Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Hydration Nation

It seems my comment in a recent post about my hydration demands outrunning my Fuel Belt supply on my longer runs rang true with many of the running bloggers out there. This has been a brutal summer for race training. High temps, high humidity, a preponderance of angsty vampires, lingering worldwide sorrow over Pluto being stripped of its planetary title …. the perfect storm of fitness obstacles. I bought my Fuel Belt back in December, and while running in the ice and snow (uphill … both ways) I never had any issues with not having enough to drink. In fact, I had to remind myself every 6 miles to down one of the 8-ounce bottles. Summertime training has been a much different story.

I break out in a sweat and start feeling thirsty just from the act of strapping on the Fuel Belt. I have a 4-bottle version, and generally go with 1 8 oz. bottle filled with water (for washing down gels), and 3 bottles filled with Accelerade. Lately, by the time I hit 10 miles I’m usually into my last bottle. This has been workable so far, but this weekend I step up to 18 miles, and still have a 20, 21, 23, and several 14-16 mile long runs lurking over the horizon. Time to step up my hydration game.
Tomorrow morning I'm planning to actually measure my sweat-rate by stepping on the scale before and after my 8-mile run and seeing how much water I'm losing.  Based on the fact that I think I've left a wake behind me on a couple of recent runs, I suspect I'm well beyond the rule-of-thumb rates I've found on the internet.  I've considered pulling neighborhood kids behind me on wakeboards as a new cross-training option.

I’ve ordered the Nathan Quick Draw Elite handheld, which should be showing up in the next couple days. I’m not crazy about running with something in my hands, which I haven’t done since I finally got an MP3 player that I could strap to my arm, and was able to retire the old Sports Walkman in all its retina-burning-yellow glory. I considered going with a hydration pack, but want to give the handheld a go before investing the time into researching and choosing a hydration pack, and investing the $ in yet another running gizmo. However, there is a certain hardcore factor in setting off on a run with a bucket of water strapped to your back that I do find appealing.

In the interest of advance research, is there anybody that has a particularly good or particularly bad experience to share with using a hydration pack while training? Any particular models folks would recommend choosing or avoiding. I’d love to hear some real-world experience with these things.

15 comments:

  1. I don't have any wise advice. sorry. Never run with any hydration belts or packs.

    but that photo ------------ is awesome!!

    BTW, Loved the comment yesterday!

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  2. It wil be interesting to see the sweat rate measurement.

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  3. I do the sweat rate measurement when it's really hot and I do long runs. I remember one time I had a feeling I hadn't hydrated enough and I'd lost like eight pounds. I panicked and vowed to never let myself do that again.

    I really swear by the Nathan Speed 4. It's comfortable and the weight is eventually distributed so while it does get heavy when I have three bottles and my Canon S90 camera in it, it's spread out and not that bad at all.

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  4. I have a GoLite backpack, but it doesn't come with a bladder. I've heard some good things about the TNF hydration packs, since they have the BOA system to compress the bladder as it empties. The Nathan vests are really cool but run pretty small (too small for me at 6' 200+ lbs).

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  5. Packs are either designed for bikers (mainly Camelbak) and Trail Runners (Nathan and some Camelbaks) I have found. Or, at least these are the folks I see using them or whom they are marketed too. I will say since I started wearing mine at HM's or Marathons - I see more and more using them. It is a comfort thing. They can bother some in form and they can get your back sweatier than normal. I just don't like things strapped around or dangling from my waist. I prefer to haul it on my back. I always seem to inhale/aspirate water drinking out of cups at water stations as well. So, my Camelbak hits the right spot for me on the run. The nut of it all - find out what works best for you and go with it. It is your journey, your body.

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  6. I haven't had the need for either yet as my distances haven't been that high but I would think h=that when it comes time to get one possibly a Camelbak will be the way to go. Just have to try them all out I guess.

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  7. What about pre workout hydration, being in the sport we are, we should be drinking 1.5-2 gallons of water a day to keep us hydrated (yes at first, you will be going to the bathroom every 5 mins, but your bladder starts to get use to it), maybe try this and see if it helps some.

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  8. The Green Girl tells me I am lucky, I give or take my water bottle, I have learned to "be good" on the longer runs and just take my Nathan big bottle and fill it up at a water fountain if needed.. (on huge runs like 15 and up) I am not the one to ask about the actual hydration systems..units.. etc...

    BUT! I would try some water enhanced with electrolytes... :)

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  9. wow, that IS almost the perfect picture for this post.

    I've used everything except for packs, so I'm no good there. I will say that you'd be surprised how not cumbersome running with the handheld is.

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  10. I've never used a hydration pack. I think it would drive me crazy to have something hanging on my shoulders and sticking to my back cause of the sweat. I love my Nathan handheld, but it does require that I arrange my long runs around a location where I can refill it. Good luck!

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  11. RAndom comment about my handheld.... I've gotten GUNS from toting that thing around. Seriously...it's a good thing I swap hands every mile or I'd be running in circles right now. This probably explains how LITTLE weight training I actually do. :)

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  12. I just bought a hand held, but I'm not totally crazy about carrying things in my hands while running...I would rather drive my route and stash water because I hate carrying it with me. Hope I can learn something from your comments!

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  13. first - LOVE the photo. LOL. I LOATHE running with water, but when I must I use the Nathan fuel belt with the two bigger bottles. I start the bottles on one hip and switch them to another hip every 2 miles to balance out. It breaks up the run and keeps the weight even... I can't stand them bouncing on my stomach. I try to loop around to a location where I can refill them. This summer for the first time I tried freezing them the night before so that they're cold longer throughout the run.

    It really has been a brutal summer for running. Just think how fast we'll all feel in the fall.

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  14. I love my hydration pack! The one I use is a South African brand but lots of runners use camelback. I was comfortable with mine from day 1. Solved many problems for me. Mine came with a 1 liter bladder and I bought a 1.5 liter as well. Mine have a choice of 2 and 2.5 liter as well. I fill it with water and take energy drinks in handheld bottles.

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  15. I have one of these for trail running. I love it. That being said - the reason I use it trail running is because there aren't drinking fountains to refill from. Basically I need to carry enough water to last 10 plus miles. The downside to a backpack is they are hot and bulky. On the road, I prefer a handheld like this . They are just much more comfortable o be carrying around - especialy when there are water fountains or other means to refill.

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