One of the most important practices a runner needs to follow while running in hot Texas summers is to stay hydrated. The simple practice of staying hydrated is not as simple as it sounds. The most common fluid for staying hydrated is water. But, even water can get a little complicated when a runner uses it to stay hydrated. The simple practice of drinking water starts to get complicated when you have to decide on the temperature of the water. Most research suggests cold refrigerator temperature for water to be absorbed into the system faster. Some reports suggest that the water is best if it is ice cold. You can’t drink as much volume when the temperature is ice cold. The practice of drinking smaller portions more often is the way to handle that. If you are like some runners, and set a water bottle out on the road someplace to drink during a long run, the problem is the hot summer sun makes the water temperature lukewarm. It is not as tasty, or have the nice cooling effect when you pour some of it over your head, but at this point any type of hydration is good.
The next complication with water is from the faucet, or a bottle, or for old fashioned runners, a hose. Being a person that grew up many years ago there is nothing like the taste of a little rubber in the water from a hose. When you break down the cost of bottled water from a convenience store the water in that plastic bottle is more expensive than gasoline. Twelve ounces of water and a gallon of gasoline are almost the same price in some stores
To add to the complication of water hydration, there are some runners that like to squeeze a lemon slice into the glass for a little more taste. And there is always somebody that will find a way to make some money off flavored water and sell it to runners. If the runner needs energy, they can buy vitamin water. Next up is the flavored vitamin water with electrolytes added. The ad for this will tell the runner that this form of water is the ultimate drink for a long run. The company that takes this ultimate water up even one more step is that the plastic bottle will be insulated to keep the water cool while sitting out there on the road. The runner needs to know that this method of staying hydrated will come with an increase in price. Of course, in an emergency there is always Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, or 7-Up.
