Concerned about water during the marathon...

[lenshanem]

Thoughts? I'm used to having water on me on my long runs. I've run half marathons using the water stops, but I'm a tad worried about it for the full. Did you feel like the water stops were enough or did you wish you had water on you? I know I'll need to time my sport beans and such to the water stops.

Also, a little worried how it will change my R3/W1 intervals? Will using the water stops slow my overall time since I'm used to just grabbing water off my belt?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[wtpclc]

I take water every half mile when doing LRs over 6 or in heat. So, we take our fuel belt. If I have my wonderful dh, he carries 4 bottles and we refill at stops when needed. I have done Princess won my own with 2 adn that was not too bad. If you take water more often than every 2 miles durign training, I would bring your own. JMO. HTH!

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I felt like there was more than enough water on the course during last year's marathon... but it was also freezing out. If the temps are supposed to be above 50/60 this year, I would bring my own water belt. I also bring my own Gu and it's much easier to take a gel on your own schedule and drink your own water with it then to try to time your gels with the course water stops.

 

[Duanerice]

Shan,
I was worried my first marathon too. I have a belt where I can carry up to 4 small bottles and used to carry 3 or 4 on my long runs.

What I ended up doing my first year was carry 1 small bottle just in case I needed it for a GU or anything. Never used it. They had plenty of water stops. Just had to adjust my Gu's a bit but not an issue.

The water stops are spaced a bit for the first half but are closer on the second half. In subsequent years I carried a small bottle with me through the first 6 miles or so and didn't use the stops.

Of course, that assumes they have a good supply of water which they have had every time I ran.

On my last half Ironman the guy I ran with had a real small bottle of water with him and it turned into a life saver. Just a sip is all it took.

So my advice is to take a real small bottle that you can tuck in a pocket or something and if you use it just refill at the stops.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[FFigawi]

Thoughts? I'm used to having water on me on my long runs. I've run half marathons using the water stops, but I'm a tad worried about it for the full. Did you feel like the water stops were enough or did you wish you had water on you? I know I'll need to time my sport beans and such to the water stops.

While there are plenty of water stops along the course, if you always carry water with you, why would you do anything differently on race day? That's how you've trained and what you're used to, so I wouldn't change a thing. Race day, especially for your first marathon, is going to be stressful enough without you having to wonder in the back of your mind if you did the right thing by leaving your fuel belt at home. Better to have it and the peace of mind that comes with it.

 

[TnTsParty]

I always carry my bottle with Gatorade just in case I feel like taking a sip between water stops but I am sure there are adequete amount of water stops. I just prefer to have something just in case I feel the need for something. I would suggest doing what you are use to on your training runs. I just know I won't need as much as I do on my long training runs because of the water stops.

Just a note - the Powerade in the past 2 years has been lemon-lime so if you don't like that or can't tolerate that make sure you have your own. They do also provide water at each stop.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

If you're used to carrying your water with you, I would def do it again during the race. I carry 4 bottles of a Gatorade/water mix and will be doing it again on the day of the full. Trying not to change anything for race day!

 

[goofyinohio]

I buy a 20oz water and carry it with me. I think the water on the course is plenty, but I always play it on the safe side. The only problem I've run into is the slushies we were getting last year!

 

[lenshanem]

Thanks guys. How do I fill a bottle up at the stops? Have to use the cups they hand out or is there a water jug thing I can fill it up with?

 

[lenshanem]

Oh! And do they have the smaller water bottles at the end? Last Disney race we did was TOT and they gave out those HUGE water bottles. I can't remember what they had at the half we did a few years back. I can't tolerate Gatorade, Powerade, etc. But, I do use the G2. I bought the powder packs I can pour into a smaller bottle for after the race. During the run I only use sport beans and water. Sometimes Clif Bloks.

 

[wtpclc]

Shan - Usually, we just take an extra cup, squeeze it to give it a pour spout and use that. At teh end, they rtend to have full-sized bottles.

 

[lenshanem]

Rats, so no 16.9 ones at the end for my G2 packet? I wonder if they'll give out those food bags like they did at TOT? Did they do that at the Wine and Dine, too?

 

[verticalchaos]

Thanks guys. How do I fill a bottle up at the stops? Have to use the cups they hand out or is there a water jug thing I can fill it up with?

IMHO you'll lose FAR more time stopping to fill a bottle than you would just grabbing a cup and walking to drink it.

 

[John VN]

Agree with the, do as you normally do, replies.

I will stick with my practice of taking a 20oz. water bottle filled with Mtn. Dew on my belt and rely on water stop water for regular hydration. DW is going to try to position herself at some location for an exchange of bottles.

 

[TEK224]

I always carry a water bottle with me, just in case. Most of the time I don't really need it. For one of the fulls I did at Disney, maybe 3-4 years ago, it was one of those hot weekends. They ran out of water at some stations and cups at others. I was able to have them pour water in my bottle when they had no cups. It came in very handy.
Better safe than thirsty!

Terri

 

[crewmatt]

I felt there were plenty of water stops along the course, roughly every mile and a half. There were 22 last year I think, although the first couple were cups of ice not cups of water. Whoops.

But if you feel you need water more than that certainly feel free to bring your own. Also note there is no water inside the amusement parks (part of the capability of having a marathon and not having any remenants a few hours later). But they have water immediately before and after the parks. so remember, once you cross International Gateway, there's nothing left for you till you get to the line.

 

[cewait]

Thoughts? I'm used to having water on me on my long runs. I've run half marathons using the water stops, but I'm a tad worried about it for the full. Did you feel like the water stops were enough or did you wish you had water on you? I know I'll need to time my sport beans and such to the water stops.

Also, a little worried how it will change my R3/W1 intervals? Will using the water stops slow my overall time since I'm used to just grabbing water off my belt?

Thanks for any advice!

Shan

Here's the deal... I know I read above that if you are used to carrying water you should carry on race day. I agree 110%. I can run a mary in the lower 4's when I am not acting Goofy and I carry a bottle with me to the start and then on course. Most marathons will have a longer spacing between stops in the first half than in the last half. I find that I need a small sip about every mile when the marathon weather is temperate. Disney lays out the stops along a rough 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, mile interval in the first half; then once a mile after that. Really it's more like mile 2.2, 4.2, 5.9.... it will vary from year to year.

I think you are right on to time the nutrition with a water stop on not on your carried water. You want to keep that resource for that instance where you may need it later. Think how your pace will line up with these miles.

Finally, keep on schedule with the r/w ratio regardless of the water stops. Just add the water stops as a nice break.

Note that I usually toss the water bottle around mile 9-12 and then depend on the race from there.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

As long as it isn't a repeat of 2007 when Disney failed to have water/Poweraide during the last 10 miles, you will be fine. The faster runners didn't have any issues! Disney didn't care about the slow runners/walkers!

 

[cewait]

As long as it isn't a repeat of 2008 when Disney failed to have water/Poweraide during the last 10 miles, you will be fine. The faster runners didn't have any issues! Disney didn't care about the slow runners/walkers!

That would be 2007 and I would doubt Disney would repeat.....nonetheless, prior to tossing the bottle you will know if you need to keep.

 

[goofyinohio]

Here is another thought as well. I always take a little bit of Cash with me. $20 or so. I'll hopefully never need it, but if the Park is open and I need something I have the money to get it.