Water breaks when long distance running

ES110791
ES110791 Posts: 43 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Ok so this is probably a stupid question but I keep reading everywhere that you need to keep hydrated while on a long distance run and to stop at water breaks if you're running a long distance race. But like, are you supposed to actually stop and drink or do you just grab a cup and drink it running?

I've never been that concerned about it but recently i've been thinking about using carb gels to fuel me when I run +90 minutes and apparently it's essential to have them with water, but like I said, I don't actually run with water. Wouldn't stopping to get a drink mess up your rhythm? What's the standard thing people do?

Replies

  • alexkirkp
    alexkirkp Posts: 26 Member
    In a race you will just grab a cup as you run past the aid station. Depending on your goals and ability to drink while running you can keep running and see how much you can get in your mouth, or walk and drink it. You could stop if you wanted to, just make sure you move out of the way.

    Definitely need to take gels with water. The best way to do it on a training run is to plan your route to go past drinking fountains where you can get water nice and quick. If you can't do that then you can either carry a water bottle or use a fuel belt. I wouldn't worry at all about a 10sec stop for water, even if you feel it messes up your rhythm the first few times you will get used to it quickly. If you really don't want to stop, then its back to the water bottle or fuel belt.
  • LoneWolfRunner
    LoneWolfRunner Posts: 1,160 Member
    Depends on the distance for me.... anything in the half-marathon or marathon distance, I just drink as I'm passing through... during longer trail races I stop at the aid stations and drink and get stuff to eat.... I also carry a hand-held water bottle (Amphipod)....
  • ZenInTexas
    ZenInTexas Posts: 781 Member
    There are lot of options. You can go without water and gels, you can stash water along your route or hit water fountains, you can carry a handheld, or a fuel belt with a couple bottles or if you need a lot of water you can carry a camelback. Depends on your needs.
  • aarar
    aarar Posts: 684 Member
    Whatever your plan is for the race, practice in training. If you're worried about stopping and messing up your rhythm make sure you try it out on your long runs and see how you feel. Play around with different methods until you find something that works.

    Personally on long road runs of 3-4 hours I don't bring anything and stop at convenience stores along the way. Anything longer than that I'm usually on the trails and use my hydration pack.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.
  • littlekitty3
    littlekitty3 Posts: 265 Member
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.

    Awkwardly worded title is awkwardly worded.
  • JoelleAnn78
    JoelleAnn78 Posts: 1,492 Member
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.

    This is what I thought this was going to be about! Now I have to go back and read the OP again.
  • deluxmary2000
    deluxmary2000 Posts: 981 Member
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.

    Lol - I'm glad I'm not the only person who completely misinterpreted the title of this post.
  • sinistras
    sinistras Posts: 244 Member
    this topic sounds like a headline from National Inquire
  • maizerage66
    maizerage66 Posts: 367 Member
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.

    Lol - I'm glad I'm not the only person who completely misinterpreted the title of this post.

    Me too, now I have nothing to say in this thread...:ohwell:
  • newdaydawning79
    newdaydawning79 Posts: 1,503 Member
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.

    Lol - I'm glad I'm not the only person who completely misinterpreted the title of this post.

    SAME! :laugh:
  • MinimalistShoeAddict
    MinimalistShoeAddict Posts: 1,946 Member
    Honestly this is a matter of personal preference and depends on your definition of a long run. Many of the runners I know carry no water, gels or anything else for a 90 minute run.

    I use to carry water for runs of this length but stopped about a year ago after reading this book which was suggested by a MFP friend:
    http://www.amazon.com/Waterlogged-Serious-Problem-Overhydration-Endurance/dp/

    I never carry water anymore, but I do make sure my route passes a water fountain if my training run is 20+ miles.

    You question about stopping to drink or drinking while running is a matter of personal preference. During my first marathon I generally slowed to a walk at water/gel stops for 10-15 seconds to catch my breath and drink. Definitely always drink a little water with your gels! I think stopping completely would have been a bad idea because it may have caused my legs to tighten up.

    Make sure to stay well hydrated in the DAYS BEFORE a long training run or race. It is far easier to complete a long run when you are well hydrated beforehand (but carry no water) than starting dehydrated and carrying water. Note I said days before. I am not suggesting you drink a gallon of water the morning of a race. This will only force you to take an early bathroom break
  • Mikkimeow
    Mikkimeow Posts: 1,282 Member
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.

    This is what I thought this was going to be about! Now I have to go back and read the OP again.

    Totally was thinking that this was about inducing labor through running.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.

    So it wasn't just me?

    (Actually a couple months ago I read about a woman who ran a marathon at 9 months and went into labor that night...talk about beast!)
  • davemunger
    davemunger Posts: 1,139 Member
    Seriously, though, if you want to consume water during a race without stopping, it's doable, it just takes a little practice. You could set up a table outside your house with paper cups about 2/3 full of water. Then practice running by and picking them up. Also practice drinking from a cup while running! You'll find the water is easier to drink on the run if you squeeze the cup to form a little v-shaped spout. In races the volunteers hold out the cups and you can grab them. If you can grab one off a table, then taking one from a volunteer is easy! Just make sure to yell "water" during a race and the volunteers will hold them right out for you.
  • dbrightwell1270
    dbrightwell1270 Posts: 1,732 Member
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.

    So it wasn't just me?

    (Actually a couple months ago I read about a woman who ran a marathon at 9 months and went into labor that night...talk about beast!)

    It happened at the Chicago Marathon. She went into labor during the race and finished it.
  • in4nomz
    in4nomz Posts: 230
    In a race you will just grab a cup as you run past the aid station. Depending on your goals and ability to drink while running you can keep running and see how much you can get in your mouth, or walk and drink it. You could stop if you wanted to, just make sure you move out of the way.

    Definitely need to take gels with water. The best way to do it on a training run is to plan your route to go past drinking fountains where you can get water nice and quick. If you can't do that then you can either carry a water bottle or use a fuel belt. I wouldn't worry at all about a 10sec stop for water, even if you feel it messes up your rhythm the first few times you will get used to it quickly. If you really don't want to stop, then its back to the water bottle or fuel belt.

    This! And double this about the gels, those things are nasty without chugging some water afterwards. It's hard for me sometimes to drink and run at the same time, so I stop and walk while I drink but pick back up again as soon as I'm done. Do whatever you're able to do though :smile:
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.

    lololololololololololol
  • litsy3
    litsy3 Posts: 783 Member
    You can also get isogels that are a bit more liquid in texture and can be taken without water.
  • DSTMT
    DSTMT Posts: 417 Member
    You really shouldn't be running if you're that far into pregnancy.

    This was how I interpreted the title too lol

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