Using your CamelbaK

Some people can skate 60 miles while they are on their way to the gym. But for normal people, including me, going that long is quite an endeavor. When my $25 pro-rated CamelbaK arrived for winners of the WAR raffle, I was relieved. I knew it would come in handy on my upcoming 60 mile skate challenge on the W&OD 45 mile long rail-trail.

To prepare for a long day of physical exercise, Water, and a camelback plays an essential role. First thing to do is decide what to put in it. Water, Gatorade, Ice Tea, Vodka? Whatever refreshes you the most, but on a hot day: keep it cold. I like mixing about half water and half Gatorade with a shot or two of Absolut. Anyways, I didn't have any Gatorade so just water will do fine. I checked for the usual new-canteen plast-icky taste, and found that it was almost gone after a good rinse.

Last year: problems with Thirst
I had skated the 60 miles the prior year and embarrassed myself with a patented hour-long 50-miler nap. One of my biggest problems on last year's foot-aching bone-tiring 60 mile endeavor was the limited supply of water along the trail. I am used to skating in urban areas where a dense network of convenience store never turns away a thirsty skater in need of a $1-$2 cold sport drink. Skating on the old railroad track that goes out into rural and suburban areas is different. Only a few places along the trail offer water or cold drinks. But this year I would have drinking water at the ready in my new 70fl oz. CamelbaK Rouge.

Prepping the CamelbaK for the skate.
Put a small first aid kit in the extra pocket. Just the basics... some bandaids, gauze pads, and moleskin. (Put these in a ziplock bag to keep dry.) Also a rust-proof skate tool in case of technical problems.

The night before, fill up the water tank and throw the CamelbaK in the fridge (but not in the freezer) so that it can cool. While some people prefer to drink at room temperature, cool beverages feel nicer and offer much more refreshing results on a hot day. Add a few cubes of ice on extra-hot days. I stuff a couple of bananas in the camelback's mesh pouch for some good trail food before I go.

Starting the skate and dealing with weather.
I wake up extra early and as I make my way to the starting point. At 7:30 AM the temperature is a comfortably warm 80 degrees. It's going to be a scorcher... highs 98-99. Plenty humid too. Luckily I have a 70 oz camelback full of nice cold water to start the day. We start off fast. I skate with a group of skaters going full speed ahead for the next rest stop, about 14 miles. Get there about one and a half hours later, hotter and more tired. During my usual activities, I usually have stopped skating by 14 miles.

Still skating and still dealing with weather.
By the time I get there my handy camelback is nearly depleted. I unscrew the easy-access cap and add some water and a bottle of gatorade. I didn't top it off, because there's plenty of water. Much later at mile 20, another break... but just a mile marker... No water, no store. I assess my situation. I am hot, feel tired, I can start to feel blisters, but I've still got some water left. Much of my group turns back for an even 40 mile long skate. The hot weather is starting to get oppressive. I can't last 40 more miles, but I can and do go a little farther before turning around for the 2nd half.

Gone dry in thirsty weather.
Shortly after the 20 mile break, my CamelbaK runs dry in the oppressive heat. I don't want to skate the full 60 miles today, I'm ready to turn around (thats still 46 miles of skating.) I start the second half after 23 miles, at about noon on this hot suny day. The heat and humidity are ever-present. Nobody is going to set any personal records on a day like this. On the way back I take each available opportunity to pause the punishment and stop at the trail-side convienence stores for a couple dollars worth of Gatorade, water, and air-conditioning.

In the first convenience store on the way back, a bunch of downtrodden, drenched, and sweaty construction workers come through at the same time as me. One takes a look at me as I gulp down a liter of water, and remarks: "Man you are exercising on a day like this? I wish I had your life."

Plodding back towards the end of the challenge
With the heat index around 105 and a voracious thirst, I go through several refills of my water tank and plod along towards the goal. Most of the other skaters are having the same kinds of challenges and are almost all using their CamelbaKs the way they were intended. When I finally reach the end, it is about 5 and a half hours later. Not bad time considering the heat. When I reach my car, I sit for several minutes until an afternoon thunderstorm blows through and I treat myself to a late but large lunch. Amazingly when I got to the tavern, I wasn't even thirsty.

CamelBak Advanced Hydration System, or a backpack with a water pouch in it. An easy hands-free way to drink your water. http://www.camelbak.com/