This is interesting, so do you think that as long as you hydrate well for the 3 or so days before the race, it'll be fine to not drink so much right before the race? I don't drink anything in the morning before I run (since I tend to mostly run trails with no bathrooms in sight
), but people have been telling me I really should hydrate more. I haven't had any issues, so I figured I was fine, but it's interesting to hear someone else's viewpoint.
I think it really varies by individual, many folks need a lot more than that prior to or during a run. I am not a good benchmark here. I don't run with water nor do I stop for water on training runs unless it's over 70 degrees out and I'm going further than 7 miles. Many folks want need more than that and what you need for a half is different than a shorter run for sure. The galsI am doing the race with drink more before and both carry water, that's what works for them.
If it is warm and or humid out, I make sure my route has at least one water stop on it if I need it and then of course right when I am done.
If I've hydrated well the day before, and for a race especially a humid one, days before, then I don't need any additional right before or during a run. People told me the same thing you are hearing, people that didn't know me. I listened, I tried, I tested.
For me some of the key signs of being well hydrated during a run beyond the obvious thirst factor include not having any swelling anywhere (fingers) and the absence of salty crusty sweat. If other of those happen at any level during a run for me I'm not hydrated enough and electrolytes are off.
If it is an evening run then I will have had liquids up to 5 hours prior but any sooner than that, for over 7 miles, I will more than likely have to take a bio break. Morning run the 12 hour interval seems to be my magic number but up to 10 has been ok.
I am sometimes able to do 1 cup of coffee prior to a morning race and I really prefer to have it as it helps get everything moving for me and then I don't have to worry about that during a race. However that has caused a bio break in a few races so I've been playing with the interval to see how early I need to have that coffee for it not to be an issue (sorry if this is tmi!). Right now that window for 1 cup seems to be 3 hours.
Which means I'll probably skip it for this race lol!
Coffee at 2:30 am isn't all that appealing but we will see.
The DL half was my first half. I was extremely well hydrated going into it. I probably had liquids the night before until 8:30 at dinner and a small bottle of water before bed. I also hit many of the water stops. One of the challenges I had at DL is that they give HUGE cups of water (like twice as big as any other race I've ever done and they are filled to the brim, probably at least 8oz!) and I think there were 8-9 stops. I stopped too many times, probably 5-6 and drank way more of the cup each time, because it was there and I felt bad tossing half full cups of water. I needed maybe half of what I took in, probably less. On the positive side, I felt great in the humidity and it was super humid that first hour.
Negative? 2 bio breaks during the race despite using the porta Potties 3x prior to the race including the one out at the corrals. Killed my time. I am determined to avoid that this time and have been testing the time/liquid ratio during training this time. Some of it is nervous bladder for sure and my IBS doesn't exactly help things. My current plan is for no more than 3 water stops during the race. Physically I will not need more, 2 might even suffice, and that will limit the risk and temptation to drink more than I need especially given how large those cups were.
Part of it is pace, you do need to think of how long you will be out and hydrate/fuel accordingly especially in heat. The difference between say a 2 hour half and a 3 could make quite a difference in what is needed.
just finishing and not getting swept off the course. I currently have a sinus infection/cough/cold hindering my workouts. I was on the treadmill Friday and ended up having to break out my inhaler. 
Hopefully this passes soon because I'm eager to get back to business!
