First half marathon

Eric Towson

Running my first half marathon this Sunday. Wondering how far into the run should I start refueling nutrition. I have been practicing at 20 minute intervals but the first 20 minute feels/seems too soon.
Any thoughts or advice.
Thanks

Steven Ford

This is a huge variable as everyone is different, I will maybe take 1 GU during a half marathon while others may do more. I would say follow what you did during training as your use to that. Then when just training practice other ways of fueling. 

Good Luck

Joseph Lombardi

Agree with Steve...one question is what is your anticipated finish time? How long will you be running? Answer may differ if finishing in 1:30 v 2hrs...

Eric Towson

Hoping to finish just under 2 hours

Scott Alexander

My variables for halfs:
-start time relative to how long ago you eat breakfast (if at all),
-intensity, and
-expected finish time (duration)

For my training runs, up to 15 miles, I don't eat a full breakfast. Just a HS waffle before my run. I carry two untapped maple gels with me and usually have those every 45 minutes, but not always. I can tell, for me, when a "pre-bonk" is approaching and know when to shove some fuel down my gullet.

With the nerves and usual intensity increase for an actual race, I'd usually eat more than a training run (even if the half mary is shorter than the training run).

YMMV, of course. Wish you would've posted this question at least several weeks ago when you were still doing your long training runs. That's when you should be practicing/rehearsing nutrition!