I really fancy the idea of getting through my first marathon (full) on a great big carb fest the day before, a hearty breakfast, water and perhaps a banana from my boyfriend at the half-way mark.

I want to do it the natural way...Anyone else taken the hardcore route and said 'no' to all fancy sports supplement things?

During training, where my max distance was 22 miles, I never had anything but water to keep me going (and a mahooosive meal the day before), and I haven't yet become acquainted with 'the wall' (unless a slightly panicky fast heartrate for 30 secs at mile 20 counts as 'the wall'...)

Felt great afterwards too - like there was lots of energy left in me...

But with the Nottingham marathon next Sunday, I'm suddenly worried that I should be drinking lucozade 'just in case' I have an unexpected energy slump, need an emergency fix and have nowt else (apparently you shouldn't have it on the day if you've not drunk it before, as it'll give you a dodgy tummy... is this always the case? I've got a pretty strong stomach usually!!). I'm also worried about salt levels - or is this only a danger in hot weather?

Argh! So much confusion! Advice would be much appreciated!

(fyi, I'm 25, female, 9.5 stones, sturdy, cross train as well as running, so good cardio fitness, and aiming for 3hrs 55 mins...1st half of course is gently undulating, second is flat - if all that's any help??)

My advice would be if you have not drunk Lucozade whilst training then steer clear, you've no idea how you would feel. When I ran mine I carried a bottle of 1/2 water 1/2 OJ and a big lump of sugar and the rest of the way used the bottled water (and the odd jelly baby that was handed out). My friend used Lucozade gels on the way around but he had trained with them and found they gave him a boost.

Good luck on Sunday week.

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yep... what Granty said

Don't try anything on the day that you haven't tried in training

Good luck, I loved Nottingham marathon when I did it a few years ago

Question from a silly American girl: What the heck is Lucozade? Some sort of sports drink I assume, but I've honestly never heard of it or seen it in a store.

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Yuckozade is a brand in the uk. They do a variety of sports drinks, energy gels etc. Their original core product is like marmite (you either love it or hate it) and has the addictive properties of cocaine. Mrs hrun drinks around 4 bottles a day. It is 300 plus calories a bottle and then she moans she doesn't lose weight. I won't let it pass my lips it is so disgusting.

Lucozade Website

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UK equivalent of Gatorade?

If you've not had it before then I wouldn't try it... would certainly be worth ensuring you consume carbs during the event though, and there's plenty of 'natural' ways of doing it

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I've never been the biggest fan of Lucozade myself, I don't know if it's just me, but I find it way too syrupy and really feel it swirling around in my stomach. I had a couple during a race once and although I'd been drinking it in training, I hadn't had it when really pushing myself and my stomach felt awful after which I'm sure was down to that. But I'm sure it does work for a lot of people, like everyone's been saying, try it in training, but I'd make sure you try it for a good few sessions before deciding as I came a cropper even though I had!

Cool - thanks everyone! (and for the good luck wishes!) I think I'm gonna go for the OJ/water mixture, eat my nice ripe banana at 13 miles and have a lump of sugar in my pocket just in case. Beyond that, I'm sure my plentiful fat reserves will get me through...and assuming the weather's like this next weekend (cold and sh1te!) I'm sure I don't need to worry about my salt levels too much...Ta once again

Stick to what you are used to and good luck.

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My old man said be an Arsenal fan........

Stick to what you know.... I wouldnt be a fan of gatorade or Lucozade type drinks as i find them sticky and to much to take if drinking in large amounts. For stick to what you know. Personally I like to use lemon flavoured Isostar or Powerbar powder mixed with water which are nice and easy to drink, and at the same time is giving you a top up of carbs.

Good luck for the marathon, hope all goes well!

It actually originated as a drink to give people who were ill... years ago you'd always see a big bottle of the bright orange stuff at hospital bedsides.

Now it's mainly a sports drink, of which there are numerous types.

Some of the Lucozade varieties are pretty naff, and very sweet, but I get on really well with Lucozade Sport, particularly in races

Just to show there's different answers to everything...

I've tried new drinks on race day and had OK results - e.g. drinking my first ever Extran in Holland tri, my first PowerBar in Rio marathon, my first Gatorade in Barcelona marathon. Admittedly these are all variants on carb drinks but it's a bit of a pirate thing to try something new on race day - not ideal but kind of adds to the excitement - bit like gambling

I've alse raced a couple of maras without energy drinks and these have been fine too...

Personally I'd go with most of the flow above - stick to your own fuelling strategy. However, I might be tempted to grab a Lucozade drink if you need a quick sugar boost around 20 miles...

Hooray for fence sitting!

Hope the splinters don't hurt too much Hollywood!!

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My old man said be an Arsenal fan........

Try Irn Bru instead full of sugar and caffiene!