How Much Water Should a Runner Drink: Water Strategy and Other Tips (2023)

FAQs

How Much Water Should a Runner Drink: Water Strategy and Other Tips? ›

Maintain hydration: Drink about 5–10 fl. oz. (or a few good long drinks) of water every 15–20 minutes while running. Drink after: Post-exercise hydration gets your fluid levels back to normal and can help with recovery.

The idea is to replace that sweat as you lose it. “If you're training for longer than an hour, you should be drinking anywhere from 24 to 32 ounces per hour of your run,” says Ryan Maciel, RD, the head performance-nutrition coach at Precision Nutrition. That's about 8 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes.

A guideline I like to follow is taking in 3 or 4 long sips of water every 15 or so minutes. On long runs, I'll often fill my hydration pack with water that has a hydration tab mixed in it, called Nuun, which has added electrolytes, like sodium.

A good rule of thumb for athletes is to divide their body weight in half and drink at least an ounce per pound of body weight throughout a typical day (e.g., someone weighing 160 pounds should drink 80 ounces of water a day).

“Drinking a gallon of water a day is not really necessary, but it's not going to hurt you either,” says Czerwony. “Everybody's hydration levels are different, but most people don't need a daily gallon.” Your body is incredibly efficient and will let you know when it is thirsty.

But, all in all, a good general guideline is to aim to drink half of your body weight in ounces each day. So, for instance, if you weigh 170 pounds, you typically want to try to drink 85 ounces of water per day.

The fastest method for rehydrating patients is the medical technique of intravenous (IV) fluid replacement. This sends electrolyte-balanced fluids directly into the blood stream so it gets distributed by your blood cells throughout the body almost immediately.

The researchers found that while water — both still and sparkling — does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.

The fastest way to hydrate is with an oral rehydration solution. These products are packed with electrolytes which are minerals found in your body that balance fluid levels and maintain optimal hydration. While you can hydrate fast with regular water, focus on electrolytes.

What can I add to water for better hydration? ›

Here is one more reason to enjoy that morning cup of joe: “Coffee counts toward your daily water intake,” says Lauren DeWolf, MS, RD, a registered dietitian with Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Centers. The water in coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages helps us meet our daily fluid needs.

Symptoms of overhydrating include weight gain during the race, nausea, confusion, vomiting and headache. "Although this can definitely happen to men, women may be at greater risk because they usually have a smaller body size and don't sweat as much," says Beaver. And don't fall for common overhydration myths.

But every one of these fueling items is necessary when I run for 3+ hours. Water and lots of it: The average runner needs about 16-28 fluid ounces of water per hour.

Overhydration by athletes is called exercise-associated hyponatremia. It occurs when athletes drink even when they are not thirsty. Drinking too much during exercise can overwhelm the body's ability to remove water. The sodium content of blood is diluted to abnormally low levels.

Health experts commonly recommend eight 8-ounce glasses, which equals about 2 liters, or half a gallon a day. This is called the 8×8 rule and is very easy to remember.

Although water toxicity is rare in adults, drinking an extreme amount of water in a short time can be dangerous. Drinking too much water too quickly can cause your sodium levels to drop too low. This is known as hyponatremia, which can be serious and even fatal ( 35 ).

A standard glass contains eight ounces. So, one gallon equals 16 eight ounce glasses of water.

Chocolate milk happens to be a perfect post-run drink. It's loaded with high-quality protein and fast-digesting carbs for muscle recovery and energy refueling. Similarly to many commercial exercise-recovery drinks, low-fat chocolate milk has a 4:1 carb-to-protein ratio ( 13 ).

Hydrating before a race: Drink 500ml of water or sports drink (with electrolytes and/or carbohydrates) about two hours before your run so you will be well hydrated before you start. It is not ideal to drink a whole lot of water under an hour before your race, as you could end up with many bathroom breaks along the way.

Should you eat a lot as a runner? ›

Some marathon runners require over 4,500 calories in a day for their training, so make sure you're giving your body the fuel it needs to meet the challenges you set.

Pedialyte products generally provide fewer calories and sugar and a significantly higher electrolyte content than Gatorade. Pedialyte may help people of all ages recover from viruses, while Gatorade is specifically designed for adult athletes.

Occlusives like beeswax, soybean oil, and lanolin form a barrier that prevents water from evaporating. Emollients like coconut oil, shea butter, and colloidal oatmeal add softness to the skin.

Gatorade, because of its electrolyte content, helps to restore the lost electrolytes and keep a person hydrated, during intense activity. It can also replace electrolytes, during times of illness, such as stomach viruses.

Best Overall: Gatorade

The levels of electrolytes (sodium and potassium) are moderate and sensible with 160 mg of sodium and 45mg of potassium per 12 fluid ounce serving. You can also find Gatorade varieties with higher sodium, zero sugar or no calories depending on your needs.

Skratch Labs Sport Hydration Drink Mix takes the top pick among sports drinks. One scoop contains 80 calories and 21 grams of carbohydrates, necessary for optimal recovery and rehydration, along with 380 milligrams of sodium to help you replenish fluids lost during exercise.

It hydrates you

This myth comes from a study funded by Gatorade that found people who drank their product were better hydrated than if they drank water—but only because they drank more fluids. If you drank the same volume of water versus Gatorade, you'd be equally hydrated.

For most people, drinking water is the best way to stay hydrated and rehydrate. Other options include coffee, tea, milk, fruits, vegetables, and oral hydration solutions. Don't hesitate to speak with your healthcare provider if you're concerned about your or someone else's hydration status.

Water is the ideal hydration choice because it moves quickly though your digestive system and into your tissues. Stay hydrated by sipping small amounts of water throughout the day; avoid chugging down fluids right before exercising to avoid stomach discomfort and bloating.

How do you know if you are drinking enough water? ›

The easiest way to know if you're drinking enough fluid is to look at the colour of your urine. If you're drinking enough water, your urine will be clear or pale yellow. A darker yellow means you aren't drinking enough water. People who drink enough water also usually have soft bowel movements.

Mineral, structured, and pure spring water are some of the healthiest water you can drink because they're clean and contain all the essential minerals your body needs. Filtered water removes contaminants but might also remove essential minerals.

Yes, lemon water naturally contains more electrolytes. Usually, they are a good source of potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

You'll feel less hungry and may even lose weight. You'll probably experience more comfortable digestion (less heartburn). Bowel movements might be easier and more regular. Your teeth and gums will be healthier and more resilient.

Juice, smoothies, iced coffee, ice tea, protein shakes, milk, and other drinks can be excellent alternatives to water. You should avoid relying too much on drinks with a high sugar content, such as soda, certain fruit juces, energy drinks and chocolate milk.

For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and spinach, are almost 100% water by weight. In addition, beverages such as milk, juice and herbal teas are composed mostly of water. Even caffeinated drinks — such as coffee and soda — can contribute to your daily water intake.

You need to drink more fluid than you lost while exercising because you continue to lose fluid through sweating and urination for some time after you have finished your session.

Drinking water after a workout can help: Prevent muscle cramps. Get this: Muscle mass is about 76% water, so drinking water after exercise can help prevent dehydration.

Why we should not drink water immediately after running? ›

If you drink water immediately after exercise, large amounts of fluid accumulation in the gastrointestinal obstructs diaphragmatic activity due to poor gastrointestinal absorption ability, which will affect breathing and makes the repayment delayed when anaerobic motion prolonged.

If your run is 30 minutes or less, drinking a glass or two of water before and after the workout should be fine. For runs longer than half an hour, bring a bottle and sip throughout your run. There are running-specific handheld bottles that fit comfortably like a glove—you likely won't even notice it's there!

If you're doing a short run, say one that lasts 45 minutes or less, you may be able to forgo drinking water while you're out there. But it's never a bad idea to carry water, especially if it's really hot outside and you'll be sweating a lot. Many runners carry and drink water regardless of how long they'll be running.

Water, diluted juice and sports drinks are all good fluid replacers. If you've been running for less than an hour, plain water is a good choice, but, if you have been running hard for longer than an hour, drinks containing sugar or maltodextrin (a slow-release carbohydrate) and sodium may speed your recovery.

About 15 minutes before a run, drink six to eight ounces of water. During a run longer than 1 hour, drink water at regular intervals. This varies according to your sweat rate. Those who sweat more profusely may need 16 ounces every 15 minutes.

Intense workout stresses our body in a positive way. That stress and micro-tearing damage to the muscle fibers induces water retention in the body. Your body releases cortisol during exercise, which can impact your fluids and cause your body to retain water.

For most people, dehydration is the much greater issue. However, if you suspect you may be overhydrated, look for symptoms like cloudy thinking, nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness, spasms or cramps and headaches. In severe cases symptoms could include mental confusion, seizures, unconsciousness and even coma.

In general, it's recommended that athletes aim to drink 0.4-0.8 liters per hour (L/h) or 8-16 ounces per hour (oz/h).

Many runners know it's important to drink plenty of water during a marathon to keep their bodies hydrated. However, drinking too much water during the course of a 26-mile race can actually kill them. “This condition, hyponatremia, occurs when you have low sodium in your body,” said Dr.

Symptoms of overhydrating include weight gain during the race, nausea, confusion, vomiting and headache. "Although this can definitely happen to men, women may be at greater risk because they usually have a smaller body size and don't sweat as much," says Beaver. And don't fall for common overhydration myths.

Should you drink a lot of water while running? ›

You need to drink fluid during exercise to replace the fluids you lose when you sweat. That way, you'll reduce the risk of heat stress, maintain normal body function, and maintain performance levels. The general rule is: if you're sweating, you need to be drinking fluids.

There are four main options for how to carry water while running: Handheld water bottles. Running belt with water bottle. Hydration vests.

The authors of the study report that hyponatremia symptoms can develop if a person drinks 3–4 liters of water in a short period, though they do not give a specific time estimate. According to one case report , soldiers developed symptoms after consuming at least 2 quarts (1.9 liters) of water per hour.

You Don't Drink Enough Water Throughout the Week

Aim to drink about 2-3 mL perpound of body weight at least 4 hours before your run. If you chug an entire liter of prerun water, the kidneys will flush it out, causing frequent midrun bathroom breaks.

Drink regularly

Drinking water throughout the day is the best way to replenish fluid losses, as opposed to drinking all at one time. Sip from a water bottle during the day. Eat fruit. Fruit is a great source of water, as well as electrolytes and fiber!

Exercise authorities such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) recommend that water and other hydrating drinks be cold when used during exercise.

Overhydration can occur when people drink much more water than their body needs. People, particularly athletes, who drink excessive water to avoid dehydration can develop overhydration. People may also drink excessive water because of a psychiatric disorder called psychogenic polydipsia.