Hydration Requirements for Sprinters and Marathon Runners

The aim of this dissertation project is to study the optimal hydration requirements for sprinters and marathon runners during their exercise workouts. A literature review presents perspectives related to the hydration requirements for athletes and the importance of water in body's ability to sustain prolonged exertion without heat injury. A measurement survey supplemented the literature review to offer quantitative research perspectives. Fifteen sprinters and the same number of marathon runners participated in a measurement survey study to evaluate their optimal fluid intake requirements on an hourly basis. Although differences do exist between the optimal hydration requirements of sprinters and marathon runners, it is discovered that as a general rule of thumb, all athletes must try to sustain an optimal fluid intake of at least one liter per hour to maintain optimal performance and to prevent any heat injuries.