How much electrolytes?

[StefanP]

Hi all,

I have purchased quite a few 25ml bottles of Elete electrolytes.
Each bottle of 25ml is enough for 10 liters of water according to the label.

Would it be reasonable to assume that I can consume 25ml of electrolytes per day? Meaning that I would drink 10 liters of water with 2.5 ml of electrolytes in each liter.

Would like to hear some info from people who have used electrolytes previously. I have no experience with them and I want to make sure I don't get a loose stomach because of drinking to much electrolytes.

[Team Axarsport]

Hi all,

I have purchased quite a few 25ml bottles of Elete electrolytes.
Each bottle of 25ml is enough for 10 liters of water according to the label.

Would it be reasonable to assume that I can consume 25ml of electrolytes per day? Meaning that I would drink 10 liters of water with 2.5 ml of electrolytes in each liter.

Would like to hear some info from people who have used electrolytes previously. I have no experience with them and I want to make sure I don't get a loose stomach because of drinking to much electrolytes.

Hi Stefan,
You won't get a loose stomach from drinking too much electrolyte but you will if you drink too much water.
You are issued with 1.5litre at each CP so if you use two 750ml Podium bottles (not a bladder) you can split the issued water, add just under a capful of Eletewater to each and off you go. If you drink as you go along and as you feel comfortable rather than trying to drink the lot then at next CP you can pour spare over your head or whatever. Then repeat. You may not use full top up bottle/10litre so any left will go into the water you are cooking with. One top up bottle and one 125ml bottle should be enough for the race.
The beauty of Eletewater is that it hasn't any taste, if you want flavour then you can always add a nuun tablet but beware as they do cause the water to explode out of bottle when you flip the top.
The majority of folk who have trained out here at the Desert Runner Training Camps have all been very happy with Eletewater because it works.
Loose stomachs are caused because folk drink too much fluid mainly because they don't train and learn to manage water needs. Best to get your carbs from bars or proper food and leave electrolytes/water carb free.
Adios.

[Rab Lee]

I did a similar thing to what Paul suggests only using Nuun tablets, keeping one bottle of water for electrolytes and one for plain water, remember you will be taking in some salts via your food. In any case I think your more than likely to pass any excess elite/nuun
You will be issued with "salt" tablets, but in my case I found them a load of pish. I was dubious about using something untested, after the first couple I felt bloated and they made me spew, so I ditched the majority of them only keeping enough for show if asked at the CP's
only my opinion mind,

[Fatlad]

Stefan,

In my opinion I don't actually think you'll drink the 10 litre quota, or even close to it. Although it's obviously much hotter in the desert and water management is absolutely critical, folks can get too hung up on the volumes they are "expected" to drink. Drink little and often and be sensible. If you are peeing regularly and it's straw coloured you are laughing. If you don't think you drank much during the stage make sure you top up in the evening. You'll get loads of water so if you try and drink it all you could end up making yourself ill.

I switched to elite water half way through cause I just couldn't hack the strong flavour of the Isostar I had taken. Elitewater is brilliant for all the reasons Paul explained, but if you have a variety of savoury snacks as well as your main meals you should get plenty of salt and electrolytes from food in addition to your elitewater.

So, think about how much fluid you currently drink, your sweat rate and your most likely pace during the event and try to make a good educated guess.

Good luck!!

[Gav]

Has anyone used Endurolyte capsules? I used them a lot last summer and found them great to stop cramping towards the end of long runs. I was planning to use them and have some nuuns as a back up. If they don't work then Bombay Mix is my plan C!!horse

[Rab Lee]

I rember reading on here about an American girl that used them on a grand canyon rim to rim run, she had problems with them not disolving in the stomach due to lack of stomach acid or lack of fluid or something may be worth having a trawl through the old posts

[StefanP]

Thanks for all the great info guys! Very helpful indeed!

[Rich]

Used endurolytes in 3 deserts so far and had no problems. You always know how much you are taking in as it's a few capsules an hour.

[ChrisMac]

I used the endurolytes for a hot hundred miler in the States last year and thought they worked well. During the heat of the day had one every 20 mins or so.

[Tin Tin]

I did most of my training using endurolytes and didn't have any problems with them. During the last few months before the MdS I decided to give elete water a go and liked it so I stuck with that in the end. Both worked for me but best to experiement before you go.