I am a distance runner that stays in half marathon shape year round. I run half marathon races and have started doing full marathons. I'm a salty sweater that starts cramping up in the teen miles.
While Powerade and gels can help with electrolytes, I feel like all that sugar just doesn't help during a hot long run or a race. In hot races, Powerade and gels make me sick and all i want is water.
So, I'm considering experimenting with salt pills, specifically Saltstick pills, which appear to have the electrolytes from Powerade/gatorade, so I can take those with water each hour and be fine on a hot run.
My questions for the masses:
Do you use salt pills? if so, what's your methodology? Do you still use gels/bloks too? Do you still grab cups of Powerade at races?
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[–] WhatDaDuce 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
I have tried the salt pills. I find that it gives me dry mouth about 15 to 20 minutes later. I also have not noticed any considerable difference for a half. I ran my marathon PR on nothing but water. The next race I tried some gels and finished about 15 min slower. I haven't used salt pills for a marathon because I feel like isn't beneficial.
Some people swear by pickle juice though.
To answer your question:
Sometimes
After 2 or 3 water stations (generally after 6 miles in) No No Too much sodium is why I didn't take any gels or Gatorade