Is it worth getting one of those hand-held water bottles?

annieee

My long runs are getting a little longer, up to 16kms this weekend.

Just wondering if anyone bothers with those donut shaped water bottles, or the ones with the straps? Does anyone use them?

I carried a normal bottle with me last time and it surprisingly didn't annoy me as much as I thought it would - though I ditched it near the end of the run.

Or should I just continue to stash bottles beforehand in the ditches along my route?

webpal

I use one of the belts with 4 small bottles and I wont even run 5 miles without it now. I always like to have my hands free and the belt doesnt add much weight. Before you know it you wont even know you are wearing it. For races with water stations its handy too for carrying gels.

macinalli

For a 16 km run you shouldn't need water at all! Just make sure that you're well hydrated the day before and you'll be fine for a run the next morning. After the run it's just a matter of drinking water regularly til you're hydrated again. There's plenty folks on here that never take water on their long training runs!

Dipity

macinalli wrote: »

There's plenty folks on here that never take water on their long training runs!

I've started taking this train of thought on board recently (after needing some convincing).

I've made a lot more effort hydrating everyday. I'm increasing my long runs at the moment and trying to go longer without drinking water. So far, so good. Sometimes I bring a small bottle but it's really just for comfort.

DustyBin

I have two of those donut shaped bottles and use them regularly

In my opinion you should really concentrate on keeping yourself as well hydrated as possible on all runs of any length. Your body is really crap at telling you its dehydrated before it's too late, so you need to stay ahead of it and drink enough water

I use one of the donut bottle's for medium runs in the winter, and basically anything under say 20k in the warmer weather
Beyond this distance the donut isn't enough and I will then drive the route ahead and drop off larger bottles of water in the ditches along the route

Them bottles are dead cheap (like €4/€5) and their shape fits into your hand really easy when running, and distributes the weight of the water much better than a regular bottle - you should get one

Krusty_Clown

macinalli wrote: »

For a 16 km run you shouldn't need water at all!

I think that holds true for distances of 5 miles or less, but once you get in to the realms of 10 miles I think it really depends on the individual. 10 Miles could be a one hour run for some people, and closer to two hours for others.

Personally I used to carry a sports drink for any run of 10 miles+. These days if I'm doing a 20 mile run I'll stop off in the shop for a bottle of water, and carry an isotonic gel, in case I need it. People change; they become more efficient, or realize that they didn't need the nutrition they used take.

annieee

Thanks all. Conflicting views there!

Sure, I'll get one and try it, they're only cheap as you say Dusty Bin.

16kms is a long one for me! It's all relative I suppose. 10 miles would probably take me longer than most of ye!!

Thanks again!

huskerdu

I agree thats its very individual. Hard to generalise.

If I run early in the morning, or in hot weather, I do like a quick drink half way through, even with only an hours run.

I have a donut water bottle, but I can't get used to running carrying it.
I find the belt better, but not ideal.

I leave a bottle of water in my front garden, or hidden in the hedge where I start my run and plan my route to pass there half way through.

plodder

Personally, I don't think they're worth the hassle. You have to distinguish as well, between training and racing. To run as well as possible in a race, you don't want to be dehydrated, but does the benefit of training get negated if you are slightly under hydrated (within reason) at the end? I don't see why it would. And races that are long enough that you need to take water, generally provide it anyway. But, it definitely varies depending on the individual, weather, distance etc.

ir666

imho, I cant understand how people wear belts, water bottles, gels, hats, ipods, sweat bands, bandanas, camelbaks, bandages ......:eek:..... the list goes on.

The less stuff/gimics/clutter the better I reckon.

For really long marathon training runs, ( over 10 miles at least) planting bottles in the ditch or scouting out a few friendly taps is the way to go.

I do use a Garmin 305 + heart belt but even that is over kill sometimes.

End of sermon/rant.............

annieee

ir666 wrote: »

imho, I cant understand how people wear belts, water bottles, gels, hats, ipods, sweat bands, bandanas, camelbaks, bandages ......:eek:..... the list goes on.

The less stuff/gimics/clutter the better I reckon.

For really long marathon training runs, ( over 10 miles at least) planting bottles in the ditch or scouting out a few friendly taps is the way to go.

I do use a Garmin 305 + heart belt but even that is over kill sometimes.

End of sermon/rant.............

Yeah, I know what you mean, some people really go overboard alright.

aero2k

ir666 wrote: »

imho, I cant understand how people wear belts, water bottles, gels, hats, ipods, sweat bands, bandanas, camelbaks, bandages ......:eek:..... the list goes on.

The less stuff/gimics/clutter the better I reckon.

I agree, and in an ideal world I'd manage to run without fuel or water. However from experience I now know that to run my best possible marathon, gels and water are a good idea. I can get all the water I want at the stations, but since I like a particular brand of gel, and I like to dilute it with water, I wear a hydration belt with 4 130ml bottles on it.
I could probably manage long runs without water, but they're a good opportunity to practice getting lots of fluid on board on the move, so I wear the belt in training too.
TBH I think it's like a cycling helmet, once you get used to it you forget it's even there.
I don't like carrying anything in my hand but I spent at least half of Edinburgh carrying a bottle, and I reckon that was a good thing.

Krusty_Clown

ir666 wrote: »

imho, I cant understand how people wear belts, water bottles, gels, hats, ipods, sweat bands, bandanas, camelbaks, bandages ......:eek:..... the list goes on.

The less stuff/gimics/clutter the better I reckon.

For really long marathon training runs, ( over 10 miles at least) planting bottles in the ditch or scouting out a few friendly taps is the way to go.

I do use a Garmin 305 + heart belt but even that is over kill sometimes.

End of sermon/rant.............

Add to that list: technical clothes (wicking is the work if the divil himself), water (unless from a running stream), running socks and training shoes (I like to feel the stones between my toes), shorts (let it all swing free), sports bras (after all, I'm a man and have no need for such things), timing chips (don't let 'the man' put a chain around your neck), nipple plasters (suffering is godly), and my own personal favourite: running websites (full of sarcastic jerks like me).

Life is too short. Wear what feels good.

average_runner

I two different routes when i trained for two marathons:

First one i had the belt thing with luzoade sport in 4 bottles. Now it was only 200 ml bottles but I somehow got it into my head i needed that belt for the marathon, this was a bad approach for me.


Second Approach:
I got one of those donut bottles, filled it with water, and gels on my arm band and did laps in the phoenix park, 3x7 miles. After each lap stopped at car, took some luzoade sport on, refill my water bottle and off i went.
Only had the gels on me for the marathon and was best move i made!!

I could add somethings to Krusty's message above but I think I be pushing it too far

ir666

+ bog roll !

very important ...........

Krusty_Clown

ir666 wrote: »

+ bog roll !

very important ...........

LOL. I actually always carry a few squares of Kitchen paper in a bag, for blowing noses, mopping sweat, drying mp3 players and other such emergencies. I've learned the hard way.

aero2k

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

...for blowing noses...

How many noses can one clown have?

You're way too refined, nothing wrong with a good snot rocket....

Krusty_Clown

At the time I hadn't quite mastered the snot-rocket (or the Jamie Carragher as one of my friends describes it).. Now I'm a snot-rocket ninja (though many of them still end up on either my shoulder or my shoes). I've learned to live with constantly being covered in dead flies, saliva and snot. Every run ends with a shower for a reason.

*Cough*: Today must be off-topic Friday. Sorry OP!

annieee

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

At the time I hadn't quite mastered the snot-rocket (or the Jamie Carragher as one of my friends describes it).. Now I'm a snot-rocket ninja (though many of them still end up on either my shoulder or my shoes). I've learned to live with constantly being covered in dead flies, saliva and snot. Every run ends with a shower for a reason.

*Cough*: Today must be off-topic Friday. Sorry OP!

Not to worry! (I've recently mastered the snot rocket technique myself, though of course I do it in a more lady-like fashion. :rolleyes:)

Carry on!

ir666

Funny that ,, I too am a snot-rocket pro but only to my left side .......... the right side is not up to it for some reason...

Nermal

DustyBin wrote: »

Your body is really crap at telling you its dehydrated before it's too late, so you need to stay ahead of it and drink enough water

What's the evidence for this, as opposed to advice along the lines of 'drink when you're thirsty'?

How Strange

When I was training for the marathon in 08 I used one of those doughnut shaped bottles but found it irritating on long runs (over 15 miles). Last year I used the bottles that come with the running belts. I hated the belt and found it too uncomfortable. I used to carry one small bottle of water for the whole run even if that was 20 miles.

I think it has a lot to do with confidence. In 08 I was convinced I needed to carry water for the whole run just in case. I joined a running club in early 09 and noticed that no-one carried water so I stopped doing it to although it was definitely pushing me out of my comfort zone as the pace was quicker than what I'd normally do.

I also did my long runs last summer in 2 laps so would pick up the bottle on the second lap just so I didn't have to carry it for the whole run.

I'd say hydrate well for 2-3 days before, avoiding too much tea and coffee. Drink a little on the morning of your run (if you do it early morning), take it easy when you start out running and increase your pace gradually and that way you should find you need less water.

Carrying a small bottle of water will reassure you but try tell the difference between thirst and just trying to get into your rhythm. I find my mouth is always a bit dry at the beginning of a run but if I regulate my breathing it usually helps.

Blueskye

When I started running I'd bring water with me for even a 4 mile run! I didn't think I could survive without it and maybe I couldn't. I got one of those fuel belts but I hate wearing it. I tend to run loops and will take on water every 6miles or so if I'm doing a longer run (i.e. over 10miles) but 10miles or less and I won't bother. I do think after a while you manage without water better but it's better to drink than not to imo.

Puck

I think having the water with me frees me up to go where I want. There's a fair bit of sightseeing and just chilling out in my runs so I'll often take a detour or a loop might turn into an out-and-back and it's nice to have a drink with me even for short runs. It's not really about what I need, I just like it. Also I just bought a cap and it turned out to be a very wise purchase - no more sweat in my eyes and running in the heat is more enjoyable.

Run on your own terms: if you want water, even just for comfort, then take it and don't worry about other people.