Changes in running speed in a 100km ultramarathon race

This article “Changes in running speed in a 100km ultramarathon race” dated 2004 found that the fastest group had a smaller deviation in running speed as compared to the slowest group that had the greatest deviation in running speed is actually quite pretty obvious but the research here does establish my synopsis.

My synopsis here is that faster runner usually are better prepared and trained for the event. Importantly, they had few stops for drinks and know what to drink be it water or isotonic. Slower runners groups who showed the greatest speed deviations tend to have more time to drown themselves in loads of water or isotonic, and which could be disastrous like a resultant brain edema (see my earlier articles). I am not asking you to run faster but rather be mindful of your water/isotonic intake to prevent bloating of the brain.

So you have to trained beforehand and know what forms of hydration is needed at different stages of the ultramarathon. If your electrolytes is severely unbalanced or upset during the arduous run resulting in severe cramp. Do seek medical treatment rather than continue to load yourself with loads of plain water. This is sure death. Maybe a weighing machine along the route would be good to check if you have gain weight (from bloating with water retention).

The current isotonic drinks available are glaringly lacking in magnesium and instead had too much sodium that promote thirst and cravings (maybe their selling strategy) and inadvertently causing loss of potassium besides hypertension. Likeswise, carbonated isotonic drinks are also not ideal since carbonated drinks itself serve to promote thirst and cravings and had been linked to osteoporosis.

I guess given the current state of “disproportionated composition” of electrolytes in the current isotonic drinks, I would be “forced” to come with my own PRE-MIX, possibly sodium, potassium and magnesium and other minerals in a gel-like mixture to be drunk with water along arduous runs.

Coming back the to experiment conducted above, I thought instead of confirming the obvious, perhaps, it would be better to WEIGH the different groups and also to create a sub category question to gauge their severity of cramps and “bloatiness” and the type of drinks (water or isotonic) along the way. The results should conclusively show that those severely bloated (weighing much more than when they first set out) tend to be the slower group who would have more time to drink and usually only just plain water. Their physiological conditions would also tend to be veering towards the downhill side.

Mikey