THERE is an underlying fear of dehydration, compounded by billboard reminders not to neglect fluid intake, that mean it is rare to spot a recreational runner who is not clutching a drinks bottle. Such is the preoccupation with drinking enough that research from Loyola University in Chicago reported how almost one in ten of the ‘fun-running’ brigade drink as much as possible and before they are thirsty while 36.5% of them sip fluid according to a preset schedule or to maintain a certain body weight.
Their practices are at odds with the drinking habits of more serious athletes, the majority of whom would not consider consuming fluid on the run unless in training for a marathon or beyond. Yet, even at club level and above, the mixed messages about drinking for sport – from scientists and manufacturers – have diluted our reasoning and caused a mild state of fluid confusion. What should athletes be drinking and when? Here we present the latest findings:
Recreational runners are often armed with drinks bottles and many are over-doing it when it comes to fluid intake