Re: Study Cautions Runners to Limit Their Water Intake (applys to b

Coachmur-@cs.com

2005-04-16





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I read your email on hyponatremia and I do agree with you that for bike

racing it does not seem to be a problem. However, it has been theorized that

running does not allow the body to absorb as much liquid as cycling. In races

lasting over 4 hours (such as a marathon or an Ironman distance triathlon), the

opportunity to ingest fluid during the run phase is almost always there. I do not

think it is a stretch of the imagination that when an athlete is fatigued and

not as rational as she or he would normally be, they will possibly drink too

much fluid.



For endurance events lasting less than 4 hours, hyponatremia does not seem to

be a problem. It does not seem to be a problem for elite athletes in long

distance events. It seems that if you supplement your sodium intake you should

be okay. I can only speak for myself as to what it is like to have so much

fluid in my stomach that it seems to be sloshing around in my gut. I have talked

to my peers who have had similar experiences during the run portion of an

Ironman triathlon. Whether I experienced hyponatremia or not, my concern is that

hyponatremia may be more prevalent than we know right now. But, if it is not

that big a problem that some believe it is, it still seems to be good common

sense to monitor one's fluid and sodium intake.



I suggest the article in physsportsmed.com, 2000, Hyponatremia in Distance

Athletes by Dr. Noakes. It is pretty thorough.



Murphy McFarland                                                              

                                                                              

                                                                              

                       



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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">I read your email on hyponatremia and I do agree with you that for bike racing it does not seem to be a problem. However, it has been theorized that running does not allow the body to absorb as much liquid as cycling. In races lasting over 4 hours (such as a marathon or an Ironman distance triathlon), the opportunity to ingest fluid during the run phase is almost always there. I do not think it is a stretch of the imagination that when an athlete is fatigued and not as rational as she or he would normally be, they will possibly drink too much fluid.  <BR>

<BR>

For endurance events lasting less than 4 hours, hyponatremia does not seem to be a problem. It does not seem to be a problem for elite athletes in long distance events. It  seems that if you supplement your sodium intake you should be okay.  I can only speak for myself as to what it is like to have so much fluid in my stomach that it seems to be sloshing around in my gut. I have talked to my peers who have had similar experiences during the run portion of an Ironman triathlon.  Whether I experienced hyponatremia or not, my concern is that hyponatremia may be more prevalent than we know right now. But, if it is not that big a problem that some believe it is, it still seems to be good common sense to monitor one's fluid and sodium intake.  <BR>

  <BR>

I suggest the article in physsportsmed.com, 2000, Hyponatremia in Distance Athletes by Dr. Noakes. It is pretty thorough. <BR>

<BR>

Murphy McFarland                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 </FONT></HTML>



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