How do you carry hydration on long runs?

fuel belt with 2 18 oz bottles at an angle.

If I am going more than 24 km, I will do a short loop to start carrying a hand held bottle for a shorter loop then grab my fuel belt for the rest.  Didn't take any time to get used to running with it.  Don't carry my own in races, but I have wished I was carrying something the last two half marathon I've done since aid stations were missing.

For the last 1.5 seasons I have carried nutrition on the run and used water from the course.

Handheld water bottle + run by places where I can re-fill.

As for carrying it in a race - totally personal preference. I have carried my own in races where I knew it would be extremely hot. I also know my body requires more than a few dixie cups of water every mile in extreme heat, so part of that was very personal to me. 

I suppose I use a couple of the available choices:

I like to do my long runs at a park with a 5 mile loop trail through the woods.  I use my car as an aid station and pop the trunk with my remote key as I approach.  Dump my empty bottle, and grab a fresh one. 

If I'm not able to run at the park (which is a bit of a drive for me to get to), I'll carry water on a hydration belt - which I frankly don't like to do, as it seems to loosen up on me as I go on and I have to constantly retighten it.

I used to use a hydration belt but that was when I was just training for marathons. I never liked carrying anything while running.  But, the last couple of years I just carry a bottle of water with me and stage my car where I can do various loops and still get by the car for a refill or some Gatorade.  Also run by a Target and other stores so it is not an issue.  On most of my runs the last 6 miles are through a park where there is plenty of water available.

For a tri I never carry water on the course.  Even in a marathon or HM I would maybe carry what's left of whatever water I was nursing at the start.  Great way to bypass the first few water stops.  Usually toss it after the second water stop though.

enjoy,

Duane

So I am doing my first HIM this June (Syracuse 70.3).  I have done several sprints and Oly's and I don't carry any water for those runs.  I hydrate well on the bike and then usually am fine for the 10K.  I may swallow a bit of water from a cup.  On my longer training runs I use a belt with 4x10 oz bottles.  I find it WAY easier to drink while running from a bottle than a silly dixie cup.

So my question is for the HIM am I going to look ridiculous if I use my hydration belt?  Do many/most people carry water?  I don't think I will be able to get enough for a HM out of the dixie cups.  I practically drown when I try to swallow more that a bit from them. 

Thoughts?

KUDOS ON THE CAMELBACK! I stuff my gels and cell phone  in it. It gets me to about mile 18 and then I run right by a fountain and refill it! It also has a better area to clip my ipod on it. The only issue is that it will ruin your shirts, so you have to put tape on the area of the shirt it rubs on

I just did my 1st HIM last weekend and was totally surprised by how few people carried nutrition belt. The course was a double out-and back, so aid stations were quite frequent, but I just didn't want to leave it up to chance that I'd be able to last between stops. I wore a belt with 2x10 bottles and was so so so glad I had my own drinks when I needed them. 

Don't worry about looking ridiculous -- you're the bada$$ out there for 5+ hours!

Good luck and have fun!

I prefer the fit of the Nathan belts over the other brands. But, go to a running store with a treadmill and ask to try them out. You'll see what works for you really quickly!

I used to live by the beach, so I just used water fountains.

Now, in AZ, I carry a camelbak backpack for trail runs, like this one: http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreation/Packs/2012-Classic.aspx but so far, I've only used it trail running.