Runners: Carrying water

Make sure your nutrition strategy is sound- water on its own is not going to be sufficient for very long runs especially in warmer weather. chewy sweets are good/cheap, but you may want to also add electrolyte tablets to water in order to replace vital salts lost through sweating etc.

Camel back type things are ok but strap rub can be an issue- if you go down this route make sure it is comfortable and fits nicely (ones with the additional link across the chest may be an idea.) You may not like the hot back you get either (this ruled them out for me)

Try taking a bike bottle- it’s what I used to do when marathon training and didn’t bother me. Refillable too, depending on where you run. It also gets lighter so the burdern lessens as the run goes on.

A rough rule of thumb is to consume around 750ml of fluid/hour running. If you are well hydrated when you start you may be able to do a run of 90 mins or so without any in normal conditions, but if longer than this or it is very hot then you ought to start drinking after 40 mins or so. If you get thirsty, it’s already too late.

Same goes on the bike too btw- drink plenty, just like those trendies in the Giro.

Trendy joggers post so very true

So, runners can be just as pompous as MTBers: Who knew?

Thanks for the advice folks. As I said previously, I don’t think I am quite at a distance/time where I need to take water yet (I do try and stay hydrated as a general rule) but when I am I will try one of those belts and see how it goes.

Camelback – I don’t need water for anything less than an hour even in heat and there’s no way I’m carrying anything in my hands for that long.

I prefer carrying bottles to a back type one, this is so only I can see how much water I have drunk.
It also depends on the weather, distance and terrain I am plodding over.

If it’s warm and a short run, then I just carry a small plastic bottle in my hand.
Up to 4 hrs then I carry a bottle or two on my waist.

If I’m running anything over around 90-120 mins I tend to put a pound in my pocket then plan to run to go past a shop. I then buy a small bottle of water or sports drink and drink it gradually over 4 or 5 many miles, and then bin it. At least then I’m only carry the bottle for a short part of the run.