BYOV

I remember once as a little girl, I went out to dinner with my parents.  As the waitress was delivering our beverages, my dad asked her if the restaurant’s drinks were “bottomless”.  I’ll never forget her look of utter confusion as she held up the glass, looked underneath it and said, “Um…no?”

I was reading the literature for our upcoming trail race, and no less than seven times do they mention in all caps: THIS IS A CUPLESS RACE!  The first and obvious assumption I made was quite alarming since, whilst I don’t know much about jock straps, any race where a guy would even consider wearing protection over his nether regions is one I don’t want to be a part of it.

Turns out, it actually means that the organizers are providing water dispensers along the route, but the onus is on the runners to provide their own, well, cups.  Additionally, since we'll be running throughout the night, there will also be a hot water station.  They suggest you bring two containers, one for hot liquids and one for cold.

While it’s not specifically stated, I believe all this cupless-ness is in order to prevent litter on the trail.  Anyone who’s participated in a 10K will be familiar with messy water stations and garbage bins that runneth over with sopping paper cups. I applaud the effort to keep the trail clean, but I must admit that I hate having to carry my own cup while I run.  Like any good American, whatever concern I have for the environment is completely trumped by my own self-interests.  I suppose I could buy a water belt, but I’ve spent too many hours mocking people who wear them that I can’t bring myself to join their ranks. 

I know I’ll end up holding an empty water bottle to refill as needed.  I suppose it is far better to Bring Your Own Vessel than to die of dehydration.  All I know is that once I’ve finished running my cupless race, I intend to fill my vessel with celebratory libations that will undoubtedly be bottomless.