Golf sounds fun, at least when Dylan beats you he knows it's cos he really beat you and not just you letting him win.

I'm not allowed near golf courses, I end up digging the course up, coordination's not my thing...

Good pace run there :) hope you can get the sleep issues sorted out soon

At least you got the nap in.

Chris golf was fun, it was a pass the time thing in all honesty... and dylan enjoys it, thats funny I used to do that and still sometimes do dig a hole.

Trying to sort the issues out thanks, Good Luck tomorrow with your big race. :)

Adam hi, yep nap was great thanks....

golfing? fun! and nice run as well.

about the carb-loading/depletion---for me personally, i find it very beneficial to NOT carb-load for a long run. it teaches me to use my fuel stores efficiently. and if i crash, i deal with it...then i am prepared if it happens in a race. this winter/spring i did all my long runs early in the morning---no eating first and no real carb-loading leading up to the runs. i was fine on my 20-milers, but i crashed on my 22 miler. but then in the SLC marathon, i did not take in any fuel other than water and a bit of gatorade, and i was fine until mile 25. i think the body can be trained to not only use fuel very efficiently, but also find a way to use those "back-up reserves" long after we think they are gone.

sorry, another quick thought - i have talked to many people who say they cannot survive longer runs and races without taking in plenty of gu --- so everyone is different in the way they store and burn energy. but just my personal thoughts on it: if you consume tons of gu in training runs, you are training the body and the mind to always need that fuel to get through the run. if you can train so that you take in little or no fuel, the body can adapt and will learn to use stored fuel more efficiently.

Yeah I did like doing this with my long runs I think it prepared me mentally and physically, and yes I have crashed doing it, but its just a battle of my will.....

Some people think Im mad, and its dangerous, but I know my body really well, I know if its too bad,I have my gels with me instant energy an all, Ive thrown up on long runs when I do this, but I cope with it..run throw up and try to keep going without stopping LOL nice!

Ta for response really appreciated its nice to know what others do tooo :)

Thanks Allie, just read your 2nd post, great imput thanks..

Maybe you'll sleep better tonight knowing you destroyed your son at golf.

Hey Burt I did sleep, Drug induced mind, herbal ones only tho! omg it was nice to wake up after a good few hours sleep :)

Re your question

When I trained for New Forest marathon I took my running backpack and alternated carb drinks and water but this year I basically just fill a water bottle (one of those from the shop if you buy a bottle, not a reusable one)with water and maybe take on 1 gel for my 18 mile long runs now. I never(and still dont) carbo load for long runs. I guess I also fall into the "doing long runs fast" camp by now but that's the way it is, mainly it's cos I'm a lot stronger this year, last year my long runs were pretty slow as I was getting used to the mileage.

I know if I was to marathon train now and up my mileage I would have to cut the pace down or my legs would probably fall off, but at the moment I'm able to handle what I do with the current mileage level.

However my marathon pedigree is pretty shocking so I'm not sure if what I've written above is helpful or not!

I know about Japanese marathoners doing 4-5 hours at a very slow pace 10min mile for example so there are lots of different ways...

I think provided you know your body, take a mobile and gels just in case it should be ok.

I have no idea how to answer your question, but I have eaten gummi bears and salad before a run and only threw up water and shredded carrots during that run. I suppose the only logical conclusion is that gummis are better for running than vegatables. But just the Haribo kind.

Chris thanks for your reply, its much appreciated, yeah anything people do is good to learn from others and what they do.

Mike- hahaha your so funny, gummi bears allot of people take these for instant energy on marathons too, so your not too far wrong with that, but carrots urrghhh not nice no wonder you threw them up LOL

Sam, I don't "carbo load" the night before and typically don't load up the morning of a long run. For my 2 long runs this past weekend, I ate a Pop Tart before the run and brought 1 gel for each run. So, I too believe in the benefits of depletion runs to help train the body to manage energy better going into races.

Great running and way to get the long 16.5M depletion run in and make it through!

Jt, thanks yeah, when I do long runs, I usually alternate one week depletion then the next with gels and water.

When I take the gels etc I try to go out real slow like 8.30pace and hoping to pick the pace up near the end of the run, last 3/4 miles. But on the depletion runs its 8-8.30 pace all the way and just hang on in their.

But the 16.5 miler I did, I was actually stuggling to hold the pace back first 10 miles was at 7.30pace, then slowed down got the wall and bang hit it, but toughed it out, my husband was cycling next to me, I stopped and said please just go get the car, and he looked at me amazed it was then I just thought you can do this Sam, and off I went....