Fuel Belt Hydration System
I recently had a chance to try out Fuel Belt's Crush bottle carrier, in a bright pink color. I used one of those hand held water bottle carriers, at the very first half marathon I raced in, back in December 2008. I didn't really enjoy using the hand held hydration system, I had to keep switching the bottle between my two hands, and it kept slipping out of my hands as I started to sweat more.
Waist Hydration Packs
I've been looking at various hydration systems that let you carry one or more water bottles around your waist. I've seen the systems with the multiple, tiny bottles, but wasn't too interested in that type. I've seen runners using the multi-bottle carriers during a couple of half marathons. The bottles seem to fly all over the place, and I'd keep forgetting which bottles were empty and which bottles still contained fluid.
When I saw the hydration systems that carry a full size water bottle, I knew that was the kind I wanted to get. I come from a cycling background, and am used to using full size water bottles. I contacted Fuel Belt, after seeing one of their ads in a running magazine, and had them send me one of their Crush bottle carriers.
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Crush Holds Lots of Water
The Crush Bottle Carrier holds a full size, 22 ounce water bottle. It also has a small, zippered pouch which I use to store my driver's license, van key and a gel pack or two, while I'm out on my longer runs. I normally wear the Fuel Belt with the water bottle resting on my back. When I am ready for a drink, I spin the bag around to my right hip, unfasten the bottle, take a drink, then replace the bottle and turn the carrier around to my back.
I have exercise induced asthma, so I have to take a few walk breaks during my longer runs. It's really easy to use the Fuel Belt when I'm taking my walk break. It sure beats that hand held water bottle system I originally got when I first started running.
On my shorter runs, I don't carry water with me. But on half marathons, I would really rather have my own hydration system with me so I don't have to deal with the crazy mobs of runners at the water stops. And the water stops usually don't have anything I can drink anyways. Plan water does nothing for me, and Gatorade upsets my stomach. Using my own hydration system, such as the Crush bottle carrier, allows me to fill my water bottle up with anything I want, such as MotorTabs electrolyte tablets.
Additional Details
Fuel Belts Crush bottle carrier has a suggested retail price of $29.95. The Crush is available in a variety of colors including blue, black, red, pink or camo. The camo color would be perfect for blending into the woods while out on a trail run. Visit the Fuel Belt website for additional information on their entire line of hydration products.
Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Run Diva
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