Discussion: Hunger

I don't know if you typically take anything with you, but I carry Gu for any course where I think I'm likely to take over an hour, whether I consume it or not.

Some folks prefer other snacks like sports beans; anything that is portable and gives you a quick carb lift (some Gu flavors have a kick of caffeine as well as sugar) and is easy to digest helps reduce some of this type of brain drain.

Thanks Janet - I never really take anythign with me, even passing on most water stops unless it is summer.

I think it was a combination of a later than usual start for me (switch to standard time) and 6:30 am breakfast having worn off. I did eat a granola bar around 10:15 am when I got to Pine Grove (about 30 minutes before starting) and got some hunger like feelings around control 6 (about 50 minutes in), which is when I estimate the granola bar wore off. ;-)

I will look into the Gu or sports beans for the longer things. Sometimes if I eat too much prior to getting physical weird digestion happens.

Yep -- experimentation is good, to see what agrees with you.

The Gu packets recommend taking one 15 minutes before starting exercise (and then every 45 minutes) but I think that's just so they sell more. ;-)

It is like a recommended dietary allowance for orienteering! And they have a small enough bulk that you do not feel like you are eating too much.

Looking over my pacing, I definitely did slow down a bit in the second half, but maybe due to rougher terrain route choices (contouring is something I never tried before).