I’m doing my first marathon this weekend. I’ve been doing all my long and mid-distance runs with my Camelback (using gatorade) because the routes I use do not have any water fountains. I have chosen to do a very small race in Vermont and they have aid stations only every 3 miles. If it were every 1 or even 2 miles, I’d definitely skip the CamelBak, but I’m just not sure I can keep on top of my nutrition/hydration with such long breaks between aid stations.
Reason to run with Camelbak:
Can drink when I want
Can drink less at a time, but more frequently (good because I tend to get side stitches)
Can also take electrolytes pills with fluid whenever
Reasons to skip the Camelbak:
Why carry around the extra weight if I can get what I need at the aid stations?
I would say it depends on the pace you’re planning to run and your typical intake for that period.
My goal marathon next month is similar in that it is small and has them about 3 miles or so apart. That’s just too far for me as I sweat a lot and need to stay on top of things, so I’ll be using a 6 bottle Fuel Belt and supplement that with the aid stations.
I also suck at drinking at pace from a cup, so the Fuel Belt bottles will be much easier to work with and since I’m going for a BQ I don’t want to slow much at the stops …
I certainly agree that the convienience of being able to drink when you want is very nice. I assume thats what you did in training; as oppsoed to using the camelbakc but only drinking every 3 miles. I’d suggest doing what you did in training. It really can’t hurt to schlep the camelback around with you but it could be problematic if you have to go 3 miles for a drink. Also agree that Conneticut is not the Sahara. Do what you’re comfortable with. Take the camelback.
Assuming your finishing time is not your main priority a little extra weight is no big deal. Especially since you’ve trained with it. Use it ! obviously it will up your confidence. Enjoy yourself.
If I were smart I might have used the CamelBak in training to replicate the aid station spacing. But I did not. I just sipped at my leisure. I’m thinking I should take it. It certainly doesn’t have to be full, but it could be a critical extra 24 ounces or so.
Tim, I can’t stand anything around my waist! Either it bounces up and down, or if I tighten it, it leads to GI/side stitch issues. That’s how I ended up with the camelBak. It’s a very small one, only holds 50oz.
Although I did try the special runners bottle (mentioned previously), only at the store, and liked how it felt.
If I were smart I might have used the CamelBak in training to replicate the aid station spacing. But I did not.
No worries, (I think) most of us want to make somewhat major modifications to our race plan during the taper. Modifications that we didn’t even contimplate during the many months of training but in the days before a race they seem to make sense. Just do what you did in training and you’ll kick ass!
I’ve only done one marathon and I regretted taking my fuel belt, using three oversize bottles. I had my wife meet me at the half and give me new full bottles so I didn’t run out too…
It didn’t take long before it started to feel like a weight belt, even though I always trained with it. I got sick of drinking what I was carrying too… I eventually poured the bottles out onto the road to lose the weight and drank from the aid stations.
Pinch the top of the cup at the aid station and it’s easier to drink, or walk the aid station…
I know what you are saying about the aid stations. Its hard to get enough fluid from those little cups and you always feel in a hurry to gulp it down. If it was me, I would take 2 cups at the aid stations, gulp one and carry the 2nd for a while sipping it. Pinch the top of the cup so it doesnt spill. I think the hand bottle Martin C suggested might do it for you.
No No camelback…you dont need it and if I were running and saw you, Id secretly mock you. But if you like the option of drinking when you need it, hand held, try it. I never thought Id like it but when faced with a race that Id need 2 bottles and I wouldnt use a camelback, I tried it and I loved it! now, I rarely use a waistpack and use a handheld all the time. But, that is just me. Try it and see, but it surprised me…the aid stations should be more than sufficient, though…what race is it?
If you are thinking about the extra weight now you will certainly be thinking about it at mile 20, everything will feel heavy at mile 20. Every three miles should be fine, expecially this time of year in VT. Good luck.
I say take it. If it worked for you in training then stick with it for the race. Its too late to make any significant changes like this, better to be conservative.
I prefer to carry my own water/gel etc in a race and use the fuel belt. The water at a race is often crappy so you dont have to risk it - i normally just pour it over my head.
The extra weight will have minimal impact on your time, its outweighed anyway by the benefits. I have tried both options but it works better for me to carry my own and stay evenly hydrated.
If you are not competing for a AG top spot, then it probably doesn’t really matter what you do.
CArrying the Camelback might slow you down due to excess weight and the discomfort associated with the thing banging around. I personally ditched my camelback on training runs because I adjusted my stride too much to compensate for the bouncing.
You had might as well take it with you, but realize that if running is going to become a premanent fixture in your life, that you had better start thinking about some more intelligent solutions. Fuel belts, water bottles with handles, heck, even just carrying around a plain old water bottle work pretty well. (At least one olympic marathoner I know about ran with water bottle in hand during the Games.)
It would also be wise to transition to taking advantage of the aid stations that are there. Maybe work on that over the next year and in 2007 you will PR no problem.
There was a time when people would run a marathon with a pair of shoes, shorts, maybe a shirt and socks, and they used the aid stations on the course. Then god created triathletes.
Hey Thirsty, you might want to read up on “Hyponatremia” before the race.
