The weather in Virginia is about perfect these days with high 50s/low 60s most days. I’m able to run comfortably in skirts and short sleeves, but not yet having to deal with the heat and humidity that will be here soon. (This is Virginia – who knows when exactly that humidity will arrive. We just know that it will. Soon.) Since today’s Tuesdays on the Run topic is “hydration”, I’m going to share my favorites for staying hydrated.
- My Sodastream – OK, I’m not out there running with what my kids refer to as fizzy water. Instead, I’m drinking this in the evenings the day before I have a hot run planned. I’m not good at drinking just plain water unless I’m really hot and it’s really cold, so the fizzy water really helps me stay hydrated.
- My Amphipod Handheld – I actually own two different sizes of this. Most of the time the small one is enough (or I add water at some point), but I like the big one if I don’t know where there might be a water fountain or if the weather is super hot. Once summer hits, I carry hydration on pretty much EVERY run.
- Gatorade – I confess that I love this stuff when I’m on a long hot run. In fact, I ran the Marine Corps Marathon on a half of a rice krispy treat, a couple of swallows of coke, and a ridiculous amount of Gatorade. I don’t really train with it, but it has saved me more than once during a race when my body decides that eating is not an option.
- Chocolate Milk – This is my post race drink of choice. I love ice cold chocolate milk to get both liquid and calories in me immediately after a run. (I also like Muscle Milk when chocolate milk isn’t an option.) I have to be careful how much dairy I ingest, so I save this for long hot runs and races.
- The old version of nuun – I may have bought out the website when nuun put the old version of their electrolyte tabs on clearance. I can drink the new stuff, but I find the stevia flavor to be overwhelming. Guess my spring will involve trial and error with some new brands. Stay tuned for those adventures. (I have a super picky stomach, so it WILL be an adventure…)
Tell me: what’s your favorite way to stay hydrated? Got a favorite addition for your water or a handheld you love?
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I don’t like sweet during a long distance race. Which is crazy, considering my sweet tooth. So it’s just water. In my flipbelt bottles (or old amphipod bottles) in my skirtsports pockets. I’m not sure what I’d do in a full, because eating does get hard even in a half!
I do just plain water most of the time, and also noun. Sometimes after a really hot run I crave Gatorade! Must be the combo of carbs and electrolytes that I need.
I’m a fan of powerade zero. I have no idea why – I think because it comes in bigger bottles (32 ounces), which means I drink more – and I like the taste of the blue flavor. I like to drink a little from the bottle and then water down the rest so I’m drinking it more diluted than it is (it’s pretty sweet as is!).
Not a fan of nuun. I tried. I really tried. I’m a water and gatorade gal. I also like muscle milk and core power lights, but really? BEER AND MARGARITAS
I’m water girl through and through-I prefer just plain water but I do realize when I need to add some electrolytes to it (hello, humid Virginia summers)–my favorite is from a new company Breakthrough Nutrition-love the NBS lemon hydration!
Have you tried SOS Rehydrate? It’s pretty good and there are some yummy flavors. Might be a nice alternative for the nuun.
I do not train with Gatorade either but I do like having it during races.
just water. Rarely carry any but if I do in my Nathan handheld. Love chocolate milk after a race or run!
For marathon training I’ve been using Accelerade since the beginning of time. That bit of protein in it works for me. When it’s super hot, I go with SOS Rehydrate. It’s saltier but less calories so I have to make sure to get them another way. I learned that the hard way.
New Nuun? I hadn’t heard about that. When did they roll it out? I drink Nuun, but I don’t buy in bulk.
I love my handheld, although on longer runs I need to wear a belt with more water in it. Especially in Florida it gets super hot!
Amen to the old Nuun tablets! I tried to buy as many as I could find too. I just can’t deal with the aftertaste of their new version. I’ve since tried Tailwind and am pleasantly surprised how much I like it. Give it a try, if you haven’t already.
I’m a huge soda stream fan too!
I’ve never tried the old nuun, I really like the current version… I must be stevia tolerant 🙂
I love my Nuun and Tailwind! It is already getting steamy here so you just can’t leave the house without something. I think I take a water bottle no matter where I go! I like my hot tea the night before I run, I usually have 2 cups- no caffeine 🙂
I love UCAN Hydrate!! Great flavor without the ick of sweet.
My stomach is not a fan of the new Nuun formula/sweetener – too bad cause it was a fave. I’ve recently started using Tailwind and so far so good (I have a super picky stomach too!). I also really like Lemonade Gatorade, but it can be hard to find. Chocolate milk is a must post run!
I keep it pretty simple on the run with water in my Orange Mud Hydraquiver. I do have Gatorade during races sometimes. And chocolate milk is a favorite!
I thought for sure that beer would be on your list! Haha!
I drink a ton of water but I have started using nuun tabs pretty regularly. I bought lots on sale too!
Have you tried Ultimate electrolytes? I love it and their new formula has 0 calories. Woohoo!!
I try to hydrate with water before my runs, and always carry a liter bottle with me. One liter usually lasts me around 5 miles, so for my longer runs, I pick strategic routes where I know there are water fountains, or loop back home to refill. I’ve recently been using the Tailwind packets, and I really like them a lot. I don’t like sweets, and they add just a little flavor without being too sugary. Post long-runs, I usually down an 11 ounce container of Premier Protein in chocolate. One carton provides 30 grams of protein. I stock up when they’re on sale at Costco.