How to Add Speed Workouts to Your Training Plan
April 23, 2024
When I started training for my first half marathon, I was slightly resistant to the idea of using gels. They just seemed so messy, especially for a person like myself who can’t go a day without spilling coffee. But the alternative just didn’t work for me: real food sources digested too slowly or had a little bit too much fiber for my stomach, chews were difficult for me to chew while running at race pace, and I didn’t want to rely on carrying a water bottle full of fuel during the race. So, I settled on gels.
Even though I could easily consume gels on a run and found a brand that didn’t upset my stomach (Hammer), I still had to deal with the messiness of gels, the bulk of carrying several gels for a marathon, and the waste factor.
So, I complained about it – what else was there to do? I didn’t have a solution in mind of how to fix it. But the person who listened to every single detail of my training – my husband, Ryan – also happens to be a mechanical engineer with experience in the plastics industry. His whole line of work and way of thinking revolves around solving problems.
In addition to having the problem-solving mind of an engineer, Ryan owns an outdoor gear business. After testing numerous options, he finally found the right type of pouch and had it manufactured for his brand.
I was the first tester of the Gear Well EnduraPouch, so it was subjected to my pickiness. As you’ve seen from my other product reviews, I tend to put running gear through the ringer: I try it in all conditions and circumstances.
A Quick Overview
The EnduraPouch holds approximately 2-3 gels, depending on the serving size. I can fit about 2.5 servings of my Hammer Gel into the pouch – meaning one pouch suffices for a half marathon (when I use 2 gels) and two pouches work for the marathon (when I plan to use 4-5).
The pouches fit easily into a pocket or fuel belt. One full pouch is far less cumbersome than 3 gels.
A strong ziplock type seal prevents the contents from leaking out of the bottom. Just be sure to tightly seal it (as you should do with any seal). In the several long runs that I have done with these pouches, I have not had any issue with leaking gels during my runs.
These pouches are dishwasher safe, which means they are super easy to clean. I put the cap in the utensil holder of the dishwasher and the pouch on one of the prongs in the top of the dishwasher – and each time, they come out as clean as new.
EnduraPouch Helps You Fuel Better for Your Race
At the Rise.Run.Retreat, we heard a presentation from registered dietitian and marathoner Jamie Sheehan. One notable thing she told us in regards to fueling on a long run or a race is to NOT take an entire gel all at once.
Swallowing that entire 1-1.5 ounce gel in a matter of seconds loads your system with sugar and sends a large volume of fuel to your stomach. This can cause GI distress, especially if you hadn’t taken any fuel in the past 45-60 minutes and blood flow has been directed away from your stomach. Eating all of that sugar at once can also lead to a sugar high and a subsequent sugar crash, rather than a steady stream of energy.
I had read this nutrition advice in another source a while ago, back while training for my first marathon. The problem was that it was annoying and messy to hold an open gel packet for a mile or so during a run – and especially annoying during a race.
With the EnduraPouch, you can easily seal it back up, so you can sip at your fuel as you need. I’ll take a couple sips, seal it back up, take a few more sips about 5 minutes or so later, and repeat until I’ve had about a gel’s worth. The measurement lines on the side of the pouch let you gauge with a quick glance how much fuel you consumed.
You can also use the pouch to dilute your gel with a bit of water to make it easier to consume during the race.
EnudraPouch Makes Fueling with Whole Foods Easier
If you rely on whole foods for long run fuel, the EnduraPouch is an excellent option for you. Whether you are using mashed sweet potatoes, applesauce, homemade energy gel, or nut butter, you can store your fuel in the pouch and easily eat it as you need. You don’t need to use plastic baggies, which can be messy and awkward to use.
Even if you don’t run with whole foods, you can use the pouch to store snacks for travel or other outdoor activities such as hiking!
EnduraPouch is Environmentally Friendly
Think of how many gel packets you use per year – and throw away. The EnduraPouch is reusable and dishwasher-safe. Instead of buying single serve gel packets, you can purchase a large bottle of gel and measure out exactly how much you need for a run – whether it’s half a gel for a shorter long run or four gels for your marathon.
Each large bottle of gel provides a serving size measurement on the back. My Hammer gels gives the measurement in tablespoons, so I coat a tablespoon in coconut oil (to prevent the gel from sticking) and measure the gel out as I pour it into the pouch. If I spill any on the sides, I wipe it down with a wet towel.
EnduraPouch is Easy to Open and Use
I lose dexterity quite easily on long runs, caused by the redirection of blood flow from the hands to working muscles and (this time of year) the cold air numbs my hands. I’ve dropped gels, struggled to open them, and managed to squeeze the sticky fuel all over my hands before.
With an easy to grip cap and a wide pouch, I can easily open and close my EnduraPouch. Last week, I ran a hard 16 miler in 38 degree weather – my hands were completely numb and I was running hard at marathon pace. However, I was able to take my fuel without any issue, despite the fact that my hands were so numb that I struggled to turn off my Runkeeper app at the end of the run.
These pouches aren’t just for runners. You can use them to store foods for hiking or to send your kids to school with a healthy snack of fruit and vegetable puree. You can even make you own single servings of nut butter in these pouches, like an more budget- and environmentally-friendly of the nut butter packets at the grocery store.
Is the EnduraPouch Messy?
I voiced my complaint about how gel packets always seem to overflow, so you’re probably wondering: what about the EnduraPouch?
Unless you overfill the pouch or don’t seal it, you should not get gel on your hands. I have fueled through weeks of marathon training long runs with this pouch and not once gotten gels on my hands. That’s not to say that it won’t ever happen, but the design of this pouch minimizes the likelihood of that happening.
The pouch lets you squeeze out small amounts of fuel as you need.
Discount Code
Use the code THISRUNNERSRECIPES to receive 15% off your order of any item at Gear Well – including these EnduraPouches (sold in a set of 4) and the EverGreen Jacket collection.
Giveaway
I’m giving away a TWO 4-packs of the EnduraPouch! Two winners will each receive four EnduraPouches, plus recipes for nut butters that you can store in the pouches. This giveaway will be open from today through December 2. Open to US and Canada residents only.
This will be my last post until the Monday after Thanksgiving, so I want to wish all of your a Happy Thanksgiving and express my sincere gratitude for the time you take to read and support This Runner’s Recipes.
What’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to fueling on a long run?
What would you use the EnduraPouch for?
62 Responses
I love that you had the chance to just have something made that suited your needs exactly. That’s where the best business ideas come from!
Thank you! I agree!
This sounds like such a great product! Gels are so messy, and I don’t like taking them all at once. I also have trouble opening them or finding them when I have them stashed in all different pockets. It would be great to have just one gel packet to carry!
Thank you! It is so nice to just have one gel packet (or maybe two for a marathon) versus 2-5 depending on the length of the race!
I have yet to use mine since I don’t really do super long runs that require more than one GU right now BUT I cannot wait to try this out on my bike where things tend to get super messy!! I’m not sure I will be able to manage the cap, but I have to rip open my waffle packets so we shall see. I will definitely let you know how it goes!!
Please let me know how it works out on the bike – I hope it goes well!
I’m not a gel person…. but I could find plenty of nonrunning things to put in the pouches! ;D
So many non-running things! Applesauce, nut butters, all sorts of homemade snacks 🙂
I would love a Enduropack. I use Generation UCAN but haven’t really figured out how to bring it on a run because I hate carrying a bulky water bottle. But I have read that some people mix it thicker like a gel so this would be perfect to try that.
I’ve heard that some people do that for Gen UCAN and I think these would be perfect for that! Far less bulky that a water bottle.
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a great break 🙂
These pouches look so cool! I’m trying to get a lot better about fueling during runs and it’s hard to find vegan options. I’ll definitely look into these 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving! You should definitely look into these, especially if you use a homemade vegan option. Something like applesauce or a fruit puree with sea salt could be a good vegan option! 🙂
Long runs!
Good luck with the giveaway!
This is so nice! I would use EnduraPouch for long runs, long bike rides, and for my January Half!
Thank you! Good luck in the giveaway and in training for your January half! Which race are you training for?
Thank you! I’m running the Charleston Half! 🙂
I had to defer my first marathon to next year so I would definitely use this during training and racing 🙂
Oh no on deferring – that must have been a tough but smart choice. I love these pouches for my marathon training – definitely one of my top pieces of gear.
such a great idea! for long runs I am good with the one gel but for a half this would be perfect so I don’t have to deal with holding and opening more than one gel packet!
Thank you! Yeah these would be perfect for half marathon races – no need to deal with multiple gels and you can easily customize the serving size.
Carrying ALL THOSE GELS (and their waste) is a pain, and I like to have a gel for every 4-5 miles (whether I take it or not). For my marathon, that meant I carried seven gels (an extra in case I lost one). This seems easier.
That’s one of thes best parts of this – no need to carry around sticky, empty gel packets! This would be a lot easier for you – you could fill up two rather than carry so many gels!
Hey, so… you know what you guys could do with these things?! Market them toward babies! Most baby food is moving away from jars toward food pouches just like these, and there aren’t many (if any) reusable ones like these out there. I love how you can wash them in the dishwasher. Anyway, just an idea! It might be a huge market especially in WA.
Thank you! I suggested that to Ryan and while baby food products have to go through so much more testing, that’s a great idea that we will definitely look into! Being able to wash these in the dishwasher is the best part.
I would use this for running gels. Like you, I agree they are messy. Also I usually just eat half of a gel at a time so that means the rest of the gel gets all over me, or I throw it away (more waste and spending money). This seems like a good solution.
I think you would like these! They make it so much easier to eat a bit of gel and then you just cap it and stick it into your pocket rather than have gel everywhere.
I would use the pouches for hiking primarily and backpack camping to store both nut butters and protein puddings.
Yes! That’s a great use – and nut butters are always great to have on hand for hiking and backpacking! 🙂
These look great for taking along a healthier snack option on long runs.
They are! Good luck on the giveaway!
I would use it for my smoothies.
That would be a great use! Good luck on the giveaway!
Oh my!! I have a gel flask and it is kind of awkward and hard to fit into my handhelds pocket. I seriously need this for hammer gel during my long runs!
I haven’t tried this in a handheld pocket, but it fits so much more comfortable into a short and SPIbelt pocket that I bet it would work well for the handheld!
I would use this for gels. I hate carrying a ton of the messy packets around and the gel flasks are just too cumbersome.
That’s one of the best uses of it! It’s far less cumbersome than gel flasks.
I’m trying to be more conscious of my “throw-away” consumption – and I love this idea for running! I’ll probably use another one to take to work for snack time. 😉
Would be great for gels on the run. No more sticky fingers!
I would definitely use these! I would use them with my kids but also for fuel for long runs and training rides!
They would work so well for both of those!
I seriously need these! I would love to make my own whole food combinations for fueling in them.
They would be perfect for holding whole food options! I use gels right now in training because it’s what I race with, but I’ve been considering trying applesauce or something in these for long runs after my race.
Oh wow, that is such good advice, to sip your gel instead of gulping it down. It’s difficult to gulp it down, but sipping it would be easier!
Sipping it does make it so much easier to eat!
I would use this to hold my honey stinger gels. You are so right – it gets very cumbersome to hold multiple gels, especially during a long race or training run!
Those little packets take up so much of very limited pocket space! I find the shape of this easier to hold than a gel packet as well – and so much easier to open!
I would use it for myself first and foremost but it would also be perfect for trips with the kids.
Since it comes in packs of 4, everyone can use one!
I would love to try this pouch out. Doing longer distances races in the upcoming year and it would be great to use!
This is great for long distance races – you would love it!
I need to try the idea of diluting the gel with water – not such a fan of gel texture, I think I would like them better if they were more fluid!
I haven’t tried it personally since Hammer gels aren’t as thick as others, but I read it in a sports nutrition book and I think it would help a lot!
This is definitely on my Christmas wish list! I always hate reaching into my fuel belt and getting a handful of left over gu from used packs.
That is so gross when it happens! You definitely won’t have that problem with these pouches.
These sound terrific! Any time that I’ve tried to take my gel gradually instead of all at once, I wind up squeezing the remainder onto my hands – nothing like running for miles with sticky fingers! And I refuse to litter as I run, so I either carry the empty packets until the end, or detour to a trash can at a water stop, which is basically wasted time.
Good for you for refusing to litter! You would really love these pouches. It is so nice not to have to search for a trashcan – instead you just tuck it back in your pocket and then in the dishwasher when you get home!
I would love to try for long run fuel! Great idea!!
Thank you!
I have tried chews in the past and had a lot of difficulty with them (its sometimes hard enough for me to focus on my breathing while running, let alone chewing on something!) and it took me some trial and error to find Huma gels work best for me. I don’t like running with too many items in my flip belt, not to mention all the used gel packets I have to deal with, and I think this would be such a handy product to help minimize these hassles.
It is so hard to chew and breathe at the same time – especially at the end of a marathon or half marathon! I think this product would be super useful for you!
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