Longest Run without water/food?

I did a few 20 milers with no water/food/stops. Helps prepare the body for that 26.2, and I was ravenous at the end of those.

19. Just kept running with the guys. Coach had donuts and juice waiting!

It really isn't that hard once you get used to it. I do 20-24 mile ong runs once a week without any food or water.

Possible? Sure. Smart? Probably not if you are looking to run a fast time.

I'm not advocating a fuel belt, but taking some fluids in during a marathon - hot or cold - is going to be somewhat beneficial. As you know you get dehydrated running and your blood thickens and performance begins to lag. Some fluids and food will give a small boost and help you to the finish.

I train regularly without food or water. Summer, winter it does not matter, but during a marathon I usually take some fluid every 5 miles or so and I have taken a GU in a couple of marathons, but that is not a regular practice.

I once did a 27 miler when it was 80+ out (albeit a dry heat) without any food or water. Of course when I got home I downed a 2 liter of coke like it was nothing. You'd be surprised what you can get used to.

there was some dutch cycling wacko that ate salty stuff and then rode 6 hours without water or anything,can't remember his name, top rider though.Can't remember why exactly he thought it salient to do that but .....

Biggest factor in doing this is the weather. In winter(or cool, dry conditions) it's not that hard to run long runs or marathons without drinking.

I think it's pretty funny when I see bikers out for an hour or two ride with their camelbacks. Same for joggers carrying a water bottle in each hand. Probably burning more energy carrying the water than they replace, consuming it.

I ran for a long time without nothin'. That's all I'm going to say about that.

28

16.5 miles. Was a cooler evening though--around 45, so water wasn't a huge issue. I dunno how you guys do it, but for me, when it gets up in the 80s, the longest I can go without water is about 9 miles. Thankfully, I usually have someone biking along side me with water though--don't even stop--they just hand me the bottle and I give it back when I'm done.

18 working my way to over 20

I almost never drink when I run. I can only think of one or two marathons where I drank at all, out of 31, and clearly recall a 32 mile run on which I didn't drink, and certainly didn't eat.

I hammered a 22 miler once when it was fairly hot. started at 70 degrees, and I got down to 6:20 miles (which is fast for me). The last 4 miles, were terrible, i was probably going 7:30, and it took me the rest of the day to hydrate and recover and the next day i felt like crap but still ran 20 miles but that time with a water break. I never drink water on runs, but if it is over 2hours, i will from now on.

17- it was hot and I really suffered through the last 2 miles. I really like running on dirt roads and not doing the same small loop over and over again, but I fear it might affect my stride and natural running style to wear a fuel belt. I guess I could drive the course and set dixie cups of water out in advance- empty, they wouldn't be too heavy to carry back, but driving 20 miles to run 20 miles for just a long run and not a race seems ridiculous.

I did 28 miles once over the Boston course + a bit more one cool, rainy March day in 2003. I actually ended up running a marathon PR that day, no kidding. I took no liquids or food during the run but certainly loaded up just before we started running.