This week’s Tuesdays on the Run Linkup is all about hydration. Something us runners know a thing or two about, since we kind of have to drink…a lot.
I drink all sorts of things. If I’m going under 10 miles and it’s not terribly hot out, I stick with straight up water.
If heat is an issue I’ll start with a Nuun tablet and salt up from there. Over time, with trial and error, I learned what works for me. What to drink and how much are fairly personal decisions. One size does not fit all.
What troubles me more about hydration right now is how to carry it when I run. Since breaking up with my fuel belt last summer, I haven’t really found a suitable replacement. I’ve been kind of torn:
I’ve been using a Nathan insulated handheld that’s fine up to 10 miles (barely, if it’s cool out) and a hydration backpack (that I’m not wild about) for longer.
I run in areas with no opportunities to refill my handheld, unless I circle back to the house, which I’d rather not do. My backpack is sort of meh. It works but it’s not a love match. Finding a pack I liked more or a handheld that held more without being heavier (yeah right) would be a real victory.
Help a runner out…
Tell me how you carry hydration on long runs. Do you have a handheld you love? A backpack? Do you carry your own drinks when you race? Have you run races where backpacks are not allowed?
I’m linking up with Deb for the Wednesday Word, which is Victory.
Loading InLinkz ...
I love my handheld’s from Amphipod, but I never run more than 10 miles without having a place to stop. I know where all of the water fountains and bathrooms are pretty much all over my county LOL. I used to drive my car a few miles from home and use that as a fueling station so that I didn’t have to circle back to my house, but now I just hit up stores and water fountains.
I have a backpack that I like for long runs, but thats usually like 14+ miles. I can go 10 without brining water unless its really hot out. For those mid-distance long runs I have a handheld, its not my favorite but works well enough.
I have handhelds of varying sizes, depending on my distance. For long runs and races, I carry a 24 ounce handheld because like you, I don’t have ample opportunity to stop and refill. Plus I don’t want to waste time futzing around with my bottle and fuel during a race. I’ve never done a backpack, and I see some marathons are banning them.
I do not like holding onto the handhelds and I think a back pack would really annoy me. I usually use a fuel belt but I don’t love it. Oh the dilemmas!
I am so bad at carrying water while I run. I did almost 9 the other day and I didn’t carry water, although there was a water fountain I stopped at about 2 miles into my run and I was fine. I just hate carrying one.
Well, keep in mind I’ve never done anything more than a half.
I like top put my water bottles in my pockets, because despite racing & training with a handheld for several years, I eventually realized I really like being hands free. But I can’t rely solely on the water stops, either, because I’ve had too many races with problems with them.
Of course everything in my pockets make me look about 20 lbs heavier, but function over beauty (except when it comes to my actual clothes).
I broke up with my hydration belt over a year ago – I just couldn’t deal with all the flopping.
I use two different Nathan unsulated handhelds – the one that you have, and then I have a bigger 22oz for longer runs. The handheld is a little annoying at first but I got used to it.
I have a Nathan handheld but I only use it in the summer if it very hot. otherwise I plant my water and loop. I don’t train for marathons. I don’t know what I would do then.
My flipbelt bottles are 5 ounces & fairly slim; for a hot race I carry two. I also have a 6 ounce amphipod bottle, but it’s a little bulkier — I carried one of each this last race. Sparkleskirts have very wide pockets, which is part of why I wear them in hot races. That & I love a little sparkle! I don’t “glow” — I sweat!
I’m a big fan of the Nathan Handheld on really hot/humid runs but it doesn’t last long. I have yet to find a hydration backpack that doesn’t chafe the heck out of my shoulders/armpits. Last year during the Williamsburg Olympic tri I ended up taking a 24oz bottle off my bike and filling it with ice/water at an aid station because it was so hot-I used it more for dumping it over my head than anything-it was so worth carrying it for the 10K.
I tried a handheld and it didn’t work for me. In fact, I got so frustrated with it one run I threw it in the first trash can I found. Right now I have a running belt which seems to be working.
Well you know I’m of no help to you since I’m on the same search mission! Aaaand, since I’ll never be running more than 13 miles at a time, a backpack will (thankfully) never be necessary for me.
I’m hoping to find the perfect method right here on this link-up! 🙂
I got a new hand held like the one in the picture in New Orleans, I am going to practice more with it. If I go further than the end of the driveway now I need to take something with me, dang, it is just hot!
I love my Nathan handheld! I’ve just ordered a Nathan hydration backpack… looking forward to trying it out!
I detest carrying water with me (via hand-held of belt). All that “sloshing” drives me crazy. However, I did carry my little 8-oz FLEXR bottle for all of Route 66, and it went well. It’s a small ergonomic bottle, and I was able to refill it periodically throughout the course of the race. I did have some tricep soreness (?) when I was done…even though an 8-oz bottle is not heavy, it did require a bit on ongoing “tricep flexing” LOL I much prefer to just use the water stations in a race, but I try to take my water with me for long training runs, so I can stay hydrated throughout the entire run.
I have a Nathan handheld for shorter runs, but once the runs are over double digits I’ve been using a fuel belt. I have one from SPIbelt and another from Fitletic that both work great and don’t bounce! I’ve never tried a backpack cause I’ve always thought it would drive me crazy!
I’ve been using the Orange Mud Hydraquiver. I was really loving it in the beginning but lately it’s just felt pretty awkward on my back – though it does carry over 20 ounces of water. I have a Nathan handheld but it’s pretty small.
So many people love Nuun but I’ve never gotten into it. I’ve tried samples and thought it was gross LOL.
My Nathan handheld is good but like you said, short distances. Anything over 8 miles and I usually run out of water. I love my hydration backpack but I’ve only used it a few times. Mostly I use the pack when I’m on trails and know I need to bring a lot of things with me. I’m about to break up with my belt though, it’s been moving around a lot and it’s really annoying. Right there with ya!
I have a handy belt thing that has a pocket in the front for my phone/hand sanitizer and a holder in the bag that fits a full size water bottle. My husband has the orange mud double barrel vest and he really likes it. Right now I do 7 1/2 mile loops around my house so I can just refill, and our group long runs are supported, but I am considering the vest thing when we move into trails for ultra training.
I am a fan of Nuun but recently started using Infinit. It is much easier on my digestive tract to just do Infinit vs GU + Nuun.
I used to have a hand held bottle but lost it ;(.
I need to get another one for sure. They are perfectly handy …haha no pun intended as I do not like stopping at water stations but having my own hydration to hydrate when it is right for me!
Thanks for the reminder and suggestion!
I used a multi-bottle water belt for years, but after my back injury it put too much pressure on my lower back so I switched to a hand held. Now that I’m running shorter distances it works just fine for me, but we do have a few water fountains spread out along the trail so I can refill if necessary.
Thanks for linking up!