I have tried a lot of different types of fuel for my long runs and races. I have a sensitive stomach and am gluten/ dairy free, but anyone running for a few hours will have to do some experimenting to find the best recipe for success. For my last few longer races (marathons and half marathons), traditional Gu has really been worked out well for me. I do find that I need to sip it, and I need to chase it with more than a sip of water. At marathons, I’ve done a serious study of the course and water stations to decide when I should start taking in a Gu, so that I can time finishing it with available water. I’ve also done a lot of experiments with how often I need to eat a Gu to keep my energy up.
I love the variety that Gu offers. In a marathon I like to have a variety of flavors, and I plan a couple with extra caffeine for the later miles. During a longer race I stick to water and skip sports drinks, because at race pace my stomach hates all of them. I get my electrolytes from pills, and I pick some Gu with extra sodium. Salted Caramel is my favorite for higher sodium. In real life, I am a chocoholic, but I find that the texture of the Gu chocolate flavors is thicker and less appealing. Thank you Gu, for creating the Campfire S’Mores flavor, my current favorite. It really tastes like there are some (gluten free) graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows in that packet of running energy, but the texture is not thick. What is your favorite Gu flavor?
We have a lot of options for purchasing Gu, and since I am a frugal runner I’ve done some research that I am happy to share.
Guenergy.com: You can purchase boxes of 24, 8, or 6 gels depending on the flavor. A box of 24 is $36 plus shipping ($1.50 plus shipping). These prices are what I generally see in running and sports stores, but there are a couple better options.
Amazon: Your options really depend on the flavor. For the Campfire S’mores you can order a box of 24 for $29.95. The most economical flavor I could find right now is Caramel Macchiato (24 for $21.69) If you use the subscribe and save option, you save another 5% or 15% depending on the number of items on your subscription. If you save 5% the price would be $28.45 for 24 Campfire S’mores, or $1.19 each. For Caramel Macchiato 5% off would put you at $20.61 for the box or $0.86 each. If you are saving 15%; a box of S’mores would be $24.18, each S’mores would be $1.01, a box of Caramel Macchiato would be $18.43, and one of those would be $0.78. If you use the Amazon Prime Credit Card you can get another 5% back.If you are a Prime member you won’t have to pay for shipping.
Amazon sells boxes of 8 Gu gels, but only in some flavors and the price is not nearly as good.
Road Runner Sports: For reasons that elude me, a box of 8 is $9.99 and a box of 24 is $29.95 so in this case buying in higher volume saves you a whopping 2 cents. They only carry five flavors in the 8 pack, versus 17 in the 24 pack. If they carry your flavor in the box of 8 I would take that option. If you are a member you would save 10% ($8.99 total, $1.12 per Gu), you would get 10% back, and you would not have to pay for shipping.
One side note, Gu sells some flavors in a 15 serving pouch that is competitively priced. If you are the kind of runner who likes the method where you dissolve Gu in water and sip it over a long period, this could be a good option. From Guenergy.com it is $15 for 15 servings. From Amazon your bet bet is the salted caramel for $13.09. With subscribe and save you could save as much as 15%.
Since I use Amazon subscribe and save and have their credit card, the best option for me is the 24 box from Amazon. When I don’t want to buy 24, I use my Road Runner Sports membership to order a box of 8.