Runners Education: Proper Hydration UW Health Sports Medicine
This is another installation in a series of runners education
articles written by UW Health Sports Medicine staff. Hydration
plans are a significant part of the training process for
distance events. While a number of factors can affect hydration,
runners can and should begin to normalize their routines for
hydration to prepare for race day. Hydration strategies have
changed over time. For a time, runners were advised to drink
fluids frequently and not allow thirst to set in. This practice
led to problems with overhydration and the onset of severe and
sometimes life-threatening conditions. So what is a runner to
do? If insufficient fluids can lead to one set of problems and
too many fluids can lead to a different set of health problems,
how do runners decide how much to drink? The International
Marathon Medical Directors Association (IMMDA) suggests
returning to the body's physiological roots. Trust your body and
drink when it tells you that you nee