Getting a sense of marathon runners' experience and awareness of hydration
Growth in popularity of marathon running brings in many first-timers
Marathon running in the U.S. has grown largely in popularity since the late '70s, when most major marathons first started being held regularly. Early on, marathons runners were elite athletes who trained extremely hard and competed to win the race. Over time, less experienced runners have also started participating, many focused only on finishing the race. As a result of all these slower and less experienced runners, the frequency of injuries and the need for medical attention have also grown. Most issues on race day are related to hydration, since sweating while running results in a loss of body water, which can lead to dehydration if the runner doesn't replenish enough body water. Runners should drink enough fluids when they run, but shouldn't overdo it with water. Overhydration can lead to hyponatremia, a dangerous condition that can occur when a runner drinks too much water, which lowers the amount of sodium (salt) in the body, and in the worst cases can lead to seizures or coma. While experienced marathon runners know these risks, newcomers may not be educated enough to understand how to properly hydrate to avoid problems. Therefore, a study was conducted that evaluated these important factors for average marathon runners.
Mixed sample group fills out detailed survey for information
Participants for the 2007 Chicago Marathon were recruited to partake in the study, and 419 runners agreed and filled out a detailed survey before the marathon. The survey asked for information on age, sex, number of years running, number of completed marathons and number of months training. Runners were also asked to describe any injuries suffered during the current or previous running season, and to rate how concerned they were for musculoskeletal injury (injuries to muscles or bones) during the race. Information was also gathered on runners' preference for water or sports beverages during training and races, how much they drank during the race, if they used supplements for hydration (salt tablets, carbohydrates, etc.), and if they assessed their hydration status before or after running.
Most runners are inexperienced and don't know about risks and necessary regulations
Results showed that on average, runners had trained for about seven months and had been running for roughly nine years total. Of the 419 study participants, 135 (33.5%) had never run a marathon before and 70 (16.9%) had only run one previous marathon, while overall, 35% of all 45,463 registrants for the marathon were first-timers. Of the 278 participants who had completed a marathon in the past, 54 (19%) had gone to the medical tent, and most were there for dehydration (31.5%), cramping (16.7%) and musculoskeletal injuries (11.1%). Though only one of these runners (1.9%) went for hyponatremia, it remains a serious condition and dangerous risk for all runners. Despite the occurrence of medical tent visits, the majority of runners reported they were not at all concerned with musculoskeletal injury (54.9%) or hyponatremia (64.3%). Regarding fluid intake, 271 participants (65.3%) reported drinking both water and sports beverages during training and 298 (71%) did so on race day, with most others drinking only one of the two beverages during training and race day. While these fluid intake figures show good hydration, the majority of runners (88.7%) reported no knowledge of their sweat rate, and most of them didn't address hydration status (81.3%) before or after running.
According to these results, most runners surveyed were inexperienced, as only about half the sample ran two or more marathons in the past. In addition, most runners were not concerned with musculoskeletal injuries or hyponatremia, despite the fact that both are significant risks for marathon runners. Only a small percentage of participants used methods to assess their hydration status, but experts emphasize how important this process is, and suggest runners should weigh themselves before and after a marathon, to determine if they have overhydrated. Maintaining or gaining weight after a marathon is an alarming sign that may lead to hyponatremia. For new runners or experienced runners looking to run their first marathon, take heed to these findings. Hyponatremia and other hydration-related problems are a serious concern, and they can only be avoided by understanding proper hydration and hydration monitoring. Weigh yourself before and after a long run and understand how much hydration is the right amount. Educating runners with this knowledge will reduce the risk of injury and help make marathons run smoother and with fewer medical tent visits.
-Summarized by Greg Gargiulo
-As reported in the July '11 edition of Sports Health
