Water at Events

[Suzy R Sopham]

I've just been reading the programme for the Lakes 5-days, and quite surprised to read the following:

Faced with the problem of transporting bulk water supplies to the tops of mountains we have decided not to offer you a drink as you finish. By the time you return to Assembly you will have had your own drink, cooled down and be within easy reach of your own car so we are not offering drinks at all

For myself I do not have a problem since I always use a Camelbak waist belt water carrier; however, considering the extraordinarily warm weather we are having, I am concerned about the risks of overheating and dehydration for some competitors as on most days it is about 1k from the finish to the assembly, and at least 1.5k from the assembly to the start.
I deduce, from their logic, that there will also not be any water stops on any of the courses.
Recently I have noticed that on some event information it states that there will be a rubbish dump at the start so that competitors could take water bottles to the start to ensure they are well hydrated before their run.
When does the logistics of water transportation become more important than competitor safety?

[Gross]

When does the logistics of water transportation become more important than competitor safety?

Middle of summer in the Lakes obviously.... thought it always rained there:)

[AndyO]

At the Scottish this year, we had a long walk (3.0k)to Start, while the Finish was very close to Assembly, so we issued water on the way to the Start and not after the Finish, so that runners could hydrate properly before the run. There were a few puzzled looks at this strange idea, though...

[helen]

sounds like a good idea though AndyO - its what they do at O-Ringen and much appreciated by the competitors. Makes more sense in that scenario to offer water on the way to the starts than at the finish, because people would be closer to their own supplies when they finish.

[P2B]

At the Swiss they managed to get enough water for 3,500+ competitors to the top of mountains (some days 3,000 meters above sea level). I know the Swiss are renowned for their organisation... and I did see them air lifting portaloos in by helicopter on one day!

[HOCOLITE]

There was plenty of water available at WOC tour too. If there was a long walk to start then water was available.

[Tatty]

Personally I applaud the officials for their stance on water. You were able to take water with you on most days. Those days when the Finish/Start were apart weren't so far away that you couldn't hydrate properly before you went. I wonder how many other event organisers will follow suit? Who goes to an event without taking liquid with them? Surely the onus can be on us the competitors to have sufficient liquid? Clubs who are short of manpower would welcome not having to spare half a dozen people to organise the drinks.

[awk]

I agree with Tatty - I think the 5-day did right. Rather than hold the Scottish Six Day model up as a good example, I personally wasn't happy to see hundreds of plastic bottles of water being distributed at the Scottish 6-day, before or after the race (one of the very few things I didn't like!). If you aren't properly hydrated by the time your going up to the start, you never will be, and the waste was phenomenal. There's no need at the end: you should have your own. The odd cupful out on course isn't going to do much good either - it either needs loads more water stops (probably not practical) or competitors to carry their own.

[FatBoy]

Personally I always prefer water out there as I don't find running at all comfortable with bum bag or camelbak type bag. However as long as it's clear what the water situation is I'm happy. What does annoy me (not in this case as I wasn't there - but for any would be water organisers out there) is when there are water points and advertised as such in the details but they haven't been thought through and there's say a 6km break without water on a given course. Again - if I know there will be this gap in advance I'll put up with carrying some.

[mharky]

...and even worse than this is when you get to your drinks point, which had been advertised, and there is no water left... (JK this year)

[rob f]

Sorry if its just me, but i like to pick up my drink at the finish. While i do bring water with me, i hydrate before i start and get as much water on board as possible. Hence i have drunk all my water by the start of the course and wont have any left at the finish. The drinks points on the course are useful to cool down but sometimes do disrupt my concentration. That said they are needed. You ask one of the classic distance runners at woc whether they needed them or not, over than distance you need to take water. i know not every course does cover that distance, but still its good to find it on the course if you have hit the wall after pushing very hard.

[mharky]

i do bring water with me, i hydrate before i start and get as much water on board as possible. Hence i have drunk all my water by the start of the course and wont have any left at the finish.

bring more water

[HOCOLITE]

Some people have more trouble with hydration and water retention than others. I carry an emergency drink due to this. I also take a camelback if it is hot. I don't do long courses either. At WOC tour day one I had a longer corse than usual, started at 16:15 and it was exceedingly hot. We had watched classic qualification and been drinking water all day, and kept in shade as much as possible, even so I hit the wall towards the end of the course-it was not the fluid but energy zapped. After use of lucozade sport I managed to get to finish. If I had not had that I think I would have been laid out somewhere on the course as I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other. I've never been like that before. I had used the drinks point on the course and still needed the drink at the end.

The idea that you have your own when you get to the finish is ridiculous in most cases as when is the finish beside your car!!. I for one need water and support those who supply it. That is one reason for not going to the lakes anymore for the multi day event.

[jondub]

This is always an emotive subject here in Canada, especially as we have to run events in the summer when it can be very hot. My understanding of the Lakes situation is that the organizers gave everyone the opportunity to leave drinks at the finish on their way to the start. I wouldn't have a problem with that, and it would in fact give you the opportunity to drink a sports drink rather than water after your run, which is probably preferrable.

I would have a problem with no water on the course, however. The IOF Foot O rules para 19.7 state If the estimated winning time is more than 30 minutes, refreshments shall be available at least every 25 minutes at the estimated speed of the winner. We usually plan our courses to meet this requirement, and it isn't really a problem, especially if you plan water stops at road or path crossings, which can be accessed via ATV or other vehicle. This is what they did in Switzerland and it seemed to work well. The planner does need to discuss this with the organizer during the planning stage.

I would also echo the comment made about the water running out during the event. This can completely ruin a run.

[bedders]

If the estimated winning time is more than 30 minutes, refreshments shall be available at least every 25 minutes at the estimated speed of the winner. We usually plan our courses to meet this requirement, and it isn't really a problem, especially if you plan water stops at road or path crossings, which can be accessed via ATV or other vehicle.

This is all very well except the majority of the courses in the Lakes5 didn't cross any roads or large paths or tracks because they were almost all on open fell. The one day they did have a drinks point was Graythwaite, which by happy coincidence was the hottest day of the week. It makes it very difficult to put out water points with limited man power, especially when events are on high fells.

Saying that I saw no reason not to have water at download at the Lakes. I accept it would have been extremely difficult to transport water up to the starts or finishes (taking the maps to the start on day 3 was hard enough). Bottled water wouldnt have been necessary (as it is a waste I agree) but a water lorry with cups like at the Oringen surely wouldnt have been out of the question?