Water During Exercise?

     I know.  I have heard it all before.  You should drink water before, during, and after you exercise.  The human body is 55 percent to 78 percent (depending on your age) water, and it is important to replenish the lost water during your workout.  I have no problem drinking water, prior to running.  And I have no problem rehydrating, after my running workout.  However, I find it very difficult to drink the recommended amount of water during my run. 

    Health experts recommend that you drink 8-10 ounces of water or some type of a sports drink for every 15-20 minutes of vigorous exercise.  I find this recommendation to be very difficult because of the logistics, my impaired coordination, and my smaller than average bladder.

Practically speaking.

     If I run for roughly 50 minutes, I am supposed to drink 24+ ounces of water, during that workout.  That is greater that the amount that fits into a typical water bottle.  I have one water bottle holder on my treadmill.  Maybe I am overthinking this, but where is that water supposed to go?  I am supposed to stop my treadmill midway throughout my workout to go and get more water?

I need to stay ON the treadmill.

     I typically am a fairly coordinated person.  Let’s just say I have no problem walking and chewing gum, at the same time.  However, I find it difficult to drink and run, at the same time.  When I am breathing heavy and pushing it to my limit, in order to increase my running endurance, I find it very difficult to go through the motions of getting a drink.  Also, I am paranoid about losing my footing on the treadmill, and ending up on the floor.  Call me crazy, but that does not sound like a good time.

Potty time.

     If I drank the recommended 8-16 ounces of water prior to my workout, and then added another 24+ ounces during the course of my workout, the little girls’ room would definitely be calling my name, before I made it through my 3.1 miles.  – --Just sayin’

     For the above stated reasons, I will be opting out of the recommended 24+ ounces of water, during my workout.  Maybe, as I train for 5k and build up more endurance, I will change my mind. But for right now, I will be hydrating solely before and after I run.