Hydrating on a run

So, I am now running at distances where I don't really need to worry about hydrating or eating while I'm running, but in the future I plan on increasing my distance. During some races I have taken advantage of the water cups at aid stations, but during most training runs I just hydrate before and after. The problem is, when I have tried to drink on the run, I have problems. The water goes here, there, everywhere but my mouth and throat. Sometimes it goes in my eyes. I think it's because I don't seem to run 'smoothly' and when I do sometimes get it down into my belly, it's barely a gulp and I feel odd.

So question for you experienced ladies, how do you learn to drink while running? Does drinking from bottles help? Small sips, or open-the-throat and tip-head-back-gulps?

Thank god Gatorade doesn't sting when it gets in your eyes....

K

Kimmy, most of the time if I'm running long I will take a short walk break while I drink. You don't need to walk for very long, just long enough to take a couple of swallows and off you go again. Unless you're racing and in a position to gain or lose a placing there is no need to run and drink, IMHO. When I train I figure in walk rests for 1 min every 20 min anyway, so I use these to drink.

But if you feel the need to keep going while you drink, squeeze the cup to make a spout (assuming they hand out paper cups) and there will be less spillage.

My first race was a 10K about 1 and 1/2 years ago. I stopped for water and tried to drink it while still running (albeit a very slow run). The next thing I knew, I had somehow managed to get water up into my nose :eek:

I was afraid to try that again. But I did. I ran a 4th of July 10k yesterday (the Atlanta Peachtree Road Race) and stopped for water. This time, no water in the nose :D

What I do is pour some of the water into my other hand and splash it on my face. It cools me off AND takes that very full cup down to a manageable amount. I still run very slowly while drinking though or I stop and walk while drinking some of the water.

I have never learned to drink from those cups. Even the "pinch into a spout" method doesn't work for me. I wear my Amphipod belt and use the bottles when I go out for anything longer than 1/2 hour. I even used it in my last tri. It worked great for me. Before I got the Amphipod, I used the fanny pack style Camelbak. I had a clip that I used to put the hose up on my shoulder so I could get to it more easily. That was the best. The only reason I don't use that now is because it would be too slow to get on during the bike-to-run transition in races and I want to train as I race.

Kimmy,
I run serious distance in the mountains and I rely on me for hydration and food. I bring a camel back (took a lot of trial and error to find the correct one for me) - it happens to be a cycling one. Anyway, I have found (for me) that water is superior to gatorade, koolaid, or even accelerade for during the run. I just drink more water than any of the others. I bring a 1.5L bladder and run out right around 3.5 hrs of running. I bring two or three gu's and two crunchy granola bars - I like crunchy best. When I get back to the car, I guzzle 1L of accelerade, a whole pack of skittles or starburst then I go home and eat some meat. Maybe it won't take you three years to find the best system like it took me :rolleyes: