Spring 09 - the run-up to Boston

[Sweder]

Dehydration is an odd and worrying beast. One sees so many pre-racers guzzling greedily from bottles of Vittel only to line up execution-style along the first few furlongs to flood neighborhood garden walls with oceans of clear urine.

There's the frantic elbow exchanges of the Marathon des Paris where the greatest threat to finishing is getting knocked out by panic-struck Parisians thrashing like sharks in a feeding frenzy at the water stations.

And there's the mad South African Ultras, taking their first guilty sip long after the full marathon distance is passed. As is often the case with running hydration's a personal thing. As you alluded to in your piece it's the days before a race that make the difference. Last minute quaffing upsets stomachs and puts intolerable pressure on bladders. Been there, done that :o