To drink or not to drink

This is a totally unscientific observation, but I did a run yesterday: http://www.sportstracklive.com/track...ath/Run/129894 according to the weather stats on it, it was 8 degrees and 93% humidity, it was raining at the beginning but had stopped by halfway. I was sweating like a pig, as I always do! I drank about half a litre of water. I probably drank more than I needed to ( I also ate a cerial bar at the half way mark) as I want to get into a rythem of eating and drinking as I up my mileage, but I am sure I would not have been very comfortable if I had not drunk anything.
When I was riding long distances Polaris Challenge etc I found to stay comfortable I had to drink about a litre an hour to stay comfortable. I am guessing I will need about the same when running.
James

Last marathon I did 9 years ago I overdid it - had to stop 5 times for a pee en route!

Why stop?

I used to be convinced it wasn't a good idea to drink while running, in fact I was sure it would just make me feel ill and I never felt thirsty anyway. However, when I was up to running 20+ miles (and in the tropics) and I realised just how many pints of water I was drinking after arriving home I decided I'd have to try it. I feel so much better now towards the end of those long runs. I still don't drink a huge amount (at most 1 litre in four hours in temp. over 25C and high humidity, much less in cooler weather), but a couple of mouthfuls per hour does help. Admittedly in cool weather, not drinking wouldn't bring me to a halt, but if running for more than an hour I do prefer to have some water with me.

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Originally Posted by jhb0510

This is a totally unscientific observation, but I did a run yesterday: http://www.sportstracklive.com/track...ath/Run/129894 according to the weather stats on it, it was 8 degrees and 93% humidity, it was raining at the beginning but had stopped by halfway. I was sweating like a pig, as I always do! I drank about half a litre of water. I probably drank more than I needed to ( I also ate a cerial bar at the half way mark) as I want to get into a rythem of eating and drinking as I up my mileage, but I am sure I would not have been very comfortable if I had not drunk anything.
When I was riding long distances Polaris Challenge etc I found to stay comfortable I had to drink about a litre an hour to stay comfortable. I am guessing I will need about the same when running.
James

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Half a litre is trivial compared to your total body water of about 42 litres - but if you sweat a lot it makes sense to get used to drinking on the move for when you really need it on longer runs.

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Originally Posted by Welsh Harrier

Last marathon I did 9 years ago I overdid it - had to stop 5 times for a pee en route!

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First marathon I did as soon as we had started all these chaps went to the side of the road in a long line to have a pee - talk about over hydrated.

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Originally Posted by Mike T

First marathon I did as soon as we had started all these chaps went to the side of the road in a long line to have a pee - talk about over hydrated.

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more likely nerves than over hydration. im not a big drinker when i run tends to make me feel sick as it sloshes around but i do like to swill the mouth out to stop the dry throat.

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Originally Posted by Mike T

First marathon I did as soon as we had started all these chaps went to the side of the road in a long line to have a pee - talk about over hydrated.

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If I'm racing, I like to get to the line well hydrated and take a pee just before the start. That way I know I'm not going to need much fluid on the way round, and I won't need to stop during the race either.

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Originally Posted by Rob Furness

If I'm racing, I like to get to the line well hydrated and take a pee just before the start. That way I know I'm not going to need much fluid on the way round, and I won't need to stop during the race either.

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If you really do need to pee during a race - excluding what might be called a nervous dribble and also really long events - then you have drunk too much.

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Originally Posted by Mike T

First marathon I did as soon as we had started all these chaps went to the side of the road in a long line to have a pee - talk about over hydrated.

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Reminds me of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16iNk1hLJt4


1min 15secs & 2mins 20secs into the clip !!