hydration

...now browsing by tag

 
 

Stay hydrated in hot weather

Written by on Jun 20, 2012
Ken

Today at 7:09 PM marks the beginning of summer — and the heat is here to prove it! With temperatures rising to the nineties, it's important to be safe and stay hydrated as you continue your training for MS Challenge Walk.

Here with tips on how to stay hydrated is Dr. Mary-Elise Manuell of UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Best tip: Don't wait until you're thirsty. Keep chugging those liquids in anticipation of them being depleted! You'll feel better and be safer.

For more advice about staying hydrated, check out the National MS Society's Web site or other posts on the Challenge Blog.

Ken joined the MS Challenge Walk in 2005, more than a decade after his mother was diagnosed. After walking for three years and 150 miles, he switched to the support crew and now rides his bicycle along the trail, providing whatever encouragement (and snacks!) he can to the 600 walkers. He is also an alumnus of the event's steering committee and is this site's webmaster.

Posted in Training | Comments Off on Stay hydrated in hot weather

Keep up the momentum!

Written by on Aug 3, 2011
Wendy

My team and I are going to experience our third Challenge Walk coming this September. How do you keep the momentum with training and fundraising? Focus on the prize: a cure for MS. When you feel like you'll never reach your goal or you just can't walk that next mile, picture the faces of MS and you will!

Training in the hot temperatures and the humidity of the summer can be difficult. Cool down before and after training, either in a cool shower, a pool, or drinking cold water can help keep a walker safe! Walk with your friends or take your kids along on the training. My son likes to ride his bike while we are walking. Look for local bike or walking trails to have a walking route without the worry of motorized vehicles. Also, some trails are mile marked for ease in training your scheduled miles.

During my first Challenge Walk, on Day 1 when I was feeling the walk and not finding the inspiration within myself, my husband handed me a photo of our son, which drove me to dig deeper and continue on my journey that day. Find that inspiration you need whether within yourself or through someone else. I wear the Join the Movement bracelet everyday as a visual reminder of the obstacles of MS. Someone once asked me why I don't take it off. My response was simple: 'Because I can't take off my MS.

For the first-time walkers out there, you will see so much inspiration on the walk that you will leave a little bit of a different person. In the meantime, thank you to all the participants for everything you are doing for those of us living with MS everyday. As you embark on your journey to the 2011 MS Challenge Walk, stay safe, hydrated, and inspired — you can do this!

Wendy, the captain of Team WWW (Walk With Wendy), was diagnosed with MS in 2006.  Although she cut down on her work hours during the past year, she still loves her job as a teacher.  Wendy lives in Attleboro, MA, with her supportive husband and 9-year-old son, who provides inspiration for her daily!

Posted in Challenge Walk, Training | Comments Off on Keep up the momentum!

Water, water, everywhere

Written by on Aug 16, 2010
Jacqueline

One of the most important things you can do for your body over the course of the MS Challenge Walk is to keep it hydrated. But be careful of too much water or too much Gatorade; too much of either can cause electrolyte imbalances in your body and cause you to become sick.

Hyponatremia, or water intoxication (overdose), is caused by drinking too much water. This causes the sodium levels in your blood to become too low. Excessive sweating can also lead to hyponatremia. The early warning signs are often similar to dehydration: one may become nauseated, have muscle cramps, become disorientation or confused. The opposite condition is hypernatremia, which is too much sodium. This and hyperkalemia (too much potassium) may be caused by excessive drinking of Gatorade. The wrong amount of sodium or potassium can cause irregular heart rhythms. The best bet is to alternate water with Gatorade to keep your electrolytes properly balanced.

GatoradeThe best way for to avoid electrolyte imbalances and prevent hyponatremia is to plan ahead by training in the same conditions you will encounter during the walk. Here are some additional hydration recommendations:

  • Use a sodium containing sports drinks during long distance, high intensity events (more than 60-90 minutes long).
  • Increase salt intake per day several days prior to competition (except for those with hypertension).
  • Try not to drink more then you sweat.
  • Avoid use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDS) medicines that contain sodium. Research suggests that these drugs may predispose runners to hyponatremia.

Jacqui is a registered nurse working in home dialysis, living in Denver, Colorado. Born and rasied in Gray, Maine, Jacqui was diagnosed with MS in 2003 and has been participating in the MS Challenge Walk since 2007. This year is the first time she's had her own team, Whittaker's Warriors.

Posted in Challenge Walk | Comments Off on Water, water, everywhere

Does your bottle overfloweth?

Written by on Sep 4, 2009
Ken

With the MS Challenge Walk just a week away, now is a good time to point out one of the event's finer details that may've been overlooked.

To cut down on both costs and waste, this is a "cup-free" event. Each rest stop will have ample water and Gatorade to keep you hydrated, but you're responsible for your own method of taking it with you. Some folks buy a prefilled water bottle from a convenience store and reuse it throughout the weekend; others buy a fancier, more durable, and sometimes more capacious Nalgene container. Still others prefer a CamelBak, a backpack that holds water you can draw through a siphon. CamelBaks can be convenient because they leave your hands free, but I've avoided these products because I try to keep as little weight on my back and shoulders as possible.

We've already given plenty of of advice on staying hydrated. The only amendment I'll make is to consider bringing two water bottles, so that a rest stop never forces you to choose between water or Gatorade; you can have one of each, and maintain better symmetry and balance by keeping one in each hand!

As a member of the support crew, I've seen walkers forget the cup-free nature of the MS Challenge Walk and thus find themselves without any portable hydration. In these cases, the support crew will live up to its name and find you some accommodation, so please ask. Even better, come prepared with all the gear you need for a great walk!

Ken joined the MS Challenge Walk in 2005, more than a decade after his mother was diagnosed. After walking for three years and 150 miles, he switched to the support crew and now rides his bicycle along the trail, providing whatever encouragement (and snacks!) he can to the 600 walkers. He is also an alumnus of the event's steering committee and is this site's webmaster.

Posted in Gear | Comments Off on Does your bottle overfloweth?

Out with the old, in with the new

Written by on Aug 31, 2009
Ken

I apologize in advance if this topic is crass, but even the most basic advice can prove invaluable. And if there are only two tips I can give you for your walk, they are these:

— Hydrate. Joan already gave some excellent advice about keeping plenty of fluids handy, and page 23 of the MS Challenge Walk Fundraising & Training Guide goes into further detail. In short, what works for me is to drink at least six ounces between rest stops (which tend to be 2-3 miles apart). I alternate between water and Gatorade, so whatever I got at the last rest stop, I'll next top off my bottle with the other one. You don't need to know what electrolytes are to know that your body needs them. Your kidneys will thank you.

— Evacuate. You're going to be drinking much more than you do in your day-to-day life, and you may not immediately realize that this requires an additional change to your routine. But trust me: use every rest stop you can find, even if you don't think you need to. There's nothing worse than hearing the call of nature when you're two miles from an appropriate opportunity.

Heather already made some of these points, but I felt them important enough to repeat. Keeping mind of these simple tasks will make your walk a much safer and more pleasant experience.

Ken joined the MS Challenge Walk in 2005, more than a decade after his mother was diagnosed. After walking for three years and 150 miles, he switched to the support crew and now rides his bicycle along the trail, providing whatever encouragement (and snacks!) he can to the 600 walkers. He is also an alumnus of the event's steering committee and is this site's webmaster.

Posted in Challenge Walk | Comments Off on Out with the old, in with the new

Hydration generation

Written by on Jul 10, 2009
Joan

Don't Find Yourself Crying, "H2Oh No!"

First time walkers and Challenge veterans, all of us have faced the dilemma of "How much water do I really need to drink?"  It isn't always easy to find the midway point between needing to hooked up to an IV, and being ready to cross the Sahara.

I recently attended a "bring your own lunch" business seminar series. That morning, and with flashbacks to grade school, I placed a sandwich and apple into a small insulated bag along with a bottle of water. I am, after all, a member in good standing of the Hydration Generation, willing to purchase at outrageous prices that which readily flows from my kitchen sink faucet.

Once there, and naturally nosey, I looked around to see what other attendees selected for inclusion in their brown bags. I was startled to see one woman sipping from what looked to be the top part of an office water cooler! Turns out that her idea of lunch is a two gallon jug of designer H2O. (I made a mental note to nominate her for President of the Hydration Generation should elections ever be held.)

So why is it that, when faced with walking 50 miles over three days, some of us remain confused about proper hydration? I blame it on too much information. What we've read somewhere, what someone told us, the warning of the salesman selling us the backpack hydration system that once fully loaded with water is of spine bending weight.

So whose advice do we take? I recommend keeping it simple. The National MS Society has what you need to know in one easy to understand but thorough summary at http://challengedcw.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=CW_DCW_hydration. Take the time to check it out. Dehydration or the wrong mix of energy drinks and water can cause serious problems that are easily avoided.

So, fellow Hydration Generation members, let me know what floats your boat!

Joan joined the MS Challenge Walk in 2004 when her friend and now Blister Buddies team captain, Patty Thorpe registered to walk. Patty, diagnosed with MS over 10 years ago, shared her diagnosis with Joan early on in their friendship. The undertaking of that first Challenge Walk and the three that followed not only strengthened Patty's and Joan's friendship, it began an MS educational journey that continues well after mile fifty each year.

Posted in Challenge Walk, Training | Comments Off on Hydration generation