No? Well I tend to be…especially during the summer months when it’s harder to carry real food while trail running. In the winter, I’m more apt to stop and chill a bit while refueling, put on a layer, have some hot chocolate…but in the summer, I’d rather keep moving if I’m running. Chewing and breathing at the same time can be pretty tough sometimes, so that’s why I’m a fan of energy gels like GU. Easy to consume calories with one gulp. Simple…fast. Plus, I find energy gels are a bit easier to consume in the summer, when the are warmer and less viscous.
See…I’m not the guy that leaves his wrappers on the trail! 
Though I tend to carry some GU packets with me on all my runs, I mostly only consume them if I’m going to be out for more than a couple hours…or if I feel myself dragging and need a pick-me-up. If I’m out for…let’s say…a 20 mile trail/mountain run (about 4 hours), I will start to consume a packet every 30-45 minutes from the start and on average use about 6 packets. If it’s high intensity, the time between gel packets is closer to 30 minutes, lower intensity efforts…more like 45. Since GU is so easily metabolized, I can often feel myself coming up, or coming down, indicating the need for another shot.
These are the flavors I like.
One of the things I’ve found with energy gels is that once you start using them, you better have enough to keep you going. Relying on energy gels to get you through a long day is definitely doable, but one must know that most energy gels offer quick energy, so you need a lot of them to power you through a long effort. GU Energy addresses the need to get more out of you energy gel with their Roctane line, which has higher amounts of branched-chain amino acids for power, focus and reduced fatigue.
New Roctane flavor…can you guess what it is?
Including the Gu Roctane line, GU Energy offers no less than 10 flavors for you to choose from. And with the addition of one more Roctane flavor soon (Can you guess the new flavor?) it will soon be 11. Variety is important when eating GU’s since the same-o same-o can get pretty old when swallowing a gooey substance, so be sure to try them all and find out which one’s you like, so you can keep the tank full and the engine burning!
Support TetonAT and try out GU Chomps Energy Chews from Backcountry.com.
Chomps have all the same good stuff as the gels do, but in a chewy, tasty
and less gooey delivery system. Two boxes ship for FREE!
Wow! Thanks Steve!
Seriously though, I love em on long trail runs and big climbs. When you’re swingling leads quickly up some big wall with thunderheads building on the horizon, Gu packets are easily consumed while still belaying safely.
I know a lot of people rely on GU for their fuel on fast Grand Traverse outing here in the Tetons. I know some people can’t seem to stomach the stuff…but it’s not much of a problem for me.
Think tropical!
GU could be the worst thing I have ever tried to stomach - shot blocks work much better for me.
Shot Blocks and GU Chomps are a good alternatives to gels. I find they get stuck in my teeth a bit more than I or my dentist would like though. Chomps are a bit softer and smaller than ShotBlocks…which makes them easier to eat. Try them out!!
Nice post. I’m a Gu-oholic for sure. Here’s a pic of me tearing one open on a simul-climb jaunt up the Upper Exum.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mtsurveyor/UpperExumGrandTeton#5085387183054810818
Hmm, I’m thinking either pineapple or coconut flavor. I’d vote for coconut.
The blocks/chomps are hard to manage when you’re huffin and puffin up something; seem better suited for rest breaks.
Totally agree Steve.
Pineapple Roctane…nice!
Agree with all of this and the photo of all the Gu packs is impressive but it would be more impressive to be using a GU or Soft flask to minimize all the waste… Not too sure if GU makes bigger re-usable fill bottles but I know Hammer does and the tropical and raspberry are pretty tasty for those consistancy weary refuelers. They hit the spot for long Mtn bike, climbing running missions and minimize the load…TT
I’ve used the flasks in the past, but always felt like there was consistently some gel left in the flask at the end of they day…and i was always afraid of is going bad, crystallizing or just getting wasted and washed down the drain.
Yea I sometimes grab a mouthful of water and put it into the flask and it liqifies the remainder and you get it to the last drop…which might be needed at times…
Ahhh…good tip Todd. Thanks!