Distance Runners: Got Water and Fuel?

Distance runners: have you considered your water and fuel needs?  What about a belt to carry it?

Some of us who run only a little (a happy 2 to 3 miles per outing) occasionally carry a bottle of water along on warm days.  But for a distance runner, the need is more intense.

Look at the fuel belt set up in the picture.  That belt and its four bottles could potentially add as much as four pounds of extra weight.   And a lot of runners question the way the weight is dispersed:

“Topher” asked:

Is it better to use a weight belt or a “Camelback.”   Better the weight around the waist, or the shoulders where the straps could rub as my arms move during my run.  I am expanding to longer weekend runs and figure I’ll need more than just a water bottle.

Some runners like the Camelback, which is as you might guess, a shoulder harness with water strapped…on your back, like a camel.   But most say that set up is best for hiking and shorter runs.  The waist and hip belt set up is preferred because it disperses weight off the back and lowers it to the region most built to handle weight in women: the hips.

In addition to greater comfort, many female runners prefer this method of carrying water because the bottles are also easier to clean.  They go right in the dishwasher.   Which allows you to get back out on the trail with a lot less bother.