Training Tip - Ditch the Water Bottle on Your Run

"Training/Racing Tips" is a new category I'm starting in my blog to help share what I've learned or been told by others. Arguably the most important portion of any tri blog or podcast, this is the stuff that can make your training and racing much more enjoyable.

I have a huge backlog of these that I'll release over time. You'll be able to filter for them by checking this category on the right side of the blog. Here's the first:

I used to run with a water bottle in my hand on my longer runs. It's not a terrible idea - it keeps you really hydrated and and they even make hand straps for this purpose, so I'm not the only one, right?

I changed this behavior after two discoveries:

1. You really don't need water for anything less than an hour of consecutive running. I used to run with water in hand for short 30 minute runs, overdoing fueling with the gatorade calories, and not losing weight, until I read somewhere that an hour at a time is doable. I tried it. They were right. I also run by my house every hour on long runs and can rehydrate/refuel then.


2. I would drink my water bottle down to about a third full and then jam it halfway in the back of my running short's waistband. Not only did it look like I took a space-dump in my britches, but then my form and speed would improve drastically.

Lately, I've been running with my trusty old fuelbelt with two water flasks and it works much better.  I chug a bunch of water right before I leave, drink those flasks over the next hour (sometimes filled with ice by leaving them in the freezer overnight), then chug more water and refuel them when I swing by my house again. Works like a charm. My running is faster and my form is much improved. Result - happy triathlete!

Comments

[Kevin]

Thanks for the great tips. It took me some time to realize duh I really dont need the gatorade on the shorter runs. I fill my fuelbelt bottles with water and just carry gels on my longer runs. I realized how much better I can control my calories that way. Although, the way I felt yesterday on my long ride after sucking down hornet juice, I may even be able to skip the gels too

[texafornia]

I've got a current backlog of about a dozen tips that I'll post over time, much more than that floating in the ether. A lot of the tips are personal, some are obvious, others may make some individuals mad. The overall goal is to put a bunch out there and let people think about them and pick and choose as they please. I'd love to have a book of "500 Tri Tips" to go through myself. Knowing is half the battle - Yo, Joe!

[The Tri Runner]

I love to use the mail box to refuel. I can open it up grab a sip water and gel and keep on going. I afraid that if I go inside and see the couch I might not go back and finish my run. Also I enjoy doing my long run on trash day because when I done with my water bottle I can toss it in somebody's trash can.

[Buy amoxicillin with no prescr]

Buy amoxicillin without prescription. Buy amoxicillin with no prescription. Buy amoxicillin online cheap amoxicillin.