So, it seems like I am still in the midst of trying to problem solve nutrition during long runs.

My nutrition for George MUT was simple. I was running 42km and not planning on being out there longer than 7 hour. If I come in faster, well, then it was great weight training carrying the extra stuff. If I come in later, well, then hopefully that teaches me a lesson to run faster.

After a recent failed nutrition brand experiment… that had my toes curling and Armand almost vomiting, I’m back to using Gu Roctane and Gu Liquid Gels. I really wanted above mentioned experiment to work, as the brand was much cheaper. Alas.

Some things that I now started figuring out

• I have to eat / drink at every aid station.
  At UTCT I didn’t eat anything from the aid stations. Rookie error. I bee-lined for my support crew. So, this time round, I made a mental note of stopping at the aid stations and doing something. Also, I struggle a bit with food that’s spread out, with lots of sweaty hands touching it. Hahah! But, I’m working on it. At George, I didnt eat much at the aid stations… but I stopped and ate / drink at least something that they offer. That’s the promise I made to myself. The Coke and half a potato doesn’t seem like a big deal, but that’s 32g of carbs that I would not have taken in. Just those two things made me go from 74% of my carb consumption to 82%. Perhaps on a shorter race like 42km it’s not a big deal, but for Monte Rosa when I’ll be solo for 106km, it will start taking a toll I’m sure.
  

• I need to mix the Liquid Gu’s up with other things.
  Although I love them, and they go down so easily, they become quite sweet after a while. I can do them on the hour for 5 hours, but I won’t be able to do this for 10 or even 24 hours. Not even close. So, I need to mix up the tastes and maybe find something different… thinking of Maurten and / or Spring Energy. They have different tastes and textures, and I think it could be fun to only eat the same brand every 3rd hour.
  

• One hour (like 1 km) is the most relative concept there is in running.
  It’s crazy how long an hour can feel when you’re on tough terrain. But what’s even more crazy is how quickly an hour passes when you realise you have to eat another Gu again, and you’ve basically just finished dealing with the after taste of the one you took an hour ago. hahaha!
  

• Positive reinforcement
  Repeating positive mantras to yourself over, and over, and over, and over… works.
  

• By being too scared to look at the route profile on your bib half way through the race, will not prevent anything. It actually just makes whatever is to come, worse. I knew the profile of the route well until 30km… and had a vague idea of the the climbs after. But I didn't know exactly when they started and how long they were. This was a really, really dumb mistake. The 8km form 30km - 38km was dreadful and felt never ending… as I had no idea where I was, how much was left. If you know you have 4km of gradual uphill, you can settle in and manage yourself.
  

• When it comes to poles… know when to hold, and know when to fold.