Courtesy: event press release

As announced previously in the October 2002 issues of Runner Triathlete News and Inside Texas Running, the hp houston marathon will reduce the number of on-course water stations for its 2003 race. This move is an effort to protect participants from a potentially deadly condition known as hyponatremia.

Water stations will now be available every mile and a half on the marathon course, a reduction from the previous race standard, which positioned aid stations at each mile. The first water station on the marathon course will be at mile two.

"We are taking a leadership role in the sport regarding safety," said Brant Kotch, race director, hp houston marathon. "For the past several years, our medical team has been carefully studying the impact of over-hydration in runners, and its research is the catalyst for this change. It's a change based on science that is in the best interest of all runners."

Hyponatremia is a serious, emerging issue in the sport of running. It is a condition that occurs when the sodium level in a person's bloodstream becomes lower than normal. More than 50 cases of hyponatremia have been documented in houston marathon runners in the last four years.

"Drinking excessive amounts of water can lead to hyponatremia, which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated in a timely fashion," said Dr. John Cianca, medical director, hp houston marathon. "Research we have done in the race indicates that some people have actually gained weight during the marathon. This weight gain is directly attributable to consuming far too much water on the course."

While hydration needs vary from runner to runner, as a general guideline, Dr. Cianca recommends that runners consume three to six ounces of fluid every 20 minutes during exercise.

Reducing the number of water stations on the course for the 2003 hp houston marathon will help runners follow this guideline and provide a safer race environment for all participants.

For complete details on hyponatremia, its effects, and how to avoid it, please see "Hydration, Hyponatremia, and the Marathon", written by hp houston marathon medical director Dr. John Cianca, in the October 2002 issue of Runner Triathlete News.