I've run marathons and I've tried lots of gels, gummies, you name it. The gels like Gu and Power gel killed my stomach for some reason. I now use Gu Chomps in Strawberry, they taste like Gusher's fruit snacks and they have the same benefits as the Gu gels, but something about them doesn't kill my stomach. I ran a marathon in October using them and didn't have a single problem like I usually do! I highly recommend them!

I've run six half marathons and one full marathon. I've found that I cannot stand gels or "gu's" because the texture just makes me sick. I really like Sportsbeans and Clif Shot Blocks. You definitely need to drink water with these, though, as they can cause side cramps. Also, when you start running longer distances (usually anything over 5 miles), you really should carry water. Either use a fuel belt or a hand held water bottle. Your body will thank you for it!

I second Kayla's comment about the fuel belt. I can't carry a water bottle in my hand because my shoulder will cramp up so I use a fuel belt. Another nifty thing about fuel belts is they usually have a little pouch for keys, gels, etc so you can carry everything around your waist and have your hands free.

I have no real issues with gels. I typically use PowerBar gels because I find Gu, Hammer and the others to be too thick. I'm not saying that I love the stuff but it does the trick. PowerBar gels also have electrolytes in them and some of them have caffeine.

Be sure to do a test drive with several different products to see what works best for you. You don't want to find out something upsets your stomach on race day. Also, drink a full 8 oz of water with whatever gel or chewy you decide to use so that your stomach can digest it rapidly. This prevents stomach upset and ensures you get the carbs you need fast. The trick is to have the gel before you need it.

Good luck with your race!

i like clif shot blocks. they taste kind of like fruit snacks and it allows me to space them out instead of trying to slurp an entire gel mid-run (when i trained for my half, i'd have one block and a few sips of water after about an hour of running and then every 20 minutes or so after that).

i tend to cramp if i have a lot of water at once while running, so i purchased a camelbak pack for my outdoor runs so i can take occasional sips (i run with an mp3 player, so i take a few sips every other song). if you go this route, you might need to buy an extra chest strap to minimize bouncing.

I like clif shot bloks and clif shot gels. I make sure that I take sips of water throughout my runs and also try to space them out.

It just depends on your body's needs, and everyone is different. This year I ran two half marathons and a few 5ks, and I know this isn't best for everyone, but I don't take water when I train - even on hot days. During the half marathons I stopped twice at hydration stations. For me, it isn't worth the stomach upset to use gels and I don't feel like I need the fuel. Again, every body is different and it's important to try things out to find out what's best for you.

Oh my gosh, definitely carry water! I don't know how you'd run for an hour or more without having a fuel belt. I really like Squeezy brand gels - the taste isn't out of this world, but they're very easily digestible and not overly sugary. For your training runs, adding some energy powder to your water should be enough; I only use gels for 90 minute runs or more. But you should definitely try whatever you're going to use in the race for at least one training run beforehand.
And get a fuel belt!

I am training for my 4th marathon and just got introduced to Hammer gu's and nutritional bars and I LOVE them. They are a lot less harsh on my tummy, they taste really good and are made with more natural ingredients. I Love that brand and I highly reccomend it.

I use to drive my route before the run and put water bottles out behind trees along the road. Maybe not water, but what ever. Pick them up after the run.

I have a really weak stomach, sometimes I can hardly drink water. It really helps having a camelback so that I can take small sips without stopping at all. As far as refueling if I'm running 10 miles or less I can ussually push through without any food but for longer than that I eat a gu packet after an hour and a half.

I like Sports Beans, Shot Bloks and Luna Moons, and kinda mix it up between those three. Definitely, definitely drink water! I used a Nathan Handheld but I have friends who swear by fuel belts. Depending on your route, you can also stash water along the way.