Abstract
The 1982 Aberdeen marathon race was held on a cool (12°C) day on a flat, fast course.
Fifty-nine of the 750 runners volunteered to take part in this study: rectal temperature
of these competitors was measured within 5 min of completing the race. Venous blood
samples were obtained before and immediately after the race; body weight of these
subjects was also recorded before and after the race. During the race, 200 ml of fluid,
either water or a glucose/electrolyte drink, was consumed at each of the seven feeding
stations. The mean finishing time of the subjects was 221 ± 37 min (mean ± SD, range
= 144-307 min). Post-race rectal temperature was 38.3 ± 0.9°C with a range of values
from 35.6° to 39.8°C. The net weight loss was 2.02 ± 0.72 kg equivalent to 2.9% +
0.8% of body weight. The correlation between post-race rectal temperature and finishing
time (r = -0.234) was not statistically significant; post-race rectal temperature was significantly
correlated with the time taken to complete the second half of the race (r = -0.348, P < 0.01). No cases of heat illness were seen among the competitors. The results suggest
that hypothermia rather than hyperthermia may be a problem for marathon runners competing
under these conditions.
Key words
Temperature regulation - marathon running
