Question about taking Gu during a marathon

[Anonymous]

I will be running my first marathon in a couple months. While training, I have been taking Gu and then drinking some water--I bring my own water along on runs with a Nathan bottle holder.

I wasn't planning on bringing my own water to the marathon, as I know that there will be water stations along the way and planned to just time my Gu with the water stations...but at water stations, they just give you a tiny Dixie cup...will that be enough?

Would it be poor form to take more than one cup of water?

Thanks for any tips!

[Anonymous]

Take whatever water you need. The cups are not tiny, like the bathroom size. They're mid-size.

Make sure you have run in every article of clothing--underwear, socks, bra, shirt and shorts. This is not the time to buy something new for the race.

Wear a old sweatshirt you don't mind giving up on race day. It will be chilly in the morning and you'll need it. Then after a mile or so into the race, take it off and toss it.

Remember that you just have to get to every mile marker. Focus only on that. I trained to "reward" myself with a 60 second walk at every mile marker. I needed that mental push.

Good luck! I ran my first (and only so far) in 2010. Did the Marine Corps. Loved it!

[Anonymous]

People often take two cups. For all my marathons I've carried fluid. Strictly speaking, I think that's against USATF rules, but for non elites no one cares.

[Anonymous]

I have run 10 marathons and numerous other races. I always carry my own water. I prefer to have it available to me when I want to drink. The bigger reason is that I have a really difficult time drinking from those little cups unless I stand still. I know, I'm a dork. I carry a bottle in my hydration pack and when I need a refill I walk up to the person filling cups and ask them to fill it.

[Anonymous]

Yes, take as much as you need at the water stations. They have plenty. It can be a bit tough to drink from those cups while you're running, but many people slow down to drink properly when they reach the stations. But usually it's not terribly long so not a big deal.

Good luck on your marathon! It's an amazing feeling when you cross that finish line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take whatever water you need. The cups are not tiny, like the bathroom size. They're mid-size.

Make sure you have run in every article of clothing--underwear, socks, bra, shirt and shorts. This is not the time to buy something new for the race.

Wear a old sweatshirt you don't mind giving up on race day. It will be chilly in the morning and you'll need it. Then after a mile or so into the race, take it off and toss it.

Remember that you just have to get to every mile marker. Focus only on that. I trained to "reward" myself with a 60 second walk at every mile marker. I needed that mental push.

Good luck! I ran my first (and only so far) in 2010. Did the Marine Corps. Loved it!

Please don't litter during these mass events. Keep your gu packets; don't just toss clothing in the gutter. Just because you're participating in a recreational sporting event is no excuse for behaving irresponsibly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have run 10 marathons and numerous other races. I always carry my own water. I prefer to have it available to me when I want to drink. The bigger reason is that I have a really difficult time drinking from those little cups unless I stand still. I know, I'm a dork. I carry a bottle in my hydration pack and when I need a refill I walk up to the person filling cups and ask them to fill it.

This is the exact same advice that I was going to give. When I train, I wear a camelbak so that I have a large water source with me for the entire run. During the marathon, I just carry a Nathan bottle. At allot of the water stops, I ask them to fill it up straight from their jugs (and no one has ever objected at any race) so that I can drink it when I need it. Sometimes I ask for 1/2 gatorade (or whatever they're serving for electrolytes) and 1/2 water. I also carry my own gu---don't want to end up with a flavor that I haven't tried and doesn't agree with me. I have a very lightweight belt that holds my race bib and a few gu packets. My husband makes fun of all of my gear but I always have whatever I need right at my fingertips! Word of caution---be very careful going through the water stops. Everyone drops their dixie cups and it makes for a very slippery/treacherous terrain around the water stops!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take whatever water you need. The cups are not tiny, like the bathroom size. They're mid-size.

Make sure you have run in every article of clothing--underwear, socks, bra, shirt and shorts. This is not the time to buy something new for the race.

Wear a old sweatshirt you don't mind giving up on race day. It will be chilly in the morning and you'll need it. Then after a mile or so into the race, take it off and toss it.

Remember that you just have to get to every mile marker. Focus only on that. I trained to "reward" myself with a 60 second walk at every mile marker. I needed that mental push.

Good luck! I ran my first (and only so far) in 2010. Did the Marine Corps. Loved it!

Please don't litter during these mass events. Keep your gu packets; don't just toss clothing in the gutter. Just because you're participating in a recreational sporting event is no excuse for behaving irresponsibly.

This is a common practice. There are volunteers at the big races who pick up the discarded clothing and it's donated to charity (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take whatever water you need. The cups are not tiny, like the bathroom size. They're mid-size.

Make sure you have run in every article of clothing--underwear, socks, bra, shirt and shorts. This is not the time to buy something new for the race.

Wear a old sweatshirt you don't mind giving up on race day. It will be chilly in the morning and you'll need it. Then after a mile or so into the race, take it off and toss it.

Remember that you just have to get to every mile marker. Focus only on that. I trained to "reward" myself with a 60 second walk at every mile marker. I needed that mental push.

Good luck! I ran my first (and only so far) in 2010. Did the Marine Corps. Loved it!

Please don't litter during these mass events. Keep your gu packets; don't just toss clothing in the gutter. Just because you're participating in a recreational sporting event is no excuse for behaving irresponsibly.

This is a common practice. There are volunteers at the big races who pick up the discarded clothing and it's donated to charity (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc)

Have to agree with the immediate PP. The courses are cleaned after the race, and they know to look for, pick up, and likely donate discarded clothing. It's not really litter. It's a controlled temporary chaos with no lasting impact. If you're that worried about it though, plan to have supporters near a certain spot and throw it toward them.

[Anonymous]

OP here

Thanks so much for all the tips! Maybe i will bring my bottle with me then.
I've noticed that on longer runs, my thumb starts to hurt--it's fine up 'till about 13 miles or so, then it starts to hurt--just where I place it on the bottle holder, I guess. I'll start practicing different ways of holding the bottle and see if that helps.


My husband has volunteered at a lot of Marathons (including the previous years of the one I will be running) and he has confirmed that clothing left along the route gets picked up and donated to charity.

[Anonymous]

I never bring my own water because I love the feeling of being lighter on race day and I've never had a problem with water (except for the Rock and Roll USA, the race that will live in infamy). but I always bring my own GU because I have seen races run out of it, plus I like to go by my own schedule for go. There are enough water stops for that.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I always run with a water bottle. Yes, there are water stations, but it's nice to be able to drink whenever you want, especially if it's a warm day. It also means you don't have to slow down through the water stations - you can shift to the middle away from the volunteers and get through a bit faster. When you start to get low, grab a cup at a station and fill up the bottle again, or ask a volunteer with a jug to fill for you. (they'll do this.) And definitely bring your own GU so you have the flavors you want. I'd bring about 600 calories worth, as you will burn off about 2,600 calories and your body can only store about 2,000 calories of glycogen. Good luck!!!

(if you have a water bottle with a holster that goes around your hand, you don't have to hold on with your thumb.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I always run with a water bottle. Yes, there are water stations, but it's nice to be able to drink whenever you want, especially if it's a warm day. It also means you don't have to slow down through the water stations - you can shift to the middle away from the volunteers and get through a bit faster. When you start to get low, grab a cup at a station and fill up the bottle again, or ask a volunteer with a jug to fill for you. (they'll do this.) And definitely bring your own GU so you have the flavors you want. I'd bring about 600 calories worth, as you will burn off about 2,600 calories and your body can only store about 2,000 calories of glycogen. Good luck!!!

(if you have a water bottle with a holster that goes around your hand, you don't have to hold on with your thumb.)

Thanks! Yes, I planned to bring my own Gu, but didn't know how much--thanks for the recommendation for 600 calories!

I have a bottle with a holster, but I think I have gotten in a habit of resting my thumb on top in a slightly stretched position. For short periods, it doesn't bother me...it's only been on the longer runs (like 13 miles or more) that I have started to feel a slight pain. I just need to start paying more attention to where I am placing my thumb, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Speaking of GU, I recently tried the GU Chomps and they're much less messy than the gel! I suppose they might get melty in the heat but haven't had a problem so far in the cooler weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take whatever water you need. The cups are not tiny, like the bathroom size. They're mid-size.

Make sure you have run in every article of clothing--underwear, socks, bra, shirt and shorts. This is not the time to buy something new for the race.

Wear a old sweatshirt you don't mind giving up on race day. It will be chilly in the morning and you'll need it. Then after a mile or so into the race, take it off and toss it.

Remember that you just have to get to every mile marker. Focus only on that. I trained to "reward" myself with a 60 second walk at every mile marker. I needed that mental push.

Good luck! I ran my first (and only so far) in 2010. Did the Marine Corps. Loved it!

Please don't litter during these mass events. Keep your gu packets; don't just toss clothing in the gutter. Just because you're participating in a recreational sporting event is no excuse for behaving irresponsibly.

This is a common practice. There are volunteers at the big races who pick up the discarded clothing and it's donated to charity (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc)

If you are worried about it, toss it at a water station. There are trashcans there for the water cups.