Marathon Weekend 2026

[jrsharp21]

SAFD: Running in Houston area, you have to have a hydration plan, especially during the super hot and humid summer months. For my lunch runs during the week, I carry a handheld. I just changed from Nathan’s to an Amphipod handheld as I like the actual carrying strap better. I like it tight around my hand and the Nathan’s strap used to loosen up too much as it got sweaty. I fill the water bottle with ice water. Every half mile it’s a squirt to the face and at mile markers, it’s a drink and squirt to the face. There is also two drinking fountains along my lunch route, and I will stop at those to conserve the ice water.

For the weekend long runs, my route goes next to several parks. It’s also running through shaded paths. So not as hot as my lunch route. So I don’t carry anything for those and just use the park fountains for water.

 

[Naomeri]

SAFD (part 2): I forgot to mention my other hydration method for really long runs where I choose to do loops past my house--I stash a bottle of water or 2 in our paper box under the mailbox. I might still carry my little bottle in case I get thirsty in between, but the nice thing about living on a cul-de-sac is I can grab the bottle of water and walk around the circle while sipping it, and then tuck it back into the paper box before heading out again.

 

[jpholic]

SAFD: my summer long runs are usually in a park setting with a 3 mile loop, I pass my Jeep every 5k. I have Big Betty in my vehicle, a gallon jug full of water'd electrolytes, and do a pit stop each lap. I also carry a handheld water bladder in fanny pack with some salt sticks and energy picker uppers if needed.

today was the terrible awful. humid, super hot, the sun was sunning. at 10am we struggled to hit some milage. got 6 miles in and called it quits.

 

[3princesandaprincess]

SAFD: I’m often a treadmill runner in the heat, but if I’m outside I use a handheld. Definitely carrying electrolytes in this heat! I also keep a large bottle of water in the car for after.
Hubby just bought a vest, I may give that a try in the fall - too hot for an extra layer now.

 

[FlyingDonut]

SAFD: I've run loops and have a google maps list called "water fountains" that I go point to point to. I just bought a naked running belt (1st gen belts were on sale) and am excited to try it out with a small bottle.

For those of you that use supplementary electrolytes, how did you know you needed them? Have you always used them?

 

[Dopey 2020]

SAFD Picked up an Ultraspire last year based on your recommendation @camaker and really like how it stays put. However it’s really for long runs, I still rarely carry anything out to ten miles unless it’s crazy hot. Just finished 10 miles this AM with temp of 80 and dew point of 73 but overcast so no sun. Had coffee, snack, 8 oz water before hand, then ran it with two gels. Came home to blueberries and tall glass of milk, soon will be lunch and more water and that’s probably it until beer o’clock. I really need to hydrate more, I just never have.

 

[nancipants]

SAFD: I do all my regular runs with a handheld, and in the hot weather I use Liquid IV. I have a flipbelt with 11 oz water bottle I use for shorter long runs and plan to use for races, and fill the handheld with Tailwind. I also just got a hydration vest with two 500ml flasks I plan on using for my training runs of 3+ hours, one for water and one for Tailwind. It can also fit a 2l bladder, so I might get one as well. Or just stash other soft flasks in the back to trade out.

 

[fatmanatee]

For those of you that use supplementary electrolytes, how did you know you needed them? Have you always used them?

More out of precaution than anything else. If I'm running for long distances, particularly in hot weather, I make sure I take something at least every three miles. I think that's just general advice, although the amount recommended per hour varies.

I think I really started committing to using them once I started training for my first marathon. Prior to that I was more lackadaisical about training and would have skipped sessions if it were too hot.

 

[PrincessV]

For those of you that use supplementary electrolytes, how did you know you needed them? Have you always used them?

Before runDisney, I didn’t do things outdoors in the heat long enough to think about electrolytes. So when I started training for my first long distance race in summer (in FL), I was only using water and felt like death on the regular: monstrous headaches, dizziness, lasting fatigue and brain fog post-run, heart palpitations, nausea. I happened to have a dr appointment during that time and mentioned it to my doc: she listened, asked questions about my diet and exercise, and told me I needed sodium, especially, but electrolytes in general. Total game changer.

FWIW I don’t need the added electrolytes in cold weather, when I barely break a sweat, despite a diet very low in sodium. For me, it’s entirely about replacing what’s lost to sweat - and I lose multiple pounds in sweat per run in the extreme heat of FL summer.

 

[radiodome21]

SAFD: When I started training for the SS 10k it was winter in Chicago so I was running on a treadmill. When I started running outdoors I realized that the 16oz Yeti Water bottle and 24oz Hydroflask were all wrong for me. I looked at getting a belt but settled on a Salomon vest with 2 flasks. One is filled with Liquid IV and if I take the other one on my long runs it is filled with water. I’ve been trying different electrolyte mixes and liquid IV is my favorite. My wife just picked up a Nathan hydration belt at Disney Springs two days ago so I’ll be curious what she thinks. I love my vest and wear it for just about every run. Running hands free is amazing.

 

[mmm_texas]

SAFD: During the summer, I avoid overhead sun and almost always run early in the morning. (Luckily, for Dopey training the longer multi-hour runs don't arrive until fall.) Even so, I go through a handheld 20-oz Powerade every 3 miles or so. If I'm doing more than a practice 5K, I park my car on my route with a ice cooler bag placed in the trunk, stocked with my extra Powerades (and my after-run protein drink, banana, and some water), then run a 3-mile loop so I can replace my handheld each time I pass by.

 

[jrsharp21]

My run at lunch reminded me of this thread. Just gross outside. 91 degrees with a dewpoint of 74*. Feels like 100. Kept saying, thank goodness for the hand held water bottle. But I wasn't the only crazy one out there running. I ran by probably another 6 or 7 runners. I think each one I passed by all gave the look of "yea, this is miserable". LOL.

 

[KCO5988]

My run at lunch reminded me of this thread. Just gross outside. 91 degrees with a dewpoint of 74*. Feels like 100. Kept saying, thank goodness for the hand held water bottle. But I wasn't the only crazy one out there running. I ran by probably another 6 or 7 runners. I think each one I passed by all gave the look of "yea, this is miserable". LOL.

I ran at lunch with my coworkers today.. also 91 degrees here and also very grateful for my handheld!

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

SAFD (part 2): I forgot to mention my other hydration method for really long runs where I choose to do loops past my house--I stash a bottle of water or 2 in our paper box under the mailbox. I might still carry my little bottle in case I get thirsty in between, but the nice thing about living on a cul-de-sac is I can grab the bottle of water and walk around the circle while sipping it, and then tuck it back into the paper box before heading out again.

I'm picturing you circling the cul de sac, "Big Ben. Parliament. Big Ben. Parliament..."
IYKYK

 

[RuntheMouse]

For those of you that use supplementary electrolytes, how did you know you needed them? Have you always used them?

I sweat an insane amount and it’s very salty! I’m also on a diuretic which complicates things a bit. So I always take Liquid IV with me or things go sideways very quickly.

 

[FFigawi]

For those of you that use supplementary electrolytes, how did you know you needed them? Have you always used them?

I always used them but never very smartly until I had a sweat test done a few years ago. The test showed I lose around 1250mg of sodium per liter of sweat. With sweat loss of 1.8-2.5 liters per hour, that’s a lot more sodium than I was taking in. Changing up my fueling mixtures to include the right amount of sodium along with other electrolytes made a huge difference in how I feel during and after a long workout or race.

Also, for those using Precision Hydration tabs, the 1500 tabs are only 750mg. You need a lot more than you realize.

 

[Herding_Cats]

If you're flying southwest, go check your fares. Re-booking right now will end with you paying for luggage, but there are quite a few flights on the Monday into MCO that are down to like 5000 or 5500 points out of the 2 airports in MI that southwest uses.

 

[LSUlakes]

If you're flying southwest, go check your fares. Re-booking right now will end with you paying for luggage, but there are quite a few flights on the Monday into MCO that are down to like 5000 or 5500 points out of the 2 airports in MI that southwest uses.

We rarely fly but I am flying in for marathon weekend. Theres a chance my wife may be able to come now, and I told her this morning its almost worth buying your ticket today just incase you can come than waiting till later. Shes checking a few things and we will probably buy her ticket so we are on the same flight. Since I rarely fly, really no point in changing my flight as I wont use the credits within a year more than likely.

 

[3princesandaprincess]

SAFD: I've run loops and have a google maps list called "water fountains" that I go point to point to. I just bought a naked running belt (1st gen belts were on sale) and am excited to try it out with a small bottle.

For those of you that use supplementary electrolytes, how did you know you needed them? Have you always used them?

I didn’t really use electrolytes u til
I started marathon training last year. I can tell a huge difference in how I feel after long runs, especially if it’s hot! On runs over 20 I use salt tabs in addition to liquid iv, to help with cramping.
On shorter runs I only use electrolytes if it’s hot, and typically choose a sugar free option. Today it was almost 90 and quite humid when I got the chance to run, so electrolytes all the way even just for a 4 mi run. If you sweat a lot, it’s worth a try to see if you feel the difference.

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: GA runner here - the heat and humidity have been kicking my butt! I seem to be less able to handle it the older I get.
I can't stand something around my waist, or a vest sticking to my already sweaty body, so I just carry a handheld Nathan bottle.
I have been putting Skratch in it, Tailwind for longer runs.
A lot of people I know have started using an electrolyte mix called LMNT that is high sodium - anyone have experience with it?