Images : Shawn Benjamin , Tobias Ginsberg
Elites struggle to grab drink in cup when running at racing speed
more frequent tables , towards the end in longer events , especially if hot conditions were expected . Typically , sachets hold 80ml to 150ml , which means that three sachets would provide each runner with between 240ml and 450ml of fluid per table .
Through the years , thanks largely to research done in South Africa , runners ’ requirement for fluid in races has evolved on the basis to protect against overhydration , which is considerably more dangerous than dehydration . In basic terms , over-hydration dilutes the electrolytes in the bloodstream , and can lead to swelling of the brain , or in worst case scenarios , death , while dehydration results in performance reduction , which can result in the body literally grinding to a halt . Basic maths will show that there was little if any chance of overhydration in the Two Oceans this year , and that dehydration , and hence heat exhaustion , was predictable in the Half Marathon .
Learning from Experience
Up till the late 1980s most races in South Africa dispensed fluid in cups , but many race organisations recognised that cups , irrespective of their material ( paper , plastic , or other ), just do not work for road races or most mass participation events . There are key basic reasons for this , which were first identified by Dr Adrian ( Bosie ) Bosenburg back in the mid-1980 ’ s . Things have not changed since then . The cups are generally partially filled , providing only around 40ml to 70ml of fluid , are unstable on tables , making them easily knocked over , and have a wide top opening , making them almost impossible to drink from or carry without spilling when running .
For that reason , plastic water sachets were introduced , vastly improving the situation , but things still sometimes went wrong . For example , in the 1991 Two Oceans Marathon , most refreshment stations ran out of water by the time three quarters of the field had passed through . This was due to the hot conditions , which prompted many runners to use the water sachets to cool themselves . The Two Oceans Race Director at that time , Chet Sainsbury , took note of the complaints , and his team upped the ante for all future years , and the water distribution regime they came up with will have been well documented in his race organisation documents , which is further reason for concern over what occurred in
2023 . This is an important point that we will return to shortly .
While it is probable that the amount of fluid at stations in this year ’ s Two Oceans Half Marathon was in the correct ballpark , the organisers , possibly in their desire to satisfy the demands of environmentally-conscious runners and conservationists who have campaigned against plastic sachets , did not get the dispensing right . The knock-on effect was runner-rage , and significant increase in business for the medical crews .
Had it truly been a warm day , the impact could have been even more critical .
Going Into Deficit
The average 21km runner would have taken around 25 minutes to get to the first water point , which according to well established norms , would mean a requirement of around 250ml of fluid .
However , with partially filled cups only
The number of runners in 2023 were far more than in 2022
holding somewhere around 40-70ml , this would mean grabbing anything from four to seven cups … with just two hands ! Furthermore , a runner must stop , or at least slow down dramatically , in order to get the fluid from the cup down their throat instead of all over their running kit ... and by stopping , they block the table for other runners .
Most runners at the average pace or faster will not stop at a refreshment station , so at best , taking two cups will have around 100-130ml of fluid , which would put them at a deficit of around 120-150ml after the first table . The fact that many entrants in the Two Oceans Half Marathon are recreational runners , who have done minimal training , together with the exertion of the 2km steep climb up Edinburgh Drive early in the race , are exacerbations to this enforced fluid deficit . Then , with the second table a further 5km away , and with only similar ability to collect fluid , the runner is conservatively 300- 350ml in debt as they head towards the gruelling Southern Cross Drive .
Furthermore , the presentation of sponsors products ( Coke and Powerade ) first and last at the stations , with water in the middle , does not reflect the normal desires of many runners , particularly early in an event . Internationally , it is normal for water to given first and last priority , and products in the middle . At Oceans . this arrangement saw runners criss-crossing each other to get to the required tables , which were closely stacked together .
Most importantly , the low number of entrants of the 2022 Two Oceans possibly disguised the impact of the cups , as the number of runners past the first station would jump from around 800 per minute to around 1500 per minute . Augment the challenge of trying to serve more than double the flow of runners by placing the refreshment station on one side of the road only , and we begin to understand the runners ’ frustration , and the decrease in safety , which was further exacerbated by spilt water and products that either made the road dangerously slippery , or irritatingly sticky .
Small Issues , Big Impact
Although each aspect highlighted above may seem small , the accumulation had a considerable impact on the runners , and knock-ons in terms of runner experience , performance , physical safety and medical outcome . Furthermore , it was the frustration caused by the situation that resulted in the runners being angry , and in their rush towards the finish , some vented their anger and unhappiness to the very people who had given their time to assist and support those very runners .
Fortunately , it is easy to improve , if not correct this situation with some simple measures :
• Provide fluids in units of 125-250ml capacity – these may change , depending where on the route the station is , or the distance between stations – and ensure around 300ml to 450ml is available per runner per 5km ( as per WA recommendations ).
• Use containers that have wider bases than top opening ( as used in KZN since 1988 ).
• Design the table size and number based on total entries , wave size and number of volunteers to restock based on the number of runners per minute passing the table .
• Use both sides of the road to minimise crossing of runners , and do the same with large ‘ throw areas ’ on both sides to minimise littering . Also consider using self-collect stations in the middle of wider roads .
• Space tables and products to allow runners to get in and out , at normal pace , before the next product .
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