One of the things I have really had issues with in running is being able to stay hydrated. I am normally OK for anything up until a marathon mark, but that is because I am finished within just over 4 hours. The problem comes in the ultramarathons, and particularly the 11+ hour Comrades marathon.

Typically I start drinking well, trying to make sure I take something to drink every 20 minutes or so as I reach the water tables. However after about 3 hours of this I feel like my stomach is full of water and I don't feel like drinking. This feeling does not go away, and so I begin to dehydrate. The result in previous Comrades is that I have ended up in the medical tent, on a drip, dehydrated. My mouth is parched, I'm depserately thirsty, but I just can't drink. What in the world is going on?

Thankfully I heard about Prof. Tim Noakes and his research on hydration (see link to right for his book). I read his book and contacted him and discovered a simple truth. Drinking to drinking plans is not right. We must drink to thirst and we will be fine. The body tells us what we need and when we need it. You have been listening to your body all your life, why do we suddenly stop listening to it when it comes to running? And so for Comrades 2013, in the "hottest Comrades in living memory" I put his theory to the test, I drank only when I was thirsty.

The result? I finished feeling fully hydrated. No medical tent. No dry mouth. Nothing! It was truly amazing, and more evidence - for myself at least - that Prof. Noakes' method, which is now finally accepted by researchers, is the best way to go. I really encourage others to follow his wisdom, based on research, and not be taken by media hype and sports drink companies with profit-fuelled agendas.

Check out the video below where Prof. Noakes shares 3 really interesting beliefs that need to be challenged, including how we drink.

It is amazing how quickly every man and his dog grab sports products. Maybe by buying the sports product the sedentary person feels more sporty. I suppose it is somewhat akin to the aged, bald person (not that I have issue with baldness…or age) buying the sport coupe in the hope that it makes him young…I might try that yet. But buying the fancy running gear, or being seen swigging back a bottle of Gatorade as you attempt to assuage your vociferous thirst, resulting from the 1km jog…that’s not good!

In fact a recent article in the LA Times (based on interviews with lab-coated people who have more titles than names) says that not only is it not good, it is bad! And that is not just because you look like an idiot, especially seeing as you have not even broken a sweat yet. The doctor professor people say these drinks are designed for marathon runners – real athletes – people who are pushing their bodies to infinity and beyond. Not for the casual stroller or short distance jogger.

Hey, that does not mean strolling and jogging aren’t good – they are awesome. In fact that is how any marathon runner had to start. But don’t reach for the marathon runners Gatorade…leave that until your body needs it. You’ll just over-sugar, over-salt…basically over-season your body and undo any good you had started.

So don’t waste money – and don’t waist bigger – drink water or run further.

Source: http://ping.fm/CL2bV