Running Gels

So I am a little over half way through my training program for the half marathon.  Yesterday was my longest run to date - 8 miles.  In anticipation of the 8 miles and to get kind of used to the idea of taking gels during a run, I bought some gels on Friday at a local shoe shop.  I have never used gels before - I've never had the need.  One of the employees at the shop gave me some tips about using the gels and my running buddy did too so I felt pretty good about the idea.
I got up Saturday at 4:15 a.m. (yes, even on a Saturday!), chugged some water, stuffed the gel in my sports  bra (a Vanilla Hammer Gel - see pic at left), put on my headphones and headed out the door.  Putting the gel in my sports bra was my first mistake.  I ended up with little cuts all over my chest from the packaging!  So about mile 5 I decided to try the gel.
The guy at the shoe shop warned me that the gel was really thick and that I should probably cut it with water, but I don't run with water (my second mistake).  The gel was so thick that I gagged the first time I shot any of it into my mouth.  I had to convince myself to swallow and not think about it.  I am very sensitive to the texture of food and it keeps me from eating some foods that are probably really, really good.  Anyway, I got the gel down.  It didn't taste bad at all, it was just the texture that got me.  I actually highly recommend this one.  At the time I took the gel, I happen to be running by a yard that had its sprinklers running and I seriously considered and actually pictured myself running over, sticking my mouth over the stream of water and chugging out of the sprinkler.  I didn't, but I came really, really close.  
The gel really helped too.  It wasn't some instant rush that I got but I could tell that it gave me some more "oomph" to keep going the next three miles.  I am excited to try the other flavors and brands we bought.  My next investment will be some kind of water carrying device - either a water bottle that has a "strap" of sorts that goes over your hand with pockets for gels or a belt with bottles for water.  I have heard the belts are difficult because they slide and slip and generally don't stay in place but the hand held water bottles have their issues too, like not being able to carry as much water as a belt.  Maybe I'll try both.