This year, according to records, I suffered from a swollen jaw and lack of
energy four times: the second half of June, early August, mid-October, and early
November. Each time, training came to a slump for at least one week. I used
to blame fish, coffee, some virus, over-training, and stress from work but
finally, I believed it had been mainly dehydration.

It took me a while, however, to find the best way to hydrate. Plain water was
boring and so was tea. Coffee was addictive. Watermelons tasted great but only
in season and they came with calories. Vegetable juices were healthy but
juicing itself was a lot of hassle. It seemed to be a hard problem and, like many
problems, the solution came from an unexpected direction.

One day, the Chinese farmer that I followed online went down with kidney stones,
reminding me of my friend Summer's painful hospital stay a couple of years back.
The farmer was instructed to avoid many foods. I, however, was interested in
prevention as I ate plenty of nuts and salty stuff for running. After some
research, I found that lemon, a rich source of Vitamin C, was good for
preventing stones. A few tries later, I realized that lemon water tasted good
enough to supply all my fluid needs.

The weather helped in sticking with the choice. As I lived in my old house 
without turning on heat, hot water warmed me up. I might turn to a different
beverage in summer but so far the simple acidic drink had done splendidly.

Since November, I started to have more than three glasses each day. Anytime
chewing felt slightly painful, I would double the dosage. As a result, I visited
the bathroom more often, my pee would turn clear, and the gum pain would
disappear. Sleeping, stretching, running, and weight-lifting all seemed to
improve and a sense of well-being has come to stay.

Hallelujah!