- By Hannah Otto. Pro MTB'r & Gravel Racer
As a professional athlete, every detail matters. Every decision I make moves me closer or further from my goals. It really is a 24/7 job. In fact, I often joke that I'm even working when I'm sleeping because getting adequate rest and recovery is a vital part of the job.
In the same way, all of my nutrition and hydration is crucial to what I do.
A couple years ago, when we bought a new washer, we got a free test of the tap water in our house. I sort of thought the whole thing was a little silly until they sat at our kitchen table running what looked like science experiments, showing me just how many chemicals are in our water. It was a little disturbing and it got me thinking. I'm so intentional about everything that I put into my body, and I maximize every element of my life for performance. So why would I compromise on the quality of water I drink?
Partnering with Splendor Water this year has given me access to some of the purest water in the world. Splendor has won multiple awards for its purity and taste and is ranked in the Top-10 water brands in the World for Total Dissolved Solids (a way of measuring a water’s purity). I care about where my meat is sourced, the chemicals used to treat and grow my vegetables, and the risk of contaminants in my supplements, so why would I treat my water any differently? Plus, I find that water that tastes better is easier to drink consistently.
Staying hydrated is essential to my ability to perform on the bike and even mild dehydration has been shown to have significant impacts on performance. When water tastes better it’s easier for me to consume it in the quantities I need. There’s actually a reason Splendor tastes so different, and a lot of that comes down to where the water comes from.
Some of my personal hydration goals:
- Drink 500–750 mL before training
- Drink approximately 1 liter per hour while training
- Start training well-hydrated rather than trying to catch up once I’m already thirsty
- Replace the fluids and electrolytes I lose during long or hot training sessions
I also make a point of drinking consistently throughout the day, not just when I’m training.
Splendor Water begins as snowfall at the top of Cotopaxi, one of the World’s highest active volcanos. The unique geographical components of the volcano, give the water naturally occurring electrolytes including calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Splendor is also the only water on the market with naturally occurring gold and silver minerals in it.
I also think about hydration as part of recovery. The harder I train, the more important it becomes to give my body the resources it needs to recover. Staying healthy and supporting my body through the stress of hard training sessions is just as important as the training itself. Splendor’s brand materials highlight colloidal gold for its anti-inflammatory properties and support for circulation, while colloidal silver is described for its natural antibiotic, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties. Those qualities are another reason Splendor fits so naturally into my daily routine as an athlete.
While the ability to perform physically is especially important to me because it’s a major part of my job, as an athlete in an outdoor sport that relies heavily on the health of our outdoor space, it’s really important to me to work with brands that have a positive impact. Splendor is available in Recycled BPA-Free Plastic bottles and glass bottles. They also give 1% of their gross sales to organizations that better the environment and support Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands which is close to my heart after having the privilege of visiting Ecuador and the Galapagos a few years ago.
I’m always looking for ways to do things a little better. Sometimes that means another hour on the bike or another hard training session. Other times, it means paying more attention to what I put in my water bottle. For me, it's not just about drinking enough water. It's about choosing a water that I enjoy drinking, that fits the standards I have for what I put into my body, and that aligns with the places and environmental values I care about. Splendor is one of those small decisions that makes sense both for my performance and for the kind of world I want to keep riding in.
