WORKOUT – Ran outside 10.5 miles/1:22 no music, lots of rolling hills, warm out
Despite getting up at 5:45am, I didn’t get running until after 9 and it was already warm out. I didn’t bring any water so by the end of 10 miles, it hurt to swallow and my lips looked like they were caked in sugar… which really, they could have been. I do love my Hot Tamales.
Anyways, lately I’ve received multiple questions about how I carry water on my runs and since I’m so stellar at hydration, I thought I’d talk about it.
I usually don’t run with water unless it’s in the summer and hot. I don’t mind carrying stuff in my hands (I hold my GU’s, camera, ipod, kitchen sink in all my races) so it doesn’t bug me to have a water bottle in my hand. But here’s the gear I have:
A Nathan hydration belt where the bottle goes on your back. I bought this when I first started running and I hate it. I feel like the bottle moves around way too much and is too heavy so I never ever use this. I should get rid of it but it does such a great job of collecting dust.
A handheld water bottle that I bought at Marshalls for $6 a couple years ago. Yes, I’m using a Corona for display because my Nathan bottle is lost somewhere in San Francisco, I think.
I love this thing; you can only carry about 22 ounces, but it’s not too heavy, it’s easy to use and I don’t mind holding it.
A lot of people use belts like this with the 2 smaller 10 ounce bottles:
I’ve never used one but it would seem to work out better with multiple smaller bottles than one big one.
If you don’t want to run with a belt, a couple other tips:
*Plan your route around agua
Public parks generally have water fountains, bring cash to buy a drink at the grocery store, do a double loop course where you loop back to your car and get a drink there, etc.
*Stash your bottles beforehand
I’ve never done this and it’d take a little effort, but some people will drive their route and hide water bottles in bushes or whatever along the way.
*Pregame
You’re still going to need water while running if it’s hot out, but it helps to be hydrating before you run. Have a glass of water as soon as you get up with your coffee and drink small sips an hour before you run or something.
*Have a mixer
When it’s hot out I like to mix Powerade Zero and water. Choose some sort of energy drink, Nuun, whatever that has sodium and electrolytes in it to help ward off dehydration.
*Practice
Before it gets sweltering hot, try some different things and drinks to see what works for you. Some people can’t drink certain energy drinks and maybe a handheld water bottle would drive you crazy, but you won’t know until you try it out in your training.
Any other tips or suggestions I’m missing?
One last question: Do I have La SIDA?
That is some prime chafing going on.
Skinny Runner
