In my experience running hundreds of races—including 30 marathons—over more than three decades, I’ve tried just about every possible way to avoid taking a Gatorade bath. The most successful method involves a finger hook and pinch of the cup. To prove that, we tested the “pinch” method against other techniques.
Best Folding Treadmills Amanda Furrer said she didn’t think this method was any better than how she’d previously grabbed water in a race. A week later, as she blew past me on the Boston Marathon course, I watched her grab three cups—all using the pinch! She fessed up later that, yes, it is in fact a superior method.
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Jeff is Runner-in-Chief for Runner's World, guiding the brand's shoes and gear coverage. A true shoe dog, he's spent more than a decade testing and reviewing shoes. In 2017, he ran in 285 different pairs of shoes, including a streak of 257 days wearing a different model.