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I did read that article and although I felt it raised some very good points, I think we all need to apply what is read very carefully. I am certainly no expert but I am in the health field and took several excercise physiology as well as biochemistry, nutrition, etc... classes in grad school. I think that people get hurt when they take hydration to an extreme. For example, a girlfriend of mine consumed 9 liters of water the day before her marathon last fall, continued to drink water with some gel during the race, and suffered many of the symptoms mentioned in the article. It may well have cost her a BQ.
BUT...I know for a fact that I would not make it on the small amount of fluids that are recommended in that article. When I ran in college I had chronic bladdder infections that completely subsided with better hydration. I know of many other women who have had similar experiences. The friend I mentioned earlier had irritable bowel sympotoms for years that also subsided when she made time in her work day to consume more fluids.
My big fear about that article is that women will now be terrified to drink water and will be dropping from dehydration during races. Also, I fear people may not consider that they lose water from perspiration throughout the entire day not just during their workouts.
OK, I will stop babbling. I guess my point is that I think it is important to apply what you read according to what is right for you. No, it probably was not smart for my friend to drink so much plain water before her fall marathon. And yes, it is important to make sure to include adequate electrolyte consumption prior to, during and after your runs. But on the same token, it seems extreme and possibly dangerous for all women to suddenly and completely change their hydration habits just because Runner's World presents a few people's research that says they should.
Again, sorry for my babbling response!!!
Also, just because this is a women's running page, can men throw in their 2 cents worth? I would love to hear what Dr Z and others with knowledge in this area have to say...
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