Water help! Hydration without urination...? LOL

During the race I would tend to think that there is not enough time to pee, you will be focused on racing.

But that said you could happily pee while running (I've never done it but that's what I have heard they do in the Ironman races) and if it's on a beach, could you not run into the water to 'cool down' and then back to the beach.

 It's better to drink enough and need to pee than to end up dehydrated, maybe you should try drinking something like HEED (from Hammer) in your bottle to ensure that you are replacing your minerials as well as your liquids.

Good luck

Thanks Astro.  I don't think I'll be needing to go so bad that I'd do it while running since it's only a sprint tri, but the suggestion to just run into the water isn't one I'd thought of and it is quite reasonable!  I'll ask the race director if its okay.  I'm hoping I won't need to go, but it'll be good to know just in case.  Running with a full bladder is terrible!  You bring up a good point that its simply better to drink enough though.  I will look into the HEED, although, do you think its necessary for such a short race?  Or, could that be why I'm getting dehydrated even on short 3-mile runs... 

Also, when racing, do you drink at regular intervals, or whenever you remember, or whenever you feel thirsty?

If you are getting dehydrated on short runs you are probably chronically dehydrated. I try to drink 3-5 32 oz bottles of water a day and I dont even carry watter on a 3 mile run. One of the problems with being dehydrated is you pee as soon as you drink because you need to flush out the crap. Getting well hydrated all the time will improve your race times and help with this problem as well.

As far as your race if you can pee on the swim you will probably make it through the race. I have pee'd on the bike but never on the run. There is no drafting in triathlon so I figure if they get wet they were too close anyways!

I do wonder sometimes if my salt intake is not high enough...  I know I don't drink as much water as I'd like to be drinking, but I make a concerted effort to keep up.  I will definitely boost my water intake in the days before and my salt the night before too.  Maybe I can also try to drink at regular intervals....?  Maybe every 10 minutes?

 Also, piggpen35, that's an interesting point about drinking water when you're dehydrated and having it go right through you.  I hadn't heard that but I wonder if that is happening with me.  Sometimes I go too long without water and then drink too much all at once.  I feel like I can never get on top of being well hydrated even though I walk around with a 40oz Kleen Kanteen all day!  Gah!  Like I said, I will really really really try to up my water intake in the coming days before the race.  And onward!  Its so important but I really struggle.... 

Drink two bottles of a sport drink with electrolytes the day before the race then hydrate the day of with something with electrolytes instead of just water.  Drink something more than just water for any training or race over an hour.

K