How Should I Carry Water for runDisney Races and Training?

Season 3 of Running to the Castle Podcast w/ Dr. Ali Marty

Episode 222 Is a Hydration Vest OK to Use on a Short Run runDisney Races

In this episode of Running to the Castle, Dr. Ali answers a listener question about the best way to carry water during runDisney training and races… and whether hydration vests are basically the same thing as weighted vests. 

She breaks down the pros and cons of handheld bottles versus hydration vests, explains why hydration needs are different from adding extra weight for training, and shares why she personally prefers a handheld bottle because of sensory overload and claustrophobia. 

Dr. Ali also dives into one of the biggest mistakes slow, back-of-the-pack, or injury-prone runners make… waiting until long runs to test hydration gear instead of gradually building tolerance from the beginning. 

Along the way, she shares practical hydration strategies, discusses how heat and environment affect training decisions, and explains why thoughtful planning matters so much for Dopey and marathon training.