Water cups - maybe carry a straw

daymobrew

The issue of water cups vs bottles came up in the Frank Duffy 10 miler thread.

Maybe those of us (myself included) that had difficulty drinking from the cups could bring a few bendy straws. They could probably be sellotaped to the outside of your shorts or around the waist band.

Of course I could just stop and take a drink.

Stupid_Private

Just pinch the two sides of the cup together from the middle of the rim and it's much easier to drink out of. You may get a bit on yourself but it's only water. For 10 miles to half marathon you should only really need a swig of water if anything.

daymobrew

Stupid_Private wrote: »

Just pinch the two sides of the cup together from the middle of the rim and it's much easier to drink out of. You may get a bit on yourself but it's only water.

I've done the pinching but I still have trouble, though as you say, it's only water and in the 10 miler the short rain shower arrived about 2 mins after I got water.

Condo131

Stupid_Private wrote: »

For 10 miles to half marathon you should only really need a swig of water if anything.

I agree 100% and would even say the same for most marathons also (Cork 2009, for example, being an exception - VERY hot!)

I disagree completely with the straw idea. I reckon that you are going to pull in a lot of air when sucking, increasing your chances of a stitch.

If you're hydrated enough - and, for a race of 10M or under, if you're not, then you're in trouble anyway - all you need is to keep your mouth moist, i.e. take a sip, swill it around in your mouth and swallow. You don't need to drink the whole lot.

I reckon, where cups are concerned, that I get the cup approx. 3/4 full (if I'm lucky), spill maybe 1/3rd of that, take 1 maybe two sips, splash some each on my forearms (inside)/wrists. The remainder goes over my thighs and, if it's a hot day, maybe some over my head (Not too much or it runs down your back, and you feel cold)

Another tip - practice running through the water station, grabbing the cup as you go. You'd be surprised at the time and distance you can 'make', if you hold your pace/momentum in this way. ..and, if in large crowds, don't head for the beginning of the first table (where 90% of the others are going), pick a quieter spot further on, but not close to the end. This ensures that you won't be held up and, if you do miss grabbing your cup, you'll get another chance before the end of the water station.

Finally......If you feel liquid 'sloshing around' in your stomach, you've taken too much fluids on board.

Last straw:) ... You can drink too much and that can be fatal:eek: Hyponatremia is a serious issue. A member of my club was hospitalised with it following a marathon several years ago. Scary stuff.

...I'm off for a drink of water after that!:D

RacoonQueen

Even in marathons I take very little water on board. At the 10 miler I think I literally took a sip at two of the water stations and didn't take anything from the third, the rest went on the ground where it usually ends up if I don't throw it at my face/over my head.

I think keeping hydrated by drinking enough water during the day and rehydrating effectively is what helps me, as has been said in other threads lately I never bring water or energy drink on runs with me, the only time I take them is in races and even then it's minimal.

daymobrew

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I think keeping hydrated by drinking enough water during the day and rehydrating effectively is what helps me.

I agree that this is probably best to pre-hydrate, which is what I generally do. I might use one water station on the half.

shels4ever

Stupid_Private wrote: »

Just pinch the two sides of the cup together from the middle of the rim and it's much easier to drink out of. You may get a bit on yourself but it's only water. For 10 miles to half marathon you should only really need a swig of water if anything.

Yep I found that the best way too, actaully stick on finger on the inside and then pinch.