P.U.T.U said:

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Run, open mouth, pour in fluid, swallow, repeat. If you are drinking from a paper cup it helps to pinch the top so the stream of fluid is thinner.

For longer races if you cannot drink while running then by all means walk. Getting the fluid in will only cost you a few seconds

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AggieOO said:

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and btw - i thought this was going to be a beer mile thread or something similar.

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AggieOO said:

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Yes, there's a thread on it.

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AggieOO said:

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pour out all the extra fluid that you aren't going to drink. you typically only need a sip. then pinch the cup, angle your head and drink. its not that hard.

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Quote:

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CARRYING TO A PR
Why not just carry your own? Nearly all marathoners should consider this strategy. Here are my reasons why:

• You're in charge of your own destinyno more mishaps at fluid stations.
• You can drink on your own scheduleI like to drink two to three good-sized swallows every 15 minutes, until the last hour of the race when I drink every 10 minutes.
• You can drink what you want to drink. Carrying exactly what you've found works for you is so much better than having to rely on the supplied drinks, which may or may not work for you.
• You don't have to slow down. No more slowing, weaving, bobbing and grabbing at fluid stations. Just cruise by them.
• You can remove one more race-day stress.

VARIABLES TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU CARRY YOUR OWN
First, you have to make peace with adding weight. We typically want to be as light as possible while racing (hence lightweight racing flats instead of heavier training shoes). One ounce of water weighs 0.0652 pounds. At first I was concerned with this, but I found that I never really noticed the weight; after all, it's marathon pace, not 5K pace. I certainly felt the benefit of better fueling that comes with carrying fluids was worth the added weight early in the race. Of course, you also get lighter as the race goes on.

Second, you'll have to try several types of fluid packs to find the one that fits you best and minimizes bouncing. I tried on several at the store and purchased three different styles. After several runs, one stood out and became my race pack. Packs are so advanced now and come in so many different styles that I suspect every runner can find one that works.

Third, you have to calculate how much fluid you'll need. One standard-sized water bottle, holding 21 ounces and weighing 1.369 pounds, is plenty for me on a normal marathon day, but every runner is different. A runner finishing in 3 hours will obviously need less fluid than someone finishing in 5 hours. As with most things in running, I learned from training runs several of which lasted near my goal marathon finishing time just how much I would need. Of course, I knew I could always supplement what I carried with the on-course fluids.

Fourth, you have to practice your fluids in training. This is something you do anyway, and carrying your own fluids makes this process a breeze. No more stashing bottles hoping they'll still be there when you return, no more finding someone to help you out, and no more agonizingly long fluid breaks. Instead, you can focus on running smart, getting in your nutrition and hydration and dreaming of a new PR.

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