loops or out and back past known sources

[if you're asking about carrying devices, sorry...]

For up to 2hrs I wear a Nathan fuel belt (2 bottles) - 20oz. ! bottle of Infinit the other nuun. 1-2 gels. Longer runs 2+hrs are routed past stores/gas stations or parks wiht water avaialbility.

Routes are out and backs.

Being Canadian i have a teh benefit of the 2$ coin (2.05 USD) :) so I take one fo those and can buy a drink anywhjere along the route if need be (at store/gas station etc) Do you have any of those along your routes?

Run Out and back loops from home...if I drive somewhere I use the car as an aid station and do loops from there....I use hand held bottles...

Last weekend my brother and I planned 20 miles, so we were going to do 5 loops around my block (4.1 miles around my country block). We drove to the opposite corner and dropped 2 bottles of water, and we had gatorade and water in my yard. It was nice having water every 2 miles.

Originally I was planning on running my 21 mile bike route. The idea was to have my wife bike a shortcut to meet us at mile 5, then do the last 16 with us so she could carry our water and my daughter in the bike trailer. The 4 mile loops worked much better, especially since my brother said he couldn't do the last 4, so we just stopped at home. :(

I use either a fuel belt with 4 bottles(32 ounces)

http://www.fuelbelt.com/fuel_belts/helium.html;jsessionid=ac112b1f1f43dccccc7ddf1345609b8a9874b7095240.e3eTaxiNaN0Te34Pa38Ta38Obxz0

or a CamelBak Hydrobak (50 ounces)

http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/Pages/CAMELBAK/hydrobak-2007-red.html

or a handheld bottle

Like others, I can easily carry about 1.5-2 hours worth with me (either via fuel belt or 28oz water bottle). I used to be a fuel belt person, but I've converted over to simply holding a bottle. I never thought i would like doing that, but I've actually gotten used to it since I can't stand the feeling of the belt around me waist for the run.

As others mentioned - some ways are doing loops, but personally those drive me crazy. I try to find known water sources, think also about places you might not normally consider. For example, on one of my routes there is actually a library - most libraries in rural areas tend to have water fountains out front or just inside the door. Same goes for rec centers and places like the YMCA. Of course, small local parks also usually have rest rooms which you can fill up from.

Good luck! And don't forget that hydration is one of the most important factors in a successful long run, so don't skimp on it!

I either run through a park that has a drinking fountain or I run passed a fast food restaurant. I have never gone into a place that would not give me a cup for water. The water is cold and the food does not seem all that appetizing 10 miles into a run, so the memory of how the food looked on my run keeps me away from there for a few weeks. I am a recovering fast food addict so this works well for me.

I can do up to about 12 miles without anything...otherwise it's a fuel belt for me. They aren't as uncomfortable as I used to think they would be, and they're relatively cheap for the functionality.