Q & A: Does it matter when I drink during a long race?
Posted June 8th, 2007 at 7:15 AM by Jeanie Rebb
Section: Nutrition, Hydration, Health & Fitness, Exercise
A study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows that drinking fluids earlier can improve performance more than taking them later (International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, December 2006).
Seven highly-trained male triathletes, aged 18 to 35 years, were tested during two simulated Olympic-distance triathlons. They took a full glass of water at 8, 16, 24, and 32 kilometers, and this was compared to taking the same drink 2, 4, 6 and 8 kilometers later in the event (at 10, 20, 30, and 40 kilometers).
As you would expect, opening swim times for 1500 meters were similar between trials; as were the second event (40-km cycling) times, but the third event (10-km run) times were faster when the athletes took food and drink earlier. Dehydration does not harm an athlete’s performance until he lacks a large amount of water and his blood volume is depleted significantly. That explains why the athletes’ performance was not harmed until the third event of the three-event competition.
This post is written by Dr. Gabe Mirkin, M.D. and used with permission. Dr. Mirkin is board certified in Sports Medicine and has practiced for over 40 years. He has completed more than 40 marathons and was a talk show host of a nationally-syndicated radio program for about 25 years. For more articles by Dr. Mirkin, please check out: www.DrMirkin.com
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Tags: blood volume, chapel hill, dehydration, dr. gabe mirkin, drink, drinking, endurance event, fluids, hydration, long race, multi sport athlete, multi sport event, performance, race, study, triathletes, UNC, university of north carolina, water
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The Final Sprint
[…] Q & A: Does it matter when I <b>drink</b> during a long race? […]
June 8th, 2007 at 9:37 aminteresting article and intriguing study by UNC (Tarheel Pride!!)
June 8th, 2007 at 11:54 am