Water

[Flopsy]

I definately notice the difference with being well hydrated. I'd say 2 things though:

1st - it takes a while to get used to drinking 2 litres a day, you pee a lot to start with
2nd - don't drink lots of water in one go it doesn't help hydration, you just wee it out, sip steadily through the day.

Drinking out of streams is great, just watch out for pollution and dead sheep. Was doing the 3 peaks a couple of months ago and spotted a dead sheep in the steam (hidden behind a big rock - only spotted it cause it stunk). Yeuch!!

[ZootHornRollo]

Heaven knows how anyone could drink 'pints' of it before a run

well not right before

but I drink a pint of water when I get up most mornings anyway, so I just chuck a couple more down in the two hours before a run or a race. Feels wrong if I don't tbh.

[Derby Tup]

I'm going to stick to the water for rest of the week. The extra excercise traipsing to the toilet should do me good if nothing else

[Al Fowler]

If always wondered with drinking loads and obviously needing to pee alot!....can you increase the size of your bladder, kind of stretch it?

[Derby Tup]

If always wondered with drinking loads and obviously needing to pee alot!....can you increase the size of your bladder, kind of stretch it?

Haha

[Updownupdown]

I know its now de rigeur to have a couple of litres with you if you're walking any further than from your car to the front door of ASDA and there were people at Stanbury yesterday with camelbacs for a 7miler but do fellrunners see any advantage in it? Has anyone on here tried it?

Drink when you're thirsty. Overdrinking has become as much or more of a problem than dehydration due to underdrinking, it basically dilutes you, creating a risk of low sodium levels (and consequent performance and health issues in athletes). Sometimes we even see low sodium levels in the public as a result of misguided overdrinking as well. From a sports perspective don't imagine that using a "sports" drink will counteract this to any extent, much research shows it won't help much or at all, sodium in these drinks does not help prevent hyponatraemia (low blood sodium) through excess fluid intake. The sports drinks & tablet companies are to some extent taking people for an expensive ride.

I can provide references to proper evidence to back the above "opinions" up should anyone really want them.

[Derby Tup]

Sticking with the water. Funny stuff, sort of cold and wet I blooming well swear they've taken all the alcohol and caffeine out of it too

[ukhursty]

On any run sub 10 miles I don't take anything with me.

For anything else, my camelback is always with me, for a couple of reasons really, I take small sips every now and again. Also I find the longer the run is, the bigger the sips get.

Also I don't mind carrying the weight on my back, been used to carrying stuff on my back from biking and hiking days, so a hefty pouch of water is no probs.

Also its easy to get at the water from the handy pipe that clips onto the shoulder pouch

[Alf]

On any run sub 10 miles I don't take anything with me.

I would agree with that under normal conditions but if its a hot day I would probably drop that limit to around 6 miles.

What was it W.C. Fields said? "I don't drink water, fish fornicate in it !"


I take TUMS in water as I believe it helps (from experience) with cramp plus I sweat for England when I am running so I feel I need to put some salts back into my system.

[mr brightside]

On any run sub 10 miles I don't take anything with me.

Psycho...

Water also helps to keep your kidney's free of stones, don't think anyone's mentioned this yet