Question about fuel and hydration during race???

[momof2minnies]

I am running my first 1/2 next week.During miles at home I do not carry anything with me just eat and drink at home when I am done.How do you carry these things,sports drinks,gels,bars etc... whatever you need to have--Umm,no fanny packs please!

How about your car keys? Never done a race at all before.

Please help,
Linda

 

[ScoJo15]

Linda - I didn't know you are running a half next week...wow!! It will be a very exciting and rewarding experience for you!!

Anyway, unfortunately a "fanny pack" type of carrier is probably going to be needed. Now they have ultra cool ones that don't look funny at all, and you'll find that a substantial number of folks will have them on their persons during an event like a half or full. There are a few companies who sell them. I use one called "Solitary" by Ultimate Direction...it carries one 20oz water and a pouch for my keys, camera and gel packs. Fuel Belt is probably the most popular one out there as it is the most customizable. Amy has an ultra cool one that clips her number to it, and carries her gels, very small pouch for the phone and a couple of 8oz water holsters. Nathan and Amphipod also make some nice ones.

Do you have a running store you could get to before the race? Also, ALL of the above mentioned will probably be available at the race expo :

 

[AmyBeth68]

Hi Linda.

WOW! Which half are you running? You must be So excited!!!! Have you been training with gels or sports drinks at all on your Long Runs? If not...I wouldn't introduce them during the race b/c it may impact your stomach. You don't want to do too much differently. But then again...if you have no stomach sensitivities I'm sure you'll be fine. For me I had to train and try different products to see what worked best for me.

As for carrying your stuff...I love Fuel Belt (GREAT product) and Amphipod for races. For training I really like my Ultimate Direction pack. Yes they are somewhat like fanny packs...but very useful .

something like this would be great...light and functional...you may not need so many water bottles since there will be water on the course:

 

[dsnyfan21]

During training I use a Camelbak fannypack type thing that holds water or what ever I want to put in the bladder. It also has a zipper pocket and I carry a cellphone, lip balm and granola bar.
During a race (I'm a walker, by the way, so I am usually out there longer than most runners) I wear a small fanny pack to carry my camera, cellphone,lip balm, gels.
If you have certain thing you NEED to carry, you may have to carry a fanny pack or get a small pocket type thing with a belt clip to go on your waist band of your shorts. I would try to get something soon, so you can at least do a trial run with it to make sure it works and doesn't rub in weird places.
I don't bring along water with me, the races are pretty good about having water along the way. If you aren't use to drinking along the way, just be careful with choosing water or the sports drinks. I switch between the two to avoid my stomack getting upset.
Good Luck at your Half Marathon.

 

[Kewz1]

I use a water belt -- I think that's what you call it -- a belt "thing" that holds a water bottle. That was probably self-explanatory though, huh? During actual races I do use a fanny pack though. Instead of water I use it to carry a camera, lip balm, Shot Blocks, cell phone, etc. I don't carry water since it's available on the course.

Also, be careful about eating or drinking things during the race that you haven't trained with. My first half at WDW I accidentally grabbed Powerade and cramped up badly. We met other folks after the race that had experienced the same thing. I guess it would have happened regardless but I kept thinking if I had just stuck with the water I'd be feeling soooo much better!

Best wishes to you!!

Kristen

 

[scuba diver]

I guess I in the minority here. I try not to carry anything with me in a fanny pack or fuel belt. I will train with a Camel Flashflo when I have to carry my own water, but I don''t carry any water on a race even after Chicago.

For a race, I put a single car key in the little pocket of my shorts. If my shorts don't have a pocket I put it under a tire. For my Gu I use the individual servings and safety pin them on the top outside of my shorts and then flip them into the shorts to keep them bouncing. No one notices the safety pin on the outside.

If it is a long run which requires endurolytes I take a small SPIbelt which will carry one or two small items. It does not bounce.

For me, the less the better.

 

[princessrunner]

Jim, you are so not alone here. I have a marathon belt with a little amphipod pocket on it that I put gels, keys, and a cell phone in. It does not bounce so it does not bother me at all. I did a fanny pack and got a HUGE rub blister which I did not notice until the shower after the race. Yes, ouch, a lot. At home, on a LR, I have a Nathan hydration belt but I hate running with it. It bounces and sloshes and annoys me but there are no convenient water stops to run through with nice people handing me water to drinks so we do what we have to.

I will NEVER, wear a fanny pack during a race again, I can say that for sure. I will rely on the water stops only and not concern myself with other hydration. I use shot blocks or gels and drink only water so this strategy works well for me!!

 

[AmyBeth68]

Yes...I agree with the above that less is better. But after they ran out of water at Disney in 07..which was terrifying...I refuse to run without a water flask that I can fill if needed. From now on I believe in the motto "be prepared" . Both fuel belt and amphipod are light and comfy. They don't bounce and honestly I don't even feel them on me. I also had a friend though that pinned her gels on her shirt and that worked fine. I just don't trust race courses to have what I need anymore...and I can't take powerade so I absolutely must carry my own gels, capsules, etc. Plus...in a big race...I ALWAYS bring tissues b/c the porta pots run out of TP .

Now with all this said a Half Marathon is a much shorter race and you shouldn't have any of the issues with water stations, etc.

 

[Big Vic]

When I need to carry water I use a Camelbak. This one holds 100 oz. of liquid, and has storage. I carried it during the WDW marathon and it worked very well.

 

[smileyk8]

i have a nathan speed 2 belt which has two little bottles and a pocket. I found that i have to wear it really low on my hips rather than around my stomach otherwise it annoys me. I actually ran with it for a recent 5 mile with no water stations and i loved having my mobile with me. Also have a pocket at the back of my shorts, but any weight and they start to creep down. For me the water belt is the way forward, but it's got as little stuff in as possible- literally my phone and the bottles.

 

[TEK224]

I have a water bottle that sits in a sleeve that you slide your hand through for carrying it. It has a little pocket where I store my key, money and cell phone.
I have a small Nikon digital camera i use in races and I carry that in my other hand.

 

[twotoohappy]

I use spibelt. It's really small/lightweight and holds gels,
tylenol, shockbolocks, cel phone and keys, plus you can get it
in lime green! If you email Kim she gives WISH $5- off
here's the link:
https://www.overtonfitness.com/spibelt.php

here's the contact link http://www.overtonfitness.com/contact.php

 

[SamSam]

Thanks for all the great ideas.
Will the Spibelt hold both a slender cell phone and a similar size camera?
About the size of a motorola Razr?

 

[twotoohappy]

Thanks for all the great ideas.
Will the Spibelt hold both a slender cell phone and a similar size camera?
About the size of a motorola Razr?

It stretches to hold a LOT and then shrinks back to size.
It's cool. I just put in my cell phone, and my canon powershot
digital camera and they both fit. It looks really tiny, but it's
insane what you can stretch it out to fit!
(oh yeah - check out the race hooks that go with the spibelt-very cool-
because you don't have to worry about pinning your number
on different layers of clothing, and they're cheap!)

 

[momof2minnies]

Thanks everyone for your ideas, I am a less is better person.This 1/2 is here in town,about 300 runners last year I heard.

Linda

 

[SamSam]

It stretches to hold a LOT and then shrinks back to size.
It's cool. I just put in my cell phone, and my canon powershot
digital camera and they both fit. It looks really tiny, but it's
insane what you can stretch it out to fit!
(oh yeah - check out the race hooks that go with the spibelt-very cool-
because you don't have to worry about pinning your number
on different layers of clothing, and they're cheap!)

Thanks for checking it out for me. I believe I need one! I'd better get it ordered so it will arrive in time for the Minnie.

 

[Maherae]

and did you tell us when and where your 1/2 is so we could post it on the calendar and then the whole WISH team could celebrate with you on the Race Reports/Encouragement thread??? hmmmmmmmm????? Anne

 

[thndrmatt]

Okay totally random but look at the avatars of poster 2 and 3 of this thread...

Don't ScoJo15
and AmyBeth68 look like twins?!?

 

[Big Vic]

Okay totally random but look at the avatars of poster 2 and 3 of this thread...

Don't ScoJo15
and AmyBeth68 look like twins?!?

I think you're on to something.

 

[SamSam]

Okay totally random but look at the avatars of poster 2 and 3 of this thread...

Don't ScoJo15
and AmyBeth68 look like twins?!?

Definitely!