Hydration isn’t just about how much water you drink.
Your body is about 60% water.
(With the heart and brain actually around 73%, and the lungs a whopping 83% H2O.)
So we do need to drink when we train.
But at the same time, there’s a lot more to hydration than just sipping away on some plain H2O.
That’s because it’s not just water you lose when you sweat.
You lose essential electrolytes too.
The big one is sodium, with calcium, potassium and magnesium close behind.
And if you don’t top up those electrolytes, bad things happen.
We’re talking -
Dizziness
Fatigue
Nausea
Swelling
And a massively elevated heart rate
In fact, electrolyte loss is a big reason why so many athletes seriously struggle in the heat.
So if you’ve found yourself drinking lots but still suffering?
You probably need more electrolytes, but particularly more sodium.
How much do you need though?
Well, that depends.
You could geek out and get a sodium sweat test.
And if you’re planning on racing seriously in hotter climates, we’d definitely recommend this.
Or you could start with a more basic home test.
You’re like a “salty sweater” if:
You have white streaks on your clothes after training.
You get little crystals/grit on your skin after your sweat dries.
You’re constantly battling stinging eyes when you sweat.
If that’s the case, maybe try slowly increasing how much sodium you take in during training and races, and see if things improve.
Pete,
Brownlee Fitness
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