Objective: To relate changes in laboratory indices to dietary intake during extremely prolonged running and to determine if dietary intake influences the ability of runners to finish an 160 km trail race. Methods: We monitored intake and serum chemistries of 26 runners competing in an 160 km foot race in temperatures which peaked at 38 degrees C. Blood was drawn pre-, mid- and post-race. Dietary intake and incidence of gastrointestinal distress or changes in mental status were determined by interview with runners approximately every 13 km. Twenty-three runners completed at least 88 kms and, of these 23 runners, 13 finished 160 km in a mean time of 26.2 +/- 3.6 hours. Results: Finishers ingested nearly 30,000 J, 19.4 +/- 8.1 L of fluid and 16.4 +/- 9.5 g of sodium (Na). Sodium and fluid intake per hour was estimated to be 0.6 g/hour and 0.7 L/hour, respectively. Electrolyte intake during the first half of the race was similar between those that finished the race and those that did not. Finishers ingested fluid at a greater rate than non-finishers (p = 0.01) and tended to meet their caloric needs more closely than did non-finishers (p = 0.09). Body weight was unchanged […]
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