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I'm getting really excited about the Chicago Marathon this year. And I'm NOT running it. I think this is the most excited I've ever been about a marathon! :) So many of my friends are running the Marathon this year and I'm happy that I'm going to be able to support them! I started the Chicago Marathon last year but was a DNF. This race and I have some unfinished business. I know I will once again attempt the Chicago Marathon, but this is not that year.

The runner tracker is set and I should be receiving text alerts on race day. They only let me track 3 people so I had to make those choices wisely. I know there is a runner update on the website that can be used, so I'll be using that probably more.

On race day, I plan on hanging out at mile 17, near the mile marker, until I see Maggie run by, when I'll be joining her for a few miles of the race! If you're starting in an earlier corral and in the first wave, look for me on the east side of the street. I'll be wearing my FN Run Club shirt! (It also has "Running Kellometers" on the back.)

With Maggie and Julie on their 20 miler, wearing my FN Run Club shirt

If you see me out there, say hi! I plan on having a lot of stuff in the pockets of my shorts to help aid runners along the way. If you need something, ask! I already have my outfit and a lot of the items laid out. How am I going to fit all of it in my shorts? That has yet to be determined...

Thankfully my shorts have a lot of pockets in them. The particular shorts I will be wearing are very unflattering, but when it comes to race support it is definitely time to chose function over fashion. If you're part of wave 2, I might still see you at mile 17, but I might also end up at mile 23 (on the South side of the street, by the overpass near the El tracks). I'm not a fan of this wave start as it makes spectating and running with different people quite difficult.

I've been so excited about spectating and laying out my helping outfit, I haven't really been focusing on the 5k I'm running the day before! I don't think I'll PR as I haven't been as dedicated to my running while studying, but I think it will be fun regardless! I'm still going to give it my all, and I plan on pushing outside my comfort zone (which I sometimes have a difficult time doing).

Are you running the Chicago Marathon? Are you spectating the Chicago Marathon? If you're spectating, where will you be?

Last year I completed my first marathon but had some major fueling and stomach issues. I've tried a lot of different things this summer so I thought I'd put together a little summary of the things I've tried, what worked, and what didn't work.

First, let's talk about hydration. Lot's of people can't do Gatorade. I've always been able to handle it in the past. However, when mixing it with other fuels in my stomach, the Gatorade usually  makes a re-appearance. I love it for recovery after I'm done running, but I've learned that I can't use it while running. As a quick note, the handheld I keep referencing is from Fuel Belt and is the 10oz model.

What did work?

1) Gu Roctane Ultra Endurance powder (review found here)

I used this in my handheld for long runs in place of Gatorade. I like that this is in a powder so you can make it as concentrated or as weak as you like. I received this free sample from the folks at Gu for filling out a survey from their Facebook page. The flavors I received were grape and lemon lime. The grape was my preferred flavor and I was sad when I finished the last little bit. Unfortunately, I think it was a promotional product and I haven't been able to find this product at retail stores or at expos. They do have it for sale on their website here. (If you ever find this at a store, let me know!)

2) Gu Brew
Similar to the Roctane powder, Gu Brew is meant to be mixed with water in place of Gatorade. Maggie (who won my Road ID raffle) offered me a sample of Gu Brew Orange to try. It comes in tablet form so you can either break it in half or use the entire tablet, depending on how concentrated you'd like your drink. I used it on a short run and it didn't irritate my stomach. As I only had one sample, I wasn't able to give it a try on a longer run. Either way, it didn't irritate my stomach and I think this is an okay replacement if you can't find the Gu Rocktane Ultra Endurance Powder. This item is also for sale on Gu's website.

3) Nathan Electrolyte Tablet
I received a roll of the orange flavor in my packet from the Southwest Half Marathon packet. I figured since I had luck with the tablets, I should give it a try. For most of the summer, this has been my go-to. It has gotten me through a lot of hot hot days and has kept the stomach monsters at bay. I would mix 1 tablet with a pint glass full of water and then pour what would fit into my handheld. After the run, I'd drink what was left in the pint glass in addition to whatever was left in the handheld. Sometimes I would also break a tablet in half, put it in my handheld, and fill the rest up with water. The tablet package is kind of expensive ($8 at the local running store) but you get a decent amount of tablets inside. I would say it is worth the price. I also recently purchased the lemon lime flavor. I'm a fan but I don't love it as much as I love the orange.

4) ZipFizz
I purchased this for the first time at the RNR Expo. I just recently hosted a Zipfizz giveaway after having their product and really enjoying it. I used on a run for the first time and enjoyed it even more! I don't know if it is the mix of vitamins or the fact that my stomach is now adjusted to the flavor orange, but this didn't give me any stomach rumblings. That is always a positive!

5) Honey Stinger Chews
I really like these guys. Katie at Live Half Full had recommended them to me back at our first Chicago blogger meetup. I tried them and really liked them. They are small and easy to chew while running. They aren't too thick so they are easy going down. They taste delicious and are also organic. A lot of those strange chemicals are not found in these guys which I think is part of the reason my stomach seems to like them. Available at Sports Authority and Dicks Sporting Goods, they are also easily accessible.

6) Gatorade Chews
I first tried these in the packet of the Palos Turkey Trot back in November. I enjoyed their shape (flat and square) and thought they were easy to consume. I bought a few packs at the Shamrock Shuffle expo and enjoyed them on long runs. They helped me to my PR half marathon in April as they didn't upset my stomach along the way! These have become more popular and are now available in running stores. With Gatorade's new marketing, it is confusing to tell which things are for before and which ones are for during a workout. If you're looking to give these a try, make sure you find the ones that say "perform" instead of "prime." (I reached out to Gatorade to see if they would do a giveaway for these guys with no luck.)

What kind of fuel works best for you? Have you tried any of these products before? As you may notice, Gu is not on this list. I just cannot stomach the gels. The taste, the texture, the rock in my stomach. No dice.