Carrying water

[Pippa49]

What do people do? Just use the water provided and /or carry your own?

[Whatsapp Half Marathon]

Personally I use the water provided. I find this more than adequate. Not to mention more convenient that carrying water around with me.

[Madge50 Marathon]

I use what’s provided, which is usually more than enough - plus you’re unlikely to be more than a couple of miles or so, from a water station at an event.

I’ve only carried my own - and more rehydration fluid with salts/sugar than plain water, in high summer/no shade on one or two occasions when the temp has been near 30 degrees at cross country events - mind you, usually events add extra water stations too/ water sprays etc....(which are just heaven) if it is hot.....

I also carry dextrose tabs - for emergency use - not needed them myself thus far, (but have dished them out to the odd wobbly woozy runner who’s overdone it before now....) they're no bother to carry in my belt.

You should be fine with the water provision in place.

Mx

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to Madge50]

Thanks Madge50. I have used those small bottles for SIS or High 5 dissolvable tablets for the previous three half marathons but very rarely used all of it along with water to spray on the tongue as a friend told me the brain will register that just as much as a lot of water. I have tried a Clif block yesterday with some water and they were OK.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Im just going to use the qater provided this qewkwnd as therw are 4 water stations en route and one at the end. There are only two on my next one so I will probably take a small bottle in my belt just in case.

[Pippa49 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I usually have a small bottle with water to spray and one with a dissolved SIS tablet and jelly beans. I usually grab a cup or bottle from the aid station but find it difficult to run with a cup as it spills and as do the open bottle rather than the sports top type bottle. I try and give my empty bottle to a Marshall rather than chuck it or save it until I have finished then dispose of it.

[Bazza1234 Marathon]

During a HM "race" , I only drink water and also the provided sports drink. During a HM training longrun, I usually bring along some oats based energy bars but this is usually to overcome "boredom" Now that I am training for a full marathon I am paying a LOT more attention to oncourse nutrition and hydration. There is a good reason why people "bonk" at around 20 miles distance.

[Clairecandothis Marathon Half Marathon]

I have always carried a small bottle of water with me and now it has become part of my routine but if you don't usually then you should be fine with just the water stations provided.

[Sqkr Half Marathon]

I think it depends how you fuel really, I'm not much of a drinker so don't carry water on training runs unless they're longer than 15k, but I do take a little bottle of Tailwind for half marathon length organised events. I generally take a few gulps of water when offered too, because it's something to do and it's usually nicely chilled!

[Hillrunner2201 Marathon]

Normally the water provided is more than adequate. But, at smaller local races the hot weather we had last summer I took my own water as well and am glad I did as there were only small cups of water available.

[Coddfish 10 Miles]

Normally there is enough water. But.... It’s worth researching where the water stations are, and whether they are cups or bottles. If a slower runner, will the cups run out before you get there? If sweaty, tired, will you be able to open the cap on a bottle? Another factor is the expected temperature on the day.