Quote Originally Posted by Flopsy View Post
If I could run a marathon as fast as Paula then I don't think I'd need to stop for a pee either!!

But I'm not even going to get into this debate as I know what works for me, as I suspect do many others here.
I too used to think that drinking worked for me - and - in my first 7 London marathons, did what was suggested and drank like everyone else. Difficult not to, particularly with 2 of the main sponsors being a bottled water company and a sports drink manufacturer. Then Berlin for the first time - water in cups, not bottles, and bitter sports drink - took very little in - about a cup of liquid all told - and did not suffer at all. Berlin for the second time, drank nothing, best time for 8 years. I have continued to drink far less than most of those around me, often nothing, and as far as I can tell, I actually do better in the longer events than I do in the shorter ones. As I have tried to explain, there is a scientific basis for what I do, and it does not work for everyone. Do you really know what works for you, or are you actually, with the best of intentions, handicapping yourself? I regularly run with people who used to carry drink on their long runs - they now know it was not needed.