The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Community: How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low ...

9 Replies Last post: Nov 29, 2007 6:38 PM by Coach_Ed

How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt)

Oct 30, 2007 2:07 PM

CrazyKen 81 posts since
Oct 23, 2007

Hi Crazy Ken Here again,

I am looking for some new ideas on battling with hyponatremia (low Salt) during events. So what do you all out there use and when do you use it? AKA after 3 miles, 8 miles, every 40 minutes?

Thanks and GO TEAM!!!B-)

Tags: hyponatremia

GoofyRunner 5 posts since
Oct 20, 2007

1. Re: How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt) Oct 30, 2007 9:05 PM

First the "official" response, talk to your coach. They are trained to answer questions like this. From my experience hyponatremia is usually not often seen, but you might look for gels that have a higher concentration of sodium or use an energy drink in place of water for most of your hydration.

CrazyKen 81 posts since
Oct 23, 2007

2. Re: How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt) Oct 30, 2007 10:38 PM

in response to: GoofyRunner

1st Goofyrunner, I like your call sign!

2nd I love my coach and he is my hero, but I work out of the USA for half of every month and as I write this I am sitting with my laptop in the middle of Colombia in South America. So It is hard to ask him right now. That is why I love this web site, we can all learn from each other. I can read a million books, But it is people like you and my coach that have been running Marathons allot longer than me. That I look for lessons learn. For a wise man learns from his mistakes, But a Wiser man learns from others mistakes.

The first year I ran the Disney Marathon I weighed 235 Lbs, the second year last year I weighed 243lbs, in June of the year I weighed over 250 Lbs. I went to have an exam by my doctor who yelled at me !!!!!! !http://community.lls.org/images/emoticons/angry.gif!The I made a life choice to change the way I eat and even thought about food, I now weigh 175 lbs. I have lost over 75 lbs since 18 june 2007. The Doctor did not know but I lost my sister karan to Leukemia 18 June 2006. I watch my father lose his daughter on Father Day in 2006 and I was not going to let him lose his son. (me)

Anyway so my body is different, I am running faster than I ever have in my life and I am trying to make should i don't get over confident or cocky and hurt myself. But it feels great. And beleive me I hear Barry's voice every time I run. Slow down, now push it for 10 minutes, now slow down for 10, Again ! Again! Again! The last part you have to watch the movie MIRACLE. So I learn about hyponatremia (LOW SALT) by making mistakes last year now I am looking for what does others do for it.

francesinsf 2 posts since
Nov 1, 2007

3. Re: How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt) Nov 1, 2007 6:40 PM

On top of my serious addiction for Espresso Love flavored GU, I've also developed a habit of hording salt packets. I make sure I always have a few packets in my hydration belt at all times.

Phillywalker 1 posts since
Nov 2, 2007

4. Re: How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt) Nov 2, 2007 8:28 AM

HI,

My walk coach turned me on to Hammer Endurolytes. Endurolytes help regulate your electrolytes. It's more than just an issue of replacing salt.

CrazyKen 81 posts since
Oct 23, 2007

5. Re: How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt) Nov 2, 2007 2:32 PM

in response to: francesinsf

I started doing that this year and it is really help thanks, crazy Ken I am also coffee junkie

CrazyKen 81 posts since
Oct 23, 2007

6. Re: How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt) Nov 2, 2007 2:35 PM

in response to: Phillywalker

I could not agree with you more, my coach tells me the same thing. I am trying to find a balance. Thanks Phillywalker!

CAITLYNND 1 posts since
Nov 8, 2007

7. Re: How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt) Nov 8, 2007 12:24 PM

Salt packets but with sugar (candy, gu,etc.) Your transporters need sugar to absorb salt. you'll notice if you take both at once. Other things like energy drinks have electrolytes in it but if you really really need salt. salt packets are perfect. But disgusting.

Med student and marathon runner,
Caitlyn

CrazyKen 81 posts since
Oct 23, 2007

8. Re: How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt) Nov 15, 2007 12:32 PM

in response to: CAITLYNND

Hello Caitlyn from Nashville,

That sound like a sweet idea, I am going to try it. I am now on my longer mile workouts did 14 last week and this saturday I am going to go to 16 miles and use your sweet idea. While I was home in Melbourne my coach gave me some new g-packs and they works great by taking them at miles 6 I got a bost by mile 10. But now I am at work out of the USA again and it is hard to stay stocked up on enery packs. But I can get salt and sweets. So I'll let you know Sunday how Saturday Sweat and Salty run goes.

Thanks again for the great Idea.

Crazy Ken

Coach_Ed 1 posts since
Nov 29, 2007

9. Re: How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt) Nov 29, 2007 6:38 PM

in response to: CrazyKen

Ken, congrats on the weight loss. That's a huge achievement. You mentioned "mistakes" you made last year. Do you care to elaborate?

The physical effects of long distance training can vary greatly among athletes. It's great to hear what others have done, but the key is to find what works for you. This is why you need to experiment in your training and then stick with what works for your event. Sports drinks, salt packets/tablets, and gels with electrolytes are all good sources, but some of my athletes prefer pretzels, potato chips, or other salty foods. Your body does need a balance of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and a few other -iums) for optimal performance.

One of the main causes of hyponatremia is drinking only water, and not ingesting any electrolytes. Pre-race diet, weather conditions, fitness level, and metabolism are also contributors. I have known runners who have followed a good taper and pre-race diet who ran great marathons on a basic amount of sports drink and water during the race. But, this is something they learned through their training. When your workouts stretch past the 2 hour mark, you should start to really see the effects of things like electrolytes on your performance. It's at this point that I start my athletes experimenting with things like salt packets to see how it affects their performance. While all of my athletes are using sports drinks and trying gels that may contain sodium, for our longer workouts I start by recommending a salt packet every 90 minutes. Once they get a feel for how they respond to various electrolyte sources, they can make adjustments to match their needs.

Keep up the great work. Go Team!

How do you battle hyponatremia? (Low Salt)

Oct 30, 2007 2:07 PM

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