad you got out on the roads.
can you add something to it
can you add something to it to make it taste better, or is it more of a texture issue?
that really stinks, good calories are so hard to find!
Nothing particularly
Nothing particularly athletic about it, but you could just be 'over it'. I've had similar experiences with foods and some different soft drinks when I used to drink sodas. I was a Dr. Pepper drinker for a very long time until I just was plain sick of it...moved to Coke for a long time. I still don't like the taste of Dr. Pepper. Could just be time for something new.
ya, I heard now they have a
ya, I heard now they have a berry flavor, but I have that $30 bottle just sittin in my fridge now. I may well be over the taste...I seem to recall Sooner mentioning that after an IM, whatever you had in training and racing would be banished from your taste pallete (sp? PoC?) forever...sigh, it's not the end of the world- I'll try it again, and hope for the best.
but, YOU know how it is, the whole electrolyte, calorie, taste balance was just PERFECT! I'm not giving up on it just yet...
Checkmarks, I am not sure if I could add anything to it. It's vanilla and kinda syrupy (when at room temp) I don't want to make it sweeter...hmmm...something to think about
paganopj wrote:Nothing
[quote=paganopj]Nothing particularly athletic about it, but you could just be 'over it'. I've had similar experiences with foods and some different soft drinks when I used to drink sodas. [/quote]
Yeah, reminds me of my "no more tequila decade" a few years back... And no, I want be posting what led to that decision on a public forum...
Bike looks great by the
Bike looks great by the way.... finally saw the pic.
I don't have help... I just give you all credit for drinking those things... I am really freaked out by them. Since i have not trained for anything longer than an olympic i have been able to avoid them... I think it might have something to do with the very non related food names they are given.
We feel the same about any
We feel the same about any gels since IM. I have had to switch to Pop Tarts...not so sad, unless certain 6 year olds discover them and don't understand the concept of training food...
Definitely been there with alcohol too...sambuca is banned...
When I saw the words
When I saw the words Jtrimom, and Liquid Gel fail, I just thought this was going to be a whole other type of post.......
For infor.....or I have it from a semi professional cyclist....because I was having problems consuming too much on the bike....... he told me bike 1 hour only drink, over 1 hour, then eat a little something every half hour, and drink regularly. My point... I am wondering ( and I doff my hat to your far greater experience) if you are consuming too much on your ride, and your body, is just telling you, NO! Or if you couldn't switch to something else like the odd endurance bar? Just my half a cent worth.......
But really that title, I was sure it had descended into smut before I got here.
yes, warrior, my training
yes, warrior, my training partners have asked on more than a few occasions what it is EXACTLY that I use in my little flask...hahaha. and NO, there is no way I was consuming too much. I had run 12 mi before the ride, and I knew I was in need of many calories that I was NOT getting. I have some cut up clif bars in my bento box that I use to break up the monotony, but the flask is just more convenient, especially when my fingers are frozen or wrapped in ski gloves, as they have been on the last few rides.
I personally can't stand
I personally can't stand gels. I don't know if it is the sweetness or the artificial flavor. I can choke down the chocolate flavoured ones but the others make me feel sick. I don't really need to worry as much as you do about calories bc my workouts are fairly short in comparison. However I imagine that if I start going to longer training sessions I might have to experiment with pureed foods. Aren't there any options other than gels? I have a fuel belt so I thought about just putting a liquid puree of some kind in one of my bottles. I am just wondering if there are any options other than gels.
Had a similar experience
Had a similar experience last year, trained and raced IM KS with the same gels, then tried to use them on a century ride a month later and couldn't choke them down, was totally grossed out by the taste and the texture. I would just recommend taking a break and trying something different for a while(ie sports drink and pretzels, fig newtons, PBJ, etc) get a totally different flavor pattern and texture. It might work and if you are set on that gel work it back in slow.
I agree with some of you
I agree with some of you that gels are jusy icky. But they do bring up blood sugar quickly when I'm bonking, so I keep a few on hand. There's nothing like real food to fuel your body.
jtririmom: isn't part of the fun of endurance sports solving problems or improving techniques? If so, then it looks like you've got yourself a new task this season :)
I think your palate can
I think your palate can change.
Sometimes gels are okay but I have been using shot bloks for a while now and they work out nicely.
For drinks I am now liking the Perform they served at IMLP. Not really sweet and not heavy. I could tolerate that all day and my stomach felt good.