Do I need water in a half (1:32 goal, 40 degrees race day)?

dork_rothko wrote:

Horrible Advice wrote:

You didn't bonk. Nobody in the history of racing has bonked 1:17 into a race, even with your 90 minute half. That's like a 3 hour marathoner saying "I bonked at mile 14." It would sound absurd. I don't think you know what bonking is if a) you think you bonked and b) think slowing down 20-30 seconds per mile is actual bonking.

You're caught up in semantics. Booo-ring.

Taking in some carbs at 45 min to 1 h of a 1:15 to 1:30 half can be good advice. I do it.

It's not semantics. Semantics would be if someone said "I bonked at the end of the race" when they really just meant slowed down. This is specifically regarding the concept that you need carbohydrates to prevent yourself from running out of glycogen, aka bonking. The point is that the reason the 1:19 runner slowed down was not because she didn't take in carbohydrates, it was due to other deficiencies at that point.

As another poster put it, you may feel like the carbs are helping you, but they aren't. It isn't a must to take all of that carb nutrition in as stated.

not good advice wrote:

dork_rothko wrote:

Taking in some carbs at 45 min to 1 h of a 1:15 to 1:30 half can be good advice. I do it.

You realize that the glycogen from those carbs isn't even available to your body until after you cross the finish line, right? And that diverting energy to your digestive system during a race is not the best use of resources?

Swigging some sport drink can have a psychological effect by making your brain think that carbs are on the way and you won't run out any time soon, but that's about all you need in a 1:30 HM, at most. Trying to maintain carb levels during a race that short is counterproductive.

+ 1.

Horrible Advice wrote:

dork_rothko wrote:

You're caught up in semantics. Booo-ring.

Taking in some carbs at 45 min to 1 h of a 1:15 to 1:30 half can be good advice. I do it.

It's not semantics. Semantics would be if someone said "I bonked at the end of the race" when they really just meant slowed down. This is specifically regarding the concept that you need carbohydrates to prevent yourself from running out of glycogen, aka bonking. The point is that the reason the 1:19 runner slowed down was not because she didn't take in carbohydrates, it was due to other deficiencies at that point.

If I had to guess, the 1:19 runner who "bonked" at mi 9 wasn't adequately fueled going into the race.

I guess so. I could only imagine bonking in a half at 1:19 pace (exactly the pace I run) if I had both skipped dinner the night before and the day of. You have enough glycogen generally stored in your body to run around 2 hours if you are fueled normally.

This is a highly individualized question. Everyone has a different sweat rate.

I suggest getting better at drinking from aid stations to avoid having to carry anything.

I have run races in those temps and at about that same pace and sometimes I like a little water just to get the dryness out of my mouth.

might I suggest gum?

salted jock wrote:

Horrible Advice wrote:

It's not semantics. Semantics would be if someone said "I bonked at the end of the race" when they really just meant slowed down. This is specifically regarding the concept that you need carbohydrates to prevent yourself from running out of glycogen, aka bonking. The point is that the reason the 1:19 runner slowed down was not because she didn't take in carbohydrates, it was due to other deficiencies at that point.

If I had to guess, the 1:19 runner who "bonked" at mi 9 wasn't adequately fueled going into the race.

She was just running a faster pace than she was capable of that day.

Wow21 wrote:I'll wear short sleeves instead of long

I dunno about this. Forecast for Toronto is looking cooollllddd for Sunday morning. I'd go with arm warmers or a long sleeved shirt. Especially since some pretty significant wind is in the forecast.

A fuel belt? did you mean 1 Day 32 minutes? Are you a 45 year old hobby jogging mom or just a cvck beta male. Despite the fact 1:32 is a gohtdammed jog, no just take the cups they give you and grow a pair while your at it? A fuel belt? Are you fukkun joking? Stick to watching your kids soccer games, driving your honda odessey, and asking to see the manager.

dbsquirtNXC21 wrote:

A fuel belt? did you mean 1 Day 32 minutes? Are you a 45 year old hobby jogging mom or just a cvck beta male. Despite the fact 1:32 is a gohtdammed jog, no just take the cups they give you and grow a pair while your at it? A fuel belt? Are you fukkun joking? Stick to watching your kids soccer games, driving your honda odessey, and asking to see the manager.

Are you 14?

You don't need water during a half marathon. You just need to stay well hydrated before the event and you won't have many problems running it- especially in 40 Degrees

You don't need a drop of water at those temperatures. Yes, you will be slightly dehydrated by the end, but that's fine as long as you start the race hydrated, which doesn't mean peeing every five minutes. If you pee once or twice in the morning, you're hydrated. There is no performance detriment to minor dehydration when you start hydrated. Heck, in those temperatures, I would probably not even drink during a marathon (but I rarely do, as I have a sensitive stomach).

No.

Sack up, bud.

There is a lot of idiocy in this thread. Oh my God.

OP, I say yes. I would drink some water about halfway through your race if you can manage to get it without much trouble. Water serves a bunch of different functions in the body and in your muscles. It's not just about having enough sweat to cool yourself down. 90 minutes of exercise with NO water is far from ideal. A few sips of water halfway through is a really good thing. And I can promise you it's not going to slow you down...so YES.

Foghorn Leghorn wrote:

dbsquirtNXC21 wrote:

A fuel belt? did you mean 1 Day 32 minutes? Are you a 45 year old hobby jogging mom or just a cvck beta male. Despite the fact 1:32 is a gohtdammed jog, no just take the cups they give you and grow a pair while your at it? A fuel belt? Are you fukkun joking? Stick to watching your kids soccer games, driving your honda odessey, and asking to see the manager.

Are you 14?

I woul guess he's 16 trying to impress some 14 year olds.

This is LetsRun, not LetsCamel. We are not competing to see who can drink the least water. We are competing for the best times. Half marathons are meant to be running competitions, not dehydration competitions. Drink as much as you feel like you have to drink.

LetsCamel wrote:

This is LetsRun, not LetsCamel. We are not competing to see who can drink the least water. We are competing for the best times. Half marathons are meant to be running competitions, not dehydration competitions. Drink as much as you feel like you have to drink.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!

That's why I LOVE when you dolts stop and gulp down some water. Every time you do that, I gain 5 or 6 seconds. Go ahead and give away 20 or 30 seconds to your competition.

T Funke wrote:

Agreed. Saying you don't need need any is the mentality of the sub-Elite Hobbyjogger:-

Low Level Hobbyjogger: Drinks a couple of pints before the start, is making a bathroom stop within the first half hour, and is probably running with a camelbak / water bottle.

Sub-Elite Hobbyjogger: I can run for this amount of time without a drink therefore I will as it singles me as a "real runner"...

Elite Hobbyjogger: Will take a few sips two or three times just to keep tip-top on the hydration front.

Elite: As per the Elite Hobbyjogger, which should make everyone laugh at the Sub-Elite Hobbyjogger who "doesn't need" anything.

So true. Sir Mo, a few weeks before destroying the field in Chicago, also destroyed the field at the Great North Run half in a 59:xx time which easily could have been 58:xx if needed to win.

Do you know what Sir Mo was doing on the way around? Yes, that's right - Taking on some water. Therefore, if it's the way to go for the Greatest Distance Runner on the planet, the chances are that it's the way to go for you!

dbsquirtNXC21 wrote:

A fuel belt? did you mean 1 Day 32 minutes? Are you a 45 year old hobby jogging mom or just a cvck beta male. Despite the fact 1:32 is a gohtdammed jog, no just take the cups they give you and grow a pair while your at it? A fuel belt? Are you fukkun joking? Stick to watching your kids soccer games, driving your honda odessey, and asking to see the manager.

dbsquirtNXC21 doesn't have a motor in the back of his honda.