For seasoned runners....

cowgirlslikeus86

I find that I am shocked at how many people don't carry water on hot days while out running. People that are clearly runners in every way, who apper to be running long distances, don't have any water with them. I run in places where I know these people are running several miles, they are dripping sweat and it is hot and humid out.

So, my question is:
1) When you run in warm temperatures, lets say 75-100 degrees, what distance do you have to be going in order to bring water with you? (Assume there are no drinking fountains or what have you)

and,
2)Do you not take water because you just have not found a form of hydrating that you like to carry or wear?

For the record, I carry water (Camelbak) on anything over 5 miles or 45 minute duration. Sometimes I drink it all and wish I had more and sometimes I barely touch it.

brandyk77

everyone is different. I know people who just don't sweat a lot so they dont' readily need to top it off as much as others. Maybe they have a water stop already scheduled. Who knows.

I also run most of the time where there is a water fountain every 2-3 miles so I won't carry water most of the time.

grinch031

For me probably anything over 1 hour.

TNTwedell

oh girl ~ I am TOTALLY with you!
I always carry water for anything over 5.
Its not so much that I HAVE to have it - but I've been out and NOT had it and felt terrible.
getting dehydrated on any run would be NO BUENO!

and yes - when I see people that dont have it, I just wonder "why not?".
but - if they're runners, then they must know what they need while they're out!

:drinker:

WILSONBA

if i run more than a mile and a half i take water. i'm from Florida and 10 minutes into my run my throat dries up and it makes it hard to concentrate, in turn this distracts me. lately i've been doing 5-7 miles and i definitely need water for that, or else i'd be lying on the side walk.

n_unocero

i've never carried anything with me, but saturday i wish i had something because i went about 5.2 miles and it was in the mid 80's. i just hate carrying things when i run. i don't even know how i carried my ipod before i got my armband...

CarsonRuns

I don't carry water for anything under 12 miles, and I may go up to 16 without water if the weather is cool. I came to these numbers after doing some calculations on my sweat rate. It's advised by medical research that you not lose more than 5% of your body weight in fluids, so I did some experimentation to find out how many miles that is for me and under what conditions. I find that if I stay hydrated all the time (I drink over a gallon of water every day), that I can do runs of these lengths and lose between 3% and 5% of my body weight in fluids, within the acceptable range. Rarely am I thirsty when I run. I don't have dry mouth that I feel like I need to drink.

jareno0919

I live in South Carolina and I carry water for anything over 3 miles or 40 minutes. The only exception is races. I NEVER carry water for a race whether it's a 5k, 10k or a 1/2 Marathon...I did the DIVA 1/2 yesterday all kinds of ladies were carrying hydration belts but with the amount of water on the course, there was no way I was going to carry water with me. Could I have used more water on the course? Nope, what they provided was just fine....

LilRedRooster

When it's above 80 and I know I'm going to be sweating a lot, I carry Gatorade for anything over about 7or 8 miles. If it's below that, I can go up to 10 or 11 (I've done 12 on cooler days and had no issues whatsoever), and not carry anything. But I've also been doing that for years, so my body has gotten used to it. I don't find that I feel like I need to drink water or anything until quite a ways in, and never have issues with dry mouth or severe fatigue unless it's a day where it's over 80 or the humidity is higher.

maddymama

So, my question is:
1) When you run in warm temperatures, lets say 75-100 degrees, what distance do you have to be going in order to bring water with you? (Assume there are no drinking fountains or what have you)

and,
2)Do you not take water because you just have not found a form of hydrating that you like to carry or wear?

For the record I run 3-4 miles a day, 4-5 days a week. I sometimes have a longer run, but it is still usually under 6 miles. I live in Texas. It gets HOT and humid here. I usually don't drink it all bc I am drinking water like crazy for the rest of the day. However, I have had a few runs where I am grateful for the water bc I don't think I would have made it home otherwise.

1) Anything over 3 miles in temp over 85, and any distance if temp is over 90 I have water with me.
2) I stash water at a repeat part on my loop, or I have a camelback on an out and back run. Or, if I'm pushing the jogging stroller, I stash a ton of water there.

Zangpakto

Well I've ran or well sprinted a half marathon and didn't have time or was too worried about my time and pace to get water... Seconds would have helped there a I did need it...

However I can happily run half marathon+ distance without too much concern with water I obviously prefer water but if I run out, I'd rather throw the bottle away or run to a fountain than carry something heavy....

By the way, I think it is something like a few gulps every 15m is rule of thumb, so you shouldn't ever finish a whole CAMELBACK running 5miles or 45min... I mean gosh... a 500ml bottle lasts me almost an hour... A camelback would be enough for a half marathon....

neverstray

I never carry water. I don't even want water. It would make me sick. i don't drink water until about an hour after a run. If you think you need it, that's great. But, I think it's just in your head, to be honest. Turn that switch off. It's psychological, not physilogical.

scottb81

In the summer I won't carry water for anything under 10 miles (80-90 min). I sweat a lot and I get thirsty but I hate carrying things in my hand and the belts are very uncomfortable.

On the few occasions where I have approached heat injury I just quit running and walk the rest of the way. One of those occasions was 110 degrees on a 10 mile run. I had to start walking at six miles.

I think the key is recognizing the symptoms of heat injury and stopping before it happens.

Trail_Addict

Lately, my runs are in 100+ temps, and since I usually don't go out for less than 5-6 miles, I always have water with me. After a 12 mile, hilly run in 103 temps last week, I drank approx 60 ounces of fluids, and still managed to lose 5 pounds in the 1:45 it took to run. I just don't understand why anyone would want to play around with their lives by running far in hot weather without having fluids on-hand.

jonnyb62

Rarely am I thirsty when I run. I don't have dry mouth that I feel like I need to drink.

This for me ^^^^. I sweat way more than a normal person, but I still don't find that I'm thirsty. My daughter rode her biks alongside me this weekend for a 7 miler, and she offered me a drink of her water several times. I declined every time. Weekend before that I ran 9.5 miles and was by myself - had no water with, but wouldn't have drank if I did. I figure if I'm not drinking it anyway, why carry the extra weight. (It was in the 70's for both runs.)

GibsonDarlin

I just started running. Im up to 5 miles. I may not drink it while I run, but on my cool down I do, wish i had more at times. You never know when you will swallow a bug!!

Trail_Addict

In the summer I won't carry water for anything under 10 miles (80-90 min). I sweat a lot and I get thirsty but I hate carrying things in my hand and the belts are very uncomfortable.

On the few occasions where I have approached heat injury I just quit running and walk the rest of the way. One of those occasions was 110 degrees on a 10 mile run. I had to start walking at six miles.

I think the key is recognizing the symptoms of heat injury and stopping before it happens.

You don't think carrying water could've prevented that?

neverstray

Lately, my runs are in 100+ temps, and since I usually don't go out for less than 5-6 miles, I always have water with me. After a 12 mile, hilly run in 103 temps last week, I drank approx 60 ounces of fluids, and still managed to lose 5 pounds in the 1:45 it took to run. I just don't understand why anyone would want to play around with their lives by running far in hot weather without having fluids on-hand.

Good point. It doesn't usually get 100+ where I am, and there's usually a cool breeze at the beach, even on a hot day (90+), so it's not that big of a deal for me. If it was 100+, and I was running 10 or 12 miles, I'd probably need to bring some water with me.

belgerian

I do 8 miles a day and have not had to carry any with me nor take water breaks of course I hydrate quite a bit before hand I do a 8 minute mile or better so Im out there for about 60-70 minutes. Of course we will see what August brings last year I was just doing 4 or 5 miles. Also I sweat emmensly like when im done my shorts and shirt look like I just got out of the water.

dsjohndrow

I never carry water and run 4-5 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes in all types of weather. It's the first thing I reach for when I am done.

arc918

I usually don't carry anything for less than 10 - 12 miles. I know where every drinking fountain around town is (never more than a couple miles away).

For longer stuff I carry a handheld.

I run early mornings in So Cal, so the weather is never all that bad.

CarsonRuns

Lately, my runs are in 100+ temps, and since I usually don't go out for less than 5-6 miles, I always have water with me. After a 12 mile, hilly run in 103 temps last week, I drank approx 60 ounces of fluids, and still managed to lose 5 pounds in the 1:45 it took to run. I just don't understand why anyone would want to play around with their lives by running far in hot weather without having fluids on-hand.

Good point. It doesn't usually get 100+ where I am, and there's usually a cool breeze at the beach, even on a hot day (90+), so it's not that big of a deal for me. If it was 100+, and I was running 10 or 12 miles, I'd probably need to bring some water with me.

Same here, I would have to adjust. In the summer, I get out before it's gets too hot. My LSD is usually done before 9 AM in the summer time, so at worst, I might see 90 toward the end.

sarlil

I always carry water with me, even on cold winters days, you can still dehydrate if you sweat too much

cowgirlslikeus86

Well I've ran or well sprinted a half marathon and didn't have time or was too worried about my time and pace to get water... Seconds would have helped there a I did need it...

However I can happily run half marathon+ distance without too much concern with water I obviously prefer water but if I run out, I'd rather throw the bottle away or run to a fountain than carry something heavy....

By the way, I think it is something like a few gulps every 15m is rule of thumb, so you shouldn't ever finish a whole CAMELBACK running 5miles or 45min... I mean gosh... a 500ml bottle lasts me almost an hour... A camelback would be enough for a half marathon....

Interesting. You seem like a person who care very much about your splits and such. I can see where carrying something might slow you down.

I do care about my times but not enough to leave my water behind. The times I have finished my pack were 10-12 mile trail runs(rocks,creek crossings, tree roots etc.) not the short pavment pounding days.

IronmanPanda

It really depends on the day. If I find it to be tolerable I probably won't carry water for anything shorter than 10k.

If I feel I need to bring water just in case I'll use my fuel belt but I am one of those people that would rather plan a route with water fountains than carry anything.

Last year instead of doing a 16 mile route I just did 4 short out and backs of 4 miles each making a pit stop at my truck to get water so I wouldn't have to carry anything.

sjohnny

I haven't been running long enough to have run in the heat yet - but it's getting here quick. I've run up to 9 miles and haven't had any water on any of my runs. When I run around the lake there are water fountains every so often but I've never used them. The hottest it's been on a longer (for me) run was about 7 miles in the low 80s. I drink all day before I go run and then I drink as soon as I'm done. I haven't had any problems. When it gets hotter I'll probably have to re-evaluate that.

WildFlower7

I find that I am shocked at how many people don't carry water on hot days while out running. People that are clearly runners in every way, who apper to be running long distances, don't have any water with them. I run in places where I know these people are running several miles, they are dripping sweat and it is hot and humid out.

So, my question is:
1) When you run in warm temperatures, lets say 75-100 degrees, what distance do you have to be going in order to bring water with you? (Assume there are no drinking fountains or what have you)

and,
2)Do you not take water because you just have not found a form of hydrating that you like to carry or wear?

For the record, I carry water (Camelbak) on anything over 5 miles or 45 minute duration. Sometimes I drink it all and wish I had more and sometimes I barely touch it.

Me too. So funny I'm reading this because I saw a lady yesterday not carrying any water she was running a long distance up the hill and had no water I thought to myself, WTH how doesx she do that, I would die? And it was like 93 out. I have to always have water, no matter what the temp outside.

scottb81

In the summer I won't carry water for anything under 10 miles (80-90 min). I sweat a lot and I get thirsty but I hate carrying things in my hand and the belts are very uncomfortable.

On the few occasions where I have approached heat injury I just quit running and walk the rest of the way. One of those occasions was 110 degrees on a 10 mile run. I had to start walking at six miles.

I think the key is recognizing the symptoms of heat injury and stopping before it happens.

You don't think carrying water could've prevented that?

Sure it could have. But I hate carrying it and do it only out of necessity on long runs.

jillybeanruns

If it's above 75, I can take water for all runs.

If it's a race, I only carry water if it's a double digit race.

Better safe than sorry is my motto. And I like being able to drink on the run, then slow down to stop at a water fountain or aid stop during a race.

sarahkbarnes

I can't stand carrying anything. If I'm going to be out for longer than about 1.45 or 2 hours I might stash a bottle of something in the forest and do loops so I come back to it. Usually I just suck it up!

tappae

I actually carried water for the first time yesterday. It was also my first run over 8 miles in years and the first I've been more than a couple of miles from my house for about as long. The weight of it wasn't too bad, but the sloshing around was very annoying. I didn't need any until the 7th mile, but I was glad I had it for the end. Since I'm starting to add distance, I figured I need to get used to carrying it, particularly as it's getting hotter.