This Page

has been moved to new address

Too much drinking, and I don't mean holiday drinking

Sorry for inconvenience...

Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration Service
5ksandcabernets: Too much drinking, and I don't mean holiday drinking

5ksandcabernets

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Too much drinking, and I don't mean holiday drinking

Ok, promise, this is my last word on my White Rock Lake Marathon.

I'm going to spend the next year trying to figure out why I cramped so bad, taking 27 minutes to finish the last 2.2 miles. Like I said in my marathon report, I wasn't out of breath, and I didn't feel real tired (comparatively speaking - running 26.2 miles is tiring!)

So, I went back over my Garmin sportstrack readout and found something interesting. I stopped for water at 18 aide stations. And I didn't just get a quick swig and take off, I took two cups most of the time and drank every drop. Yeah, it was windy and hot (high 60s, 80 percent humidity), but I never felt thirsty. I just drank because there was water, not because I felt like I needed it.

And the bad thing is this: In training during long runs, I drank at every water station, but those stations were spaced two miles apart. Obviously, having taken water 18 times during the marathon, I was stopping almost every mile.

I literally washed the electrolytes right out of my body.

I was cramping soooo bad because there was no sodium or potassium left in my body. It was all on my face.

And why did I drink so much? I just wasn't paying attention. I did what I did in training by drinking at every station, but didn't take into account how far the water stations were spaced apart. Again, I know it was hot, but I've run in that heat _ or worse _ before. I've even raced long distances in worse heat. It was at least 70 degrees when I ran a 1:38 half marathon on Nov.4 and I only stopped at two water stations then.

I also think I didn't help myself because I didn't stretch enough late in the marathon. But I think the culprit is I drank too much. I was over-hydrated, giving me no chance to have a cramp-free marathon.

I could just kick myself.


UPDATE: Billy and Derek asked me a good question in the comments section. What about my use of electrolytes during the run? How could I forget such an important detail. Here is how I tried to "stay salty," during the marathon.

"I took 9 hammer endurolyte tablets, including the last three just before
mile 19. Each endurolyte capsule had, among other things, 40 mg of sodium and 25
mg of potassium. So, I guess for the first two plus hours, I had 360 mg of
sodium and 225 mg of potassium.This doesnt seem like a lot, I know, but if you
throw in all the water I drank, it made things worse, I think. I dont do well
with gatorade or power aide and in fact, late in the race, I started taking
gatorade endurance (because i was out of endurolytes) and things just kept going
down hill."

Labels: ,

10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm telling you, in the heat of battle, we lose control of logic!! But we learn as we go...and hope we can actually remember it while we're accomplishing that goal!!

December 28, 2008 at 5:25 PM  
Blogger Laura said...

That's really interesting, and a very good point. I usually take both water AND gatorade but don't pay much attention to which I take... it usually just depends on my mood at the time and whether I want something plain or sweet/salty. That's scary to think you can wash the electrolytes away.

Sorry they washed away a better time for you too :(

December 28, 2008 at 5:54 PM  
Blogger Kevin said...

moot point - i totally agree. we get competitive and we lose our minds.

laura - i meant to tell you i saw a marathon maniac person during my marathon... he is actually in the video that was shot.

December 28, 2008 at 5:57 PM  
Blogger Billy said...

But weren't you taking in plenty of Endurolytes too? And were there NO sports drinks that they were handing out during the race?

I dunno...maybe there's something to over-analyzing and over-scrutinzing something too much..

The jury's still out on the causes of cramps. For myself, I attribute it to muscle fatigue as the primary culprit. But it may be different for each person.

Can't wait until the day some Johns Hopkins genius has an 'AH HA' moment and figures this thing out once and for all.

Until that day, I guess it's still trial-and-error for us.

December 28, 2008 at 10:14 PM  
Blogger Derek said...

I drank the Gatorade Endurance at every aid station and only took water when I was taking a Gu, which was 5 times, not sure when I took them though. The Endurance formula has 200mg sodium and 90mg potassium per 8oz, which should help keep your electrolytes up. Did you take water only, or supplement with endurolytes? With the high heat and humidity extra electrolytes were needed!!

December 28, 2008 at 10:23 PM  
Blogger Kevin said...

billy, derek - good points. i forgot to mention, i took 9 hammer endurolyte tablets, including the last three just before mile 19. each endurolyte capsule had, among other things, 40 mg of sodium and 25 mg of potassium. So, I guess for the first two plus hours, I had 360 mg of sodium and 225 mg of potassium.
This doesnt seem like a lot, I know, but if you throw in all the water I drank, it made things worse, I think. I dont do well with gatorade or power aide and in fact, late in the race, I started taking gatorade endurance (because i was out of endurolytes) and things just kept going down hill.

December 29, 2008 at 1:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I saw a lot of people stop with cramps during White Rock, so I'm wondering if this was a common problem.
Looks like you've done a lot of races in the Dallas area. Have you heard much about the Big D marathon? It might be the next step for me.

December 29, 2008 at 4:29 PM  
Blogger Lindsay said...

an interesting point to ponder. it could very well be why, or a part of why, you cramped up. i hope you are able to pinpoint (for sure) whatever caused the cramps so you can prepare for them and not have to go through that again. i'm glad the video is up although i haven't had a chance to watch it yet - hopefully this week!

December 29, 2008 at 8:45 PM  
Blogger Marci said...

At least you were getting fluids in during the race! I was the total opposite. The cramping and dehydration got so bad I couldn't continue after mile 14.

What a tough day it was... but we all managed to learn something... didn't we?

December 30, 2008 at 6:41 AM  
Blogger Runner Leana said...

I think I did that in the Quebec Marathon as well. At the end of the race my hands and fingers were so swollen. I'm going to try to combat that on my next marathon by carrying fluids with me (nuun to be exact) so that I don't have to rely on the aid stations.

December 31, 2008 at 7:18 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home