Lack of Awareness of Fluid Needs Among Participants at a Midwest Marathon

BACKGROUND Marathon running has become popular, particularly among inexperienced runners. HYPOTHESIS Many marathoners are inexperienced and lack concern for potential complications of marathon running. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. METHODS In sum, 419 runners completed a survey on a variety of topics regarding training for a marathon and hydration strategies. RESULTS Overall, 211 females (38.3 ± 9.1 years old) and 208 males (41.6 ± 11.0 years old) participated. They trained for 6.8 ± 4.3 months and had run for 9.8 ± 9.1 years; 33.5% had no marathon experience and 16.9% had run 1 marathon. Of the injuries reported, 77.6% and 72.9% were minor musculoskeletal injuries during the current and previous running seasons, respectively. Of the 278 runners who had run a marathon, 54 (19.0%) had been treated in the medical tent, 31.5% of whom for dehydration. Furthermore, 54.9% and 64.3% of the survey participants were "not at all" concerned with musculoskeletal injury and hyponatremia, respectively. Also, 88.7% did not know their sweat rate; 67.8% did not weigh themselves; and 81.3% had no other method of hydration assessment. No significant correlations were found between concern for hyponatremia and age, sex, or experience. CONCLUSIONS Most participants were inexperienced, lacked concern for injury or hyponatremia, and were not using methods of hydration assessment.