Wasdale

[Mike T]

Interesting topic this. I did not carry water, but drank more than usual immediately before the race, knew there would be drinks at Greendale, and assumed there would be some available after that - which there was. I was offered drinks by complete strangers before Kirkfell, after Great Gable, and the marshals at Esk Hause offered me some. I did not drink from the fells, but splashed myself and dunked my hat several times. I was thirsty, but know from experience that I can cope with 5% loss of body weight in hot conditions - based on a 20 mile run on a day in the high 20s, having weighed myself before/after and having eaten/drunk nothing during the run. I know it is not recommended to go beyond 2-3% weight loss. Dehydration is not the same as heat illness - the former slows you down and eventually stops you - the latter can kill. Heat illness is uncommon in recreational events where participants can set their own pace and decide on intake/clothing, though vigilance is necessary, and occasionally the worst can happen, even in those who are experienced. Hyponatremia from excessive drinking is a real risk in long road races with frequent drink stations, but is less of a threat where people have to carry there own supplies.

[Corniceman]

Interesting topic this. I did not carry water, but drank more than usual immediately before the race, knew there would be drinks at Greendale, and assumed there would be some available after that - which there was. I was offered drinks by complete strangers before Kirkfell, after Great Gable, and the marshals at Esk Hause offered me some. I did not drink from the fells, but splashed myself and dunked my hat several times. I was thirsty, but know from experience that I can cope with 5% loss of body weight in hot conditions - based on a 20 mile run on a day in the high 20s, having weighed myself before/after and having eaten/drunk nothing during the run. I know it is not recommended to go beyond 2-3% weight loss. Dehydration is not the same as heat illness - the former slows you down and eventually stops you - the latter can kill. Heat illness is uncommon in recreational events where participants can set their own pace and decide on intake/clothing, though vigilance is necessary, and occasionally the worst can happen, even in those who are experienced. Hyponatremia from excessive drinking is a real risk in long road races with frequent drink stations, but is less of a threat where people have to carry there own supplies.

Mike that is really interesting. I complained to a club mate whilst ascending beyond Greendale that despite the heat I kept feeling cold and had goose bumps all over my arms. I have had that before in hot conditions and it is soon followed by cramp which it was on Saturday. What causes that feeling of being cold?

[Rob Furness]

Like many others I really suffered too. I felt pretty grim by Greendale despite a very gentle start and had cramp before Seat Allen that just gradually got worse as the day went on. I had to stop on the hard shoulder 3 times driving home to deal with bouts of cramp. What has surprised me most though is that 3 days on I still feel crap and feel that I have pulled my left calf which is still too sore to touch in addition to DOMS worse than I have ever experienced. Are others finding the post race recovery as hard?

That's exactly my experience. I still feel terrible today and both my quads are extremely sore. I managed a gentle run yesterday to loosen up but it hasn't done much good. I woke up this morning feeling very very hot and sick. This has happened to me before after getting too much sun. Disconcerting but nothing new. I did carry fluid and drank plenty plus kept wetting my hat. I also experienced the shivering and cold feeling at times despite being very hot.

[LissaJous]

Mike that is really interesting. I complained to a club mate whilst ascending beyond Greendale that despite the heat I kept feeling cold and had goose bumps all over my arms. I have had that before in hot conditions and it is soon followed by cramp which it was on Saturday. What causes that feeling of being cold?

Sign of heat stress. Due to raised adrenaline levels.

[Longdogs]

Yes it is an interesting topic.. i don't generally eat and drink much in races, even long ones. I did Ennerdale last time consuming only water and 3 jelly beans. On Sat i carried a bottle, which don't often do.. but the minimal extra weight won't slow you down anywhere near as much as dehydration. There was plenty of water en route i think i could have got away without it. Used 4 energy gels in the race, paced it steady and finished feeling fine. I didn't feel too hot at any point, and didn't dunk myself in streams/lakes because i think sudden peripheral vasoconstriction is a bad idea when you're running in hot weather. I wasn't excessively thirsty after the race and recovered quickly. I think if you're fit you can cope with any conditions.. if you try to run Wasdale with suspect fitness, and/or pace it badly, you'll suffer. If it's hot as well, you'll suffer more..

[IainR]

Mike that is really interesting. I complained to a club mate whilst ascending beyond Greendale that despite the heat I kept feeling cold and had goose bumps all over my arms. I have had that before in hot conditions and it is soon followed by cramp which it was on Saturday. What causes that feeling of being cold?

Temp regulation is screwed isn't it.. basically thats time to quit. I thought that was a sure sign of heat stroke.

[IainR]

True, it is possible to get round without as much fluids as people think. Totally agree with this African guy for training purposes, much like my approach (most of you probably not counting milk as breakfast).

But it amazes me how most fellrunners think they don't need to carry/arrange an energy drink to get the best performance in an AM.. carrying a bottle uphill is hardly much of an inconvenience. Who would claim to run their best Half Marathon without some gels/energy drink?

Interesting this... Ts'otleho always runs his half marathons off nothing.. and has pb's of 66 minutes and is probably in 64/65 shape but his last one was in humid windy conditions, he just swills water around his mouth.. doesn't even swallow as he thinks the signals are enough.

But we're both focusing on Berlin now and he's worried about having to eat, how to eat and when to eat as its so alien to him. He's got this big grudge on western food producers for programming our bodies to need sugar.. need breakfast..

[Mike T]

It sounds like several people had borderline heat exhaustion - if it had progressed to heat stroke they would have had to be hospitalized.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hea...CTION=symptoms

Given the multiple steep descents I think DOMS affecting particularly the quads is to be expected.

[geronimo]

glad I abandoned after 1 mile seeing the state of some of the later abandonees coming into the field.

[dominion]

Interesting this... Ts'otleho always runs his half marathons off nothing.. and has pb's of 66 minutes and is probably in 64/65 shape but his last one was in humid windy conditions, he just swills water around his mouth.. doesn't even swallow as he thinks the signals are enough.

But we're both focusing on Berlin now and he's worried about having to eat, how to eat and when to eat as its so alien to him. He's got this big grudge on western food producers for programming our bodies to need sugar.. need breakfast..

I've always reasoned on an hour to an hour 30 without needing a drink. I certainly didn't bother with drinks / gels (not that they really existed!) on anything up to half marathon distance when I was racing (half marathon best of 67, never raced further). A gulp of water if it was a hot day at most.

I do think it's a very personal thing based on what you're used to and have trained to do.