Once I settled back home after my brutal half marathon I logged onto my running clubs site and wrote my miserable race report complete with picture. Did I get scolded!! Turns out my symptoms were that of heat exhaustion and my pictures were fairly clear that I also had preoribital edema (swelling of the face) caused by an electrolyte imbalance. I was also told I was probably on the verge of being hyponatremic, which I had to wikipedia it is basically having an imbalance of water and sodium, which can be lethal if severe enough. It is also popularly known as water intoxication.

I went on to read that about 13% of all the marathoners in the prestigious Boston Marathon are found to have hyponatremia with a little over half a percent with it being life threatening.

I honestly thought I had taken sufficient sodium in during my run from my three gels and the gatorade I drank (but then threw up) but reflecting on the whole situation I was very confused and totally not thinking straight, which is a sign of heat exhaustion. Looking back I know I did what I could in the situation, but I am most definatly learning from this experience! I definatly will not be running another half marathon in the heat in the near future. I am also going to have to find another ’sports drink’ that agrees with my stomach. I have a 5k coming up

Posted by Shelley in Whatever on April 4th, 2007 |