At a race I spend all day hiking and standing in the sun. I force myself to drink lots of water days before a race. On race day I drink a mixture of water and vitamin water. Once you get behind the curve it's hard to regain your hydration. I was sick for days after the last Reno race because we had to hike out to a location and ran low on fluids at the end of the day. It's important for drivers but crewmembers need to be careful too.
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One of my guys had a mild heatstroke at last years vegas to reno. He was worked for the entire next day. It's going to be hot out there. Over 100! Water is critical. Stay hydrated. If you need a water any Mad Media crew will give you one. Plenty of racers have given me a water.
HDX Hydration Mix is an easy and afforable way to stay hydrated- Check out www.hdxmix.com for the benifits of the product and see how many athletes rely on HDX.
TrophyLite & Oakley will have this product for sale in contingency at V2R stop by and stock up.
I guess I have a hard time with understanding why this is such a "Critical" subject and how people tend to freak out about staying hydrated to point of scaring a rookie into over indulging on the H2O. Sure it's important and you need to stay on top of it but do people just not prepare themselves for combat before going to a fight? Do they head straight from the office chair to the driver’s seat? Maybe I have just been lucky or doing the right things. Maybe it’s common sense or just knowing your own needs but I can't say I have had any problems other than actually being able to fill my catheter after all this water consumption. Not because I am dehydrated but because a 1600/2000 car is so damn bone jarring it’s hard for a man to relax while sitting down.
Granted, I only have a few years in desert racing with my first experience even being in the desert was in 2010 other than hanging on the dusty strip for a bachelor party. After my first year chasing and learning the basics of staying hydrated (I.E. Drink a lot of water). I just prepared myself in basic ways for my day in the seat. I live in Maryland where the temp doesn't usually get as hot as Vegas but the humidity is ridiculous. I used to be a class 4/5 whitewater Kayaker and swore by the Gatorades and gel packs but if you eat right you don't need that stuff either. After that I ran for about 7 years and never even used a camelback (probably not even invented then). Last year, before getting into the car I did that P90X workout routine which is by no means easy and forces you to drink a lot of water you normally would not crave. That was the first exercise I had consistently done in about 3 years. This year; to prep for the V2R, I had a week off and worked on my buggy out in Maryland’s 107 degree heat with 85% humidity then followed it up with 4 days of replacing a flat-roof in broad daylight. Talk about drinking and sweating cycles. Every evening after the high heat outdoor work, I did the "Insanity" cardio workout which kept the water intake up and the sweat rolling. All in all I would say I had about 5 weeks of Crude heat and endurance training. By the time V2R came around; I landed in Cali and cruised the truck to Hot Vegas where it was 111 degrees at 10:30 PM. The humidity was low and the temp never fazed me because of that. What it came down to was, water as needed the day before the race, don't get sun burned, avoid salty food, two-beer max and a couple bananas each day leading up to the race. Then on race day, stayed hydrated with water, ate a carb breakfast, Cliff bar, Banana and Turkey sandwich before getting into the car. I got in for my section at RM219 with a 24 Oz. squeezer in the car. I guzzled a 12oz. at each of 3 fuel pits and barely touched the in-car squeezer. Our pit crew topped off the squeezers too but after 9 hours and 315 miles later there was still water left. Not only did I stay cool in my 3 layer suit with full length SFI gloves but after a while I used the catheter twice in 315 miles. So, I have found, if you are still sweating and pissing; you’re hydrated. When you stop sweating that is when you have something to worry about. Once you lose all your water and potassium you are headed for elevated blood pressure and ultimately a heart attack.
Disclaimer: I have formerly done my share of smoking and drinking and by no means consider myself an elite athlete. I am also 41.
I think the problem most people have is not going into a race hydrated. During the race it's too late. I have been out in the desert for the last three weeks. I drank plenty of fluids on a regular basis. All week at the race I felt great!
Big thing to look at if your on blood pressure meds.. a day or two before the MORE July race I had a blood pressure increase and was prescribed a Diuretic medication to lower my blood pressure.. I didnt realize that this would really have an impact and actually forced me out of the car with severe pain end of lap one.. I was hydrated all week but the Diuretic dehydrated me severely lap one and my blood thickened and flowed slower causing the pain..
Check your blood pressure meds now with your doctor to eliminate the risk of dehydration causes by the meds..
Originally Posted by yamaducci
Once you lose all your water and potassium you are headed for elevated blood pressure and ultimately a heart attack.
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This phrase from the yamaducci post is the real deal and people on certain BP meds need to be careful and consult your doctor about a med change if possible..
That scenario "tried" to get me at the MORE July race and got me out of the car all messed up. Even after regular gym visits and good hydrating before hand it was an unexpected, painful and bad experiance.
2009 MORE Series Overall Points Champ and Jeepspeed #1797
Unrelated to desert racing directly but just less than a week before heading to V2R we experienced temps about 107 for a week here in MD. My mother was on one of those potassium robbing diuretic HBP meds and after visiting a friend in her air conditioned car had lost all potassium getting to and from the car (in the heat). By 9PM she was rushed to the hospital by Ambulance for possible heart attack. I do understand and want to drive that home to some of you who may not think of all the factors that contribute to dehydration.
Had she not been allergic to citric acid she may have been eating more bananas to get the potassium. That was not the case; so I eat bananas leading up to and before the race. They also help with leg cramps.
Raced Dist 37 for years in the heat - 50/50 water, pedialyte. Electrolyte & Calcium & Salt tablets as a supplement to ward off fatigue and cramps. No sugar or alcohol 48 hours before event.
Originally Posted by Dirtworks Films
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