Hydration: Experts advise drinking discipline in preparation and competition, even in the cooler months of the year
During an hour of running training, fluid loss can be up to one and a half liters. And proper drinking is also an important building block for success in competitions.
When thirst comes, it's too late: that's the common denominator among experts. Especially when the temperatures in the departing winter and coming spring are often but not sweaty, people forget to drink, increasing the risk of dehydration. Marathon sponsor Peeroton will also be providing various gels at the lab stations at the 21st Linz Danube Marathon, in addition to iso drinks in a variety of flavors.
Water is often sufficient for normal exertion, but isotonic drinks are recommended for longer units and also in competition. These are absorbed at maximum speed in the body and compensate for fluid and electrolyte losses. "Dehydration resulting from fluid loss not only affects performance, but also influences general health. First, the body tries to compensate for water loss by drawing fluid from the blood and tissues. As a result, the blood thickens. As a result, the heart has to work harder to pump it through the body," says Robert Fritz, a sports physician and consultant at Peeroton.
While you might drink an entire bucket empty after a run in the heat, you more often fail to feel thirsty after a long run in cold, wet conditions. However, it is a dangerous misconception that the body thus does not need hydration. Even in colder temperatures, the fluid balance must always be regulated appropriately. And: Even if you don't sweat as much in the cold, the body needs all the more energy to maintain body temperature. In the process, you lose at least as much fluid as you do in the heat. "Therefore, make sure that you consume just as much fluid after a cold running workout as you do during a hot one," advises Andreas Trippl, Managing Director of the leading sports nutrition provider on the Austrian market.
A liquid contribution to ensuring that the runners in Linz fill up on "Super" instead of "Normal" will also be provided by the Starzinger beverage group, which will once again supply the starting field with Frankenmarkter mineral water. "As Upper Austria's only mineral water, it's important to us to be a partner of the Linz Marathon," says August Starzinger. The company is also in the fast lane when it comes to sustainability. In 2017, Starzinger built a state-of-the-art PET plant, operates its own hydroelectric power plant, which already covers 45 percent of its energy needs with a PV system, and is also converting its company cars completely to electric operation.
Source: nachrichten.at
Photo: Klaus Mitterhauser
