Question for elite runners only!

I carry a gallon jug of water everywhere I go so that everyone knows that I'm very serious about my fitness workout regime. I've run a 4:00 mile before but it was very boring so now I mostly do just weights lifting. I look very good physically and my gallon jug of water is the perfect accessory for my fit appearance.

water woes wrote:

Usually stash it.

Story: I only bring it if it is scorching hot and once I had a bottle stashed at the start of an out and back trail a couple of miles from my home. I had a sip before putting it behind a bush and I guess this lady and her daughter saw because one of them shouted "litterbug" at me. I told them it was my water and I would be back to drink it and take the bottle away. They shrugged it off and I went for my run. Came back dying for a drink and when I went to grab my bottle it was gone. Mother f**kers....

I think I know that lady. Is she the same one that lets her dog crap in other people's yards without cleaning it up?

eliterunnersonly wrote:

How do you drink water during long runs? Just carry a bottle in your hand while running? Im talking about off-track running.

Sure, because only an elite runner would be able to answer this stupid question. Kid, get a grip. It's water. Just drink it.

eliterunnersonly wrote:

How do you drink water during long runs? Just carry a bottle in your hand while running? Im talking about off-track running.

Grow some hair on your chest and deal with being a little thirsty.

Oh wait you said elite runners only. Nah, I'll post this anyway.

Absorption depends on the body. It takes anywhere from 10 mins to 2 hours for water to be digested into the bloodstream. For me I can drink two glasses of water and be good to for a run in 20 mins after drinking the two glasses of water. Keep in mind this is on an empty stomach or 4 hours after a meal.

I was more Sub-Elite (13:38) back in my prime, but I never drank water on long runs unless I stopped at a drinking fountain. You should eat a little something and hydrate beforehand. If you are training for a marathon then yes, you should get used to hydrating with the bottles you want to use in your race.

Good thing you limited this to elite runners only. As a non-elite runner, I couldn't begin to tell you about how to hide a bottle in a bush, do a loop that comes back to the same spot, carry a handheld bottle, figure out where water fountains are and strategically pass them, get a lightweight hydration vest, carry iodine tabs to refill from a creek on a long trail run, or funnel my own urine over my hat brim while I train. I realize that all of these things are over my head. I just get an old-school backpack and put a gallon in it, sometimes two, in case my weak, pathetic, sweating self needs so much water during my too-slow, too-short for your standards run.

eliterunnersonly wrote:

How do you drink water during long runs? Just carry a bottle in your hand while running? Im talking about off-track running.

Your tears

infused special water from coach and nutritionist. We are instructed to not ask any questions, but to drink the water on our runs and to make sure the nutritionist receives the bottle after. We are expected to submit private urine samples to the same nutritionist every 4-6 weeks.

no real runner drinks water on a run

but actually, either swing by the car, stash it, have coach meet us part way when I was still on a team, or make a quick stop at a public fountain. Of course none of this applies unless it's either 85F or more or the run is longer than 80-90 mins

Vast majority of long runs I do are a) below 70 degrees and b) in the 120 minute range. On those runs, no water is needed. If you need water, you are not hydrating properly beforehand.

Marathon training in the summer for fall marathons is different. You cannot possibly due 22 mile long runs in 70+ dew point weather without taking in water during the run, which is common weather throughout most of the eastern US no matter what time of day you are running. I generally only do routes with water fountains if I'm going this long in the summer, otherwise I will bring a bottle with me.

I usually put five dollars in my shorts and buy Gatorade at the gas station if my run goes for longer than 32k.

I do my long runs by the river. When I get thirsty, I just dunk my head in and get a drink.

Never

eliterunnersonly wrote:

How do you drink water during long runs? Just carry a bottle in your hand while running? Im talking about off-track running.

I do 2 hours long runs by warm weather without drinking. I like to call myself el dromedario.

fartleks and bagels wrote:

I usually put five dollars in my shorts and buy Gatorade at the gas station if my run goes for longer than 32k.

This is exactly what I do, except only when it's really, really hot out and my run will be 20k+. It's much easier to take a quick pit stop and guzzle back a Gatorade than it is to carry something around with you. Even better is when there's a known water fountain along the way.

Water fountains on routes.

Pre-hydrate.

No need for more than this.

The point isn’t to be tough and do without water just because you can. The point is, does drinking water help your performance? Do you think it is better to refuse water and slow down or drink some water and better maintain your pace on a long run? Obviously we are talking about running in hot weather. I ran 98 minutes at 7:30am with heat index from 88 up to 94, and lost over 5% of my weight during the run. So in hot climates, yes, you should drink.

Do you stop your watch when you stop for a drink? If so, are you cheating yourself?