Some sports help you get fit, while others demand you are already fit. Take running for example: Anyone who is physically able can start running – they just run short distances and build on their fitness. But when it comes to adventure travel and extreme sports, where you have to be prepared to survive in the harshest of climates, or push your body to its limits, fitness is essential.
In the first in a series, we look at what the body needs to survive when it is being worked hard. This week: Water
Water makes up 70 per cent of the planet’s surface, but very little of this is fresh water (2.5 per cent) and less than one per cent can be used as drinking water.
And we need it. We need it to maintain everyday body functions, such as converting food into energy and for the good health of our joints. During exercise the body sweats to help cool skin surfaces and finds it difficult to replace water at the rate we sometimes use it up.
So whether we are sailing on it, diving under it, or just trying to navigate to it, it is vital for our survival. No wonder we like it so much!
Thirst is the body’s way of stimulating us to get some fluid on, but the smart athletes pre-drink and maintain good hydration levels as they exercise.
Even just a week without water is enough to bring a very quick end to the great adventure we call life; but its certainly not all doom and gloom. Water is everywhere – it’s just hard to source the good stuff.
So, as we need so much, and given it’s not the easiest thing to find, what are the options? How do we stay hydrated during our travels?
Option 1: Carry more – Easy to dismiss, however, you should never leave without enough supplies, and you should always carry a significant reserve.
(Problem: it’s damn heavy. Living out of a rucksack and off the beaten track, you’ll be pushed to carry enough water to last more than 36hrs.)
Option2: Plan better – All journeys benefit from meticulous planning, so take your time and plot vital resources before you head out – even when you are taking a vehicle.
Option3: Purify water: Explorers on longer trips have no choice but to take water purification equipment with them.
How did you manage to keep hydrated on your adventures? Are there any tips you picked up along the way?
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