16 replies to this topic

[thelazyrunner]

Hi everyone,

          I am now starting to get to the distance in my training runs that I need to be having a drink along the way.  What methods does everyone use.  I am thinking either a camel back or one of the belts with the drink bottles attached.  What are peoples experiences with these or is there any other method people recomend.

Thanks for your help on this one.

Vince

[Gordo31]

Camelback in my opinion, haven't run with a belt though. Very comfortable, just suck the air out first so that you don't have to listen to sloshing sounds for your whole run. Even room for your gels as well.

[superflake]

You can also use one of the hand held bottle packs as well.
Or an even easier way is if you are running around the streets and not in the bush then work out a route where you run past a servo every 5ks so you can get a drink of water at least.

[shortstuff]

Ha! Was just about to post the same thing! (as thelazyrunner). I'm about to invest in a spibelt, but have held off wondering how I'd deal with the hydration issue. Don't want to be a pack horse. A non-running friend suggested refilling babyfood screwtop foil baggies (kinda like a wine cask bladder) which are about 150ml each and stowing a few in the belt. Hmmmm. I got no idea! Right now I bypass a local park with bubblers, but not all my long routes do that, so I've been running the same one each time. BOOOOOORING!!!

[robborod]

I 'hide' bottles along my route, usually in long grass. Admittedly this is a safe option for me in a quiet country area. YMMV.

Cheers...Rod

[TCMB]

Under 15km I don't take water (unless really hot).

Over 15km I have a waist bottle pouch. It was a bit annoying at first but you get used to it after a few runs and then it's no problem. Was good in Sydney marathon to have water between drink stations, and it held 4 gels + money.



I just bought a Camelbak (Octane LR) for longer trail runs. It looked the best for running, with water bladder sitting low around the waist. Haven't used it yet as current knee injury won't go away.

[thelazyrunner]

Wow thanks for all the quick replies.  I think I may go and have a look at some Camel Back type packs.  I was thinking a 2 litre one.  Is that too big I am looking at building my runs up to over 30ks in prep for a marathon so was thinking I would probably need that much.

Thanks again.

[Paul Every]

thelazyrunner, on 03 November 2011 - 09:36 AM, said:

Hi everyone,

          I am now starting to get to the distance in my training runs that I need to be having a drink along the way.  What methods does everyone use.  I am thinking either a camel back or one of the belts with the drink bottles attached.  What are peoples experiences with these or is there any other method people recomend.

Thanks for your help on this one.

Vince

Someone posed a very similar question in the last month, to which numerous people replied. You will probably find more answers and opinions more quickly using the 'search' facility, rather than waiting for this thread to roll over into two pages.

[Gordo31]

thelazyrunner, on 03 November 2011 - 07:20 PM, said:

Wow thanks for all the quick replies.  I think I may go and have a look at some Camel Back type packs.  I was thinking a 2 litre one.  Is that too big I am looking at building my runs up to over 30ks in prep for a marathon so was thinking I would probably need that much.

Thanks again.

Basically... weigh yourself before and after a run. The difference is how much water you'll need.

[TCMB]

thelazyrunner, on 03 November 2011 - 07:20 PM, said:

Is that too big I am looking at building my runs up to over 30ks in prep for a marathon so was thinking I would probably need that much.

For my long training runs I take the bottle and fill up at house front taps, next the water meter. Haven't been yelled at for this yet...

Only plan on wearing the Camelbak in the bush.

[Colin]

Gordo31, on 04 November 2011 - 11:17 AM, said:

Basically... weigh yourself before and after a run. The difference is how much water you'll need.

I assume you mean that the difference is the 'extra' amount of water he will need, assuming he hasn't done the run without drinking anything.
Even so, that is not very meaningful. If you ever weigh exactly the same as before you went on a long run then you have drunk too much, which can be dangerous. When you run you will use about 0.25g CHO per kg weight per km plus releasing about the same amount of bound water (which doesn't have to be replaced by hydration).

Long story short a 72kg runner doing 30km will lose approx 540g CHO and a total of 1.6kg inc water. So this is the amount of weight loss he should have if he had drank adequately.

cheers

[Ultramouse]

If you're going camelbak then 2L is enough. I haven't come across a race where 2L doesn't get you from aid station to aid station.

If you're going belt then 4 x 300ml is about the maximum comfortable size but the first two bottles weigh heavy until drunk.

If you're going hand held then two bottles is about as much as you can handle (ho ho).

I have all of the above and I still can't work out the optimum, but then trying to find what works must mean that I am doing the right thing.

If you want total confusion read Kilian Jornet's recent musings on the subject. 5L during UTMB?

The answer is simple: there is no answer.

[ScottTrots]

Alot of good advice here already.

I suppose ultimately it depends on a few things;
How long are these long runs getting? 15km, 25km, 32km?
Do you run during the heat of the day?
What do you feel comfortable wearing/holding?

Personally I believe in the less is more approach to water consumption. I also try to avoid running during the heat and sun as much as possible too.

I generally wont drink on runs 1hr 40 or less (20km slow runs). Anything over that(up to a 38km slow run) I'll take a water bottle belt like the Asics one pictured above holding 500ml and have never needed anything larger than that so far.

I hear of people drinking crazy amounts of water and I just don't know how they actually find the time and energy to get so much down.

Remember, as mentioned above, over drinking can be dangerous, only drink when thirsty!
Drinking the days before a long run is the key.

[TopEndChick]

I run in Darwin, usually out the door around 6am. Usually I only take a drink for anything over an hour, in which case it is usually endura. . I use a 330ml bottle, which I freeze over night, then chuck an old sweat band around it so it doesn't freeze my hand off. It melts along the way making sure I don't drink too much and it stays cool.

For runs longer than 15km, I make sure I run past a park or servo and refill the bottle. Sometimes I carry a small belt with a 200ml bottle stashed. The little juice popper containers (filled with your fluid on choice) are also a great size to carry and you can ditch them if they become too uncomfortable.

I also usually carry a few dollars just in case I get really caught out and need to duck into a shop or servo..

As others have said, It's just about finding what works for you. Carry what you think you will need and include a back up plan of running past a refill station.

[Isthisnametaken]

I am currently on my second hydration back pack. I bought a cheapie the first time around which I don't think was really tailored for runners. It did the job. For Xmas last year I invested in a Nathan hydration pack and it is fantastic. Got it online from the US for about $80 and any runs longer than an hour, I take it. If it is a hot day though I will also take it for an hour run.

I am yet to race with it but I if the weather is going to be hot for the Central Coast HM then I am seriously considering it. You hardly notice that it is there and you don't have to stop, find a tap, gulp down some water and restart. I would highly recommend one.

[RCP]

ScottTrots, on 05 November 2011 - 05:06 PM, said:

Alot of good advice here already.

Drinking the days before a long run is the key.

[RCP]

ScottTrots, on 05 November 2011 - 05:06 PM, said:

Alot of good advice here already.


Drinking the days before a long run is the key.

I totally agree. If your long run is early the morning you want to be fully hydrated before you go to bed. It makes a big differnce during the run.