Fluid and electrolyte balance during the comrades marathon
Dancaster, C.P.; Whereat, S.J.
South African Medical Journal 45(6): 147-150
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 5553596 Document Number: 42360
The amount of sweat lost during a race of 54 miles by 17 runners was from 4.3 litres, by a runner only drinking 200 ml fluid, to 12.8 litres, that runner drinking 9.6 litres. The heaviest runners had the greatest sweat losses. Although fluid intake was generally high, all the runners finished the race with a negative water balance. The 2 runners with the greatest water deficits had temperatures of 102 degrees and 101 degrees F.