----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Bridgeland <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sunday, February 24, 2002 4:11 am
Subject: Re: Paleo and extreme exertion

> Wanna know how crazy this guy was? He didn't let us DRINK! Well he
> didn't put it like that. He just had us train so far away from the
> water fountain that we couldn't get there for more than a seconds
> quick swallow. He wouldn't unlock the gate so we had to climb a chain
> link fence to get to the water fountain between sets. He brought
> gatorade for his drafted runners, but anyone not on the first
> team, he
> said there wasn't money in the budget for. So we didn't even get water
> usually. We were too young and dumb to know that a few letters to the
> Dean or the local newspaper would have solved the problem. I would sue
> the guy if I caught him treating my kids that way now. That on top of
> the ridiculously high training levels, it doesn't surprise me that he
> couldn't keep a team together a whole season. I have heard horror
> stories from other college runners similar to mine, it is common I
> think. 20 years later it still makes me furious.

Ah, yes. Reminds me of my high school football coach in 1966. We had
intense workouts in the heat and very infrequent access to a faucet.
Even when we were allowed to line up for water he would yell, "just
rinse out your mouths!" It was very common for guys to be pushed so
hard they would puke. But I think this was sincere ignorance. Many
people really believed you shouldn't have water while exercising.

To bring this somewhat back on topic, I haven't seen water intake
discussed in connection with paleo diets. I've found amazing health
benefits in the last two years from drinking large amounts of water
every day. Seems to me that drinking lots of water (vs getting most
your liquids from fruit or tea, etc) should be a major element of a
paleo diet.

John Battle