[ScratchType1]

Am I missing out on anything by refusing the offers of water from volunteers and well-wishers at 5K races?<br><br>
Should I ever be concerned of a potential Waterboy presence, a volunteer so committed to the importance of proper hydration, that he or she might come storming after me?<br><br>
Should I ever consider using one as practice for water stations on longer distance races?

 

[Nettie]

<img alt="lol.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/lol.gif"> Sometimes I feel bad about passing right past those water stations, too.<br><br>
I typically won't stop for water in anything less than a 10K unless it's really hot.

 

[Billy]

I'm pretty slow. That said, I don't have time to do anything other than run as fast as I can during a 5K. Water breaks are no exception. I usually forego them with 10Ks now, too.<br><br>
I do try to smile and say "No Thank You" to the volunteers. I wish I could do more, but time is of the essence in these "short" races.<br><br>
If you want to use the race as a practice, why not? Just make sure you look over your shoulder as you (presumably) slow down.<br><br>
Cheers,<br>
Billy

 

[srlopez]

"No thank you" is great, and more than they get from lots of folks <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
I've been chased, blocked, and squirted during a marathon, but I've never had a water station volunteer be overly concerned about me in a 5k.

 

[diablita]

Most of the races I run down here are hot ones. I hardly have to break a stride to grab a drink (say "thank you"<img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> and pour it down the back of my head to cool down for a few moments.<br><br>
But I doubt you'll be haunted by the ghost of 5K's Past for not taking what they offer.

 

[Frankie71]

<b>Scratch,</b> I dont think youll have somebody chasing you down because you didnt stop at their water station. That said, as someone who has manned a water station a no thank you or a thanks for volunteering is always nice to hear from a runner or walker though.

 

[Litchfield Hills]

I ran a 5K in April that had a water station at about 1/4 mile point. People actually stopped to grab a drink.

 

[ScratchType1]

I was being facetious with that.<br><br>
Although I could see that if one was running in the blast furnaces of Arizona, water stations might be rather appealing.<br><br>
I often try to say, "Howdy" or "Good morning", when I see volunteers at races.

 

[Frankie71]

I knew you were being facetious <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"><br><br>
Speaking of water stations in Arizona, when I ran a 10 mile race the weekend before the Pig, IMHO, they didnt have near enough stations. I was starting to dehydrate and thought I was going to pass out at one point. I dont know if it bothered <b>Pacer, Keriksen</b> or <b>Cactus</b> that much but it did me. I picked the wrong day to run without my own water <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[mykemp1971]

I used to wonder what the point of a water station was in a 5k... but after Monday nights 100+ degree 5k, I was glad there were two of them on the course <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[ScratchType1]

I can believe that, the way the weather was in the mid-Atlantic on Monday, I think I would have gladly lollygagged through the 5K and taken respite at the water stations.<br><br>
But otherwise, it's just a 5K, I can hydrate afterwards.

 

[Beaker]

I pretty much never drink during a race, at Broad St (10miles) I didn't stop at one water station. Yes, dumb, I know!!! But I always try to give a "Thanks for being out here" when I pass. Sun there was a water station 1.5miles out of the run segment of my tri. I took water for sure. And the people at that stop were amazing!!!! Cheering and yelling and so into it! THAT is how to man a water station!!!!

 

[mykemp1971]

yep... my thoughts exactly.<br><br>
I have a friend who runs by the 5k water stations and says to the volunteers (with a smile of course) - "If I start taking water in a 5k - next thing you know I'll want it in a marathon..." It usually makes me laugh no matter how much I'm hurting at that point <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">