An unwelcome surprise often comes with the change of the seasons—the dry public water fountain. Officials turn the fountains off as a precaution against freezing pipes (which is reasonable), but it makes life complicated for runners training for fall or winter marathons.
Instead of playing water fountain roulette,I’ve found that dropping water for your run ahead of time is the simplest solution to this problem. You’re guaranteed a drink, and sometimes a gel. Here are some basic tips I’ve picked up over the years for effectively stashing water and energy drinks.
Plan your route.If you are doing an out-and-back, you may have to drop your water in three to five places, depending on your intended distance. A looping trail or a trusty figure-8 may only requires one or two fueling stops. You can even plan an entirely new route by thinking of where you could logistically drive to drop your beverages.
Drop the night before.This way you not only have less to worry about before your long run, but also you are committed to it. Check the weather beforehand for overnight chills—you don’t want to come across a solid brick of ice after running 17 miles.
Be smart.Don’t just leave your bottle of water on the trail for anyone to trip on or a dog to pick up. Hide it in nearby bushes or next to a fence. If you are going to store multiple items (water, energy drink, and a gel), put them in a clear storage bag or a grocery bag. Never leave a cooler or backpack. If you get stopped by police, as I did training for my last Disney in the winter of 2012, be kind and explain you are marathon training.
Don’t litter.Pay attention to the location of trash cans or recycling bins near your drop. If none exist, come back for your empty bottles at the conclusion of your run.
Can’t drop?Get creative. College student centers, shopping plazas, and hotel lobbies usually have water fountains, not to mention restrooms.
Before you take a sip of your water or energy drink, always check the bottles for any tampering. No matter how good you think you are at hiding bottles, dogs and bears are even better at finding them. If you have any other tips, let us know in the forums.
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Derek is training so he can hug Br'er Bear during the 2016 Dopey Challenge with the Runner's World Challenge (soon to be Runner's World VIP). To learn how you can be part of the VIP program, visit runnersworld.com/vip.
Video Producer
Since becoming a video producer for Runner’s World in 2014, Derek has captured such historic moments as Meb Keflezighi and Desiree Linden’s Boston victories and Amy Cragg’s win at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, and Galen Rupp and Shalane Flanagan breaking the tape in Chicago and New York, respectively.
