Advice for longer runs?
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Anonymous
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Today I ran 8 miles, my longest run ever. I have to tell you guys because my DH and most of my friends are struggling with trying to get back to exercise and lose some pandemic weight, so I don't want to say anything that sounds like bragging. But, I'm very proud of myself! DCUM motivated me on this run because when I was flagging, I thought about how excited I felt when I was the OP of this post:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/911893.page#18104044 (I am still slow  )
But my question is, how do people who run for longer times carry water? Is there anything else I should do to get ready? I don't like to eat before running but today I was just starving the whole time and I didn't think to bring water. |
Anonymous
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I love seeing this, OP. I ran 2 miles today and hope I can get up to 5 in a few months. Are you running for fitness? Fitness and weight loss? How do you feel these days?
I was an athlete many years ago and wouldn't bring water on these runs. I just made sure I had some at the finish. That said, I never did over 10 miles. |
Anonymous
| I honestly hate running with water. For longer than 9 miles or so I have my husband meet me halfway or I stash water somewhere on my route. I just can't stand carrying it. |
Anonymous
I take a small soft bottle with handle that is really comfortable. For long runs, I add a precision hydration tab. For really long runs, consider a chew or gels |
Anonymous
Great job! Congratulations! You can handle food/water in a couple of different ways. If I'm running more than 6 miles, I will wake up early and eat a little breakfast. Usually a piece of toast and a cup of tea. Sometimes a banana instead. If that doesn't seem palatable, you could try a couple of different things for little bits of nutrition. Many brands make chews now ... you can put them in a pouch or in a ziploc bag and keep them in your pocket. I also hate carrying water, but with this heat + humidity, it's good to have some on hand. A couple of ideas are: Run in a figure-8 course, so you come back to your starting point halfway through. (Could be your house or your car.) Have some water, continue on. Or, the handheld small bottles with strap are not terrible. Or, do a loop course. (We have a park near me with a 1-mile running trail. I keep water in the car and grab some if I need it.) |
Anonymous
I don't drink on longer runs. I think if I were to go longer than 8 miles, I'd probably try to plan for something like a library mid-run to stop and hit up a drinking fountain. |
Anonymous
| I have a hand-held water bottle (it has a neoprene carrier with a strap). Some people who are super-serious use the hydration belts or camelbacks but those seem super annoying to me. Usually I loop back to the house and get a drink, stash water, know where I can stop on my route (water fountain in the park, vending machine, etc.). |
Anonymous
+1 I hate running with water too and never felt compelled to drink it until I got home and was done. Having said that, can you run a circular route that lands you back at home after mile 8 (or whatever) and just run the loop again (or like a 2 mile out and back to add on)? Have a water bottle waiting for you on your driveway or door step or somewhere. |
Anonymous
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I also use a handheld water bottle, something like this-
https://www.nathansports.com/products/exoshot-2-0-14oz-handheld-castlerock-classic-green Honestly in this heat I need to use that or do short loops and drink every mile or so or I feel like crap at the end. I find it less irritating to carry the bottle and sip often than to do a lot of loops and actually stop to drink for longer, but you can try different things. |
Anonymous
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You went from zero miles to 8 in less than a year?! AWESOME JOB!!!!
As for water, I plan my routes around where I know there are water fountains or bathrooms and carry a credit card/phone app to buy a bottle in a pinch, which I've only had to do once this summer. |
Anonymous
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All the place I run have water fountains.
During the winter when the fountains are off I usually just go without. But I am usually only running 5-6 miles and can wait until I get home. |
Anonymous
| I either use my Flip Belt with one of their flat water bottles, or wear a light hydration vest with a bladder or 2 soft bottles tucked into the front pockets. It is almost 100F where I live now so running without water isn’t an option. |
Anonymous
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I've used the backpack camel packs and hyrdobelts. I think once you get used to the backpack, it works better. But it needs to be snug.
The biggest thing that helped me on long runs was eventually switching off the music, or at least, switching off the 'get pumped up' gym music. Now, on a long run, I put on pretty relaxing music. Like the Avett Bros or Lumineers, or listen to a podcast. I find it easier to get in the zone and just cruise when the music is more chill, or easier to get distracted with a story |
Anonymous
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Congratulations on a running success story!
I second using the handheld bottle with a strap. It’s what I use if I have to bring water with me (10+ miles in cool weather, 7+ in hot weather). I tried a lot of things but like that one the best. Like others, I hate carrying water while running. Anything over 14 or so, I have to wear a camelback. 7+ miles I need to eat a little something beforehand, like an English muffin or something. 10+ miles I have to bring food with me- the energy beans or my kids’ fruit snacks in a pinch. My longest run would be 20 miles if I’m training for a full. I’d eat something on the carbier side the night before, some carbs in pre-run, along with half and half in my coffee, my camelback for water, and 3 packages of beans to eat while running. |
Anonymous
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I always used a water belt on anything longer that 6 miles. I also would keep my runs close to water fountains, if possible. Like running the Mall.
For really long runs 15-20+ miles, I’d sometimes bring cash and buy an ice cold water and Gatorade. For food, if I was starving pre run, I’d eat half a banana |