Body Mass Changes Across a Variety of Running Race Distances in the Tropics

Current literature evaluating body mass (BM) changes across a variety of running race distances is limited. The primary objective of this study was to profile the range of BM changes across race distances. The secondary objective was to evaluate the prevalence of exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) in runners admitted to the on-site medical tent following participation of race events of different distances.

A total of 1934 runners across seven footrace categories (10-, 21-, 25-, 42-, 50-, 84-, and 100-km) were included in the study. One thousand eight hundred eighty-seven runners had their BM measured before and after each race. Blood sodium concentrations were measured from the remaining 47 symptomatic runners admitted to the on-site medical tents and did not complete the race.

In terms of hydration status, 106 (6 %) were overhydrated, 1377 (73 %) were euhydrated, and 404 (21 %) were dehydrated. All race distances exhibited similar percentage of overhydrated runners (5 % in 10 km, 3 % in 21 km, 5 % in 25 km, 6 % in 42 km, 8 % in 50 km, 7 % in 84 km, and 6 % in 100 km). Forty-seven runners were admitted to the medical tents. Eight (17 %) were diagnosed with EAH (4 from 42 km, 2 from 84 km, 2 from 100 km), 38 (81 %) were normonatremic, and 1 (2 %) was hypernatremic. The % ΔBM across all races ranged from -8.0 to 4.1 % with a greater decrement noted in the 42-, 50-, 84-, and 100-km categories.

Approximately 3-8 % runners had increased post-race BM, suggesting overhydration regardless of race distance. Symptomatic EAH was seen at race distances at or above 42 km, where BM changes demonstrated the widest range of values.