Salt tabs? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[5xdisneyfans]

Curious about salt tabs. I have never used them before. When do you start using them if at all? Mostly curious for SS 10 miler. Is that a point of using them? I know this weekend is typically hot and I do sweat a lot. My longest race in the past was 10k. I figured people that run more can give me some personal insight on this rather than just looking on google. Thanks

 

[DisneyParrothead]

I use salt chews at every Disney race since they have electrolytes as well as salt. Rundisney doesn’t provide electrolytes on the 10k course, which is bonkers to me. I’ll take them on intervals separate from my fuel, and if it’s humid, I take two at a time at more frequent intervals. I’d say get some to try on runs and see how you feel.

 

[radiodome21]

I know nothing about them TBH other than I keep picturing the old salt licks I used to see in the woods when I was a kid when we’d visit northern Wisconsin.

At this year’s SS 10k they handed out bottles of Powerade and water when they ran out of cups at one of the stations. It was about at the halfway point? I’ve just been using gels and Liquid IV for my runs but might try them when I do the half in 2 weeks.

 

[LatebloomerultraF3]

There is a lot of debate as to whether supplementing salt/electrolytes beyond food and something like tailwind or Gatorade is needed at all. You can do sweat tests to see what volume of water you need to replace and precision hydration will check the salt volume in your sweat (for a modest fee) if you are curious. (How much you sweat and how much salt is in that sweat are two entirely different things I have found.)

I have found it’s not necessary to delve into the supplements of any type until I’m shooting for the marathon distance. (There is an invisible wall out there at 18 to 20 miles in my experience.) Beyond that distance, I have both over and under shot on the salt amount and caused myself problems both ways.

Personally, at anything half marathon or less water with a good breakfast like a bagel or peanut butter tortilla (or something like a cliff bar) would be enough for the race without putting extras on top of that. Have some of the Gatorade at the aid station if you want to.

 

[fatmanatee]

There is a lot of debate as to whether supplementing salt/electrolytes beyond food and something like tailwind or Gatorade is needed at all. You can do sweat tests to see what volume of water you need to replace and precision hydration will check the salt volume in your sweat (for a modest fee) if you are curious. (How much you sweat and how much salt is in that sweat are two entirely different things I have found.)

I have found it’s not necessary to delve into the supplements of any type until I’m shooting for the marathon distance. (There is an invisible wall out there at 18 to 20 miles in my experience.) Beyond that distance, I have both over and under shot on the salt amount and caused myself problems both ways.

Personally, at anything half marathon or less water with a good breakfast like a bagel or peanut butter tortilla (or something like a cliff bar) would be enough for the race without putting extras on top of that. Have some of the Gatorade at the aid station if you want to.

I didn’t know that these supplemental electrolytes in the form of gummies/gels/chews were even a thing until I showed up for my first half and they had a bunch of brands at the expo. It wasn’t until I started training for my first full that I got into fueling.

Not to say that it isn’t good to have, particularly in a warm weather event. At the same time RD does a decent enough job of fueling on the course and they’ll have some sort of gummy for all races ten milers or longer (it seems like they change the brand they use frequently for whatever reason).