Dear runners!
The healthcare service wishes you safe running and successful arrival to finish line. For your well-being during the race and when you arrive at the finish, we want to help you with our best. With this notice, we provide you some useful information.
HOW WE ARE ORGANIZED
The healthcare service is organized in the form of two mobile units with ambulances in which permanent medical care is provided by a doctor and medical technician. One vehicle will be along runners at the planned course, while the other one will be stationed in the Bovec center at the start/finish line. There will also be a first aid tent where you will be offered for advice and help by doctor and nurse. The work of the entire health service will be coordinated by the surgeon in the Bovec center. For possible assistance, you can also contact one of more than 100 officers who will inform us immediately. In worst case scenario you can call 112 and they will inform us of our location.
RULES OF LIQUID INTAKE
When drinking, consider the rule that both extremes are dangerous, too little or too much. We provide you an overview of the time and amount of fluid that you need. You can make an easy test to check that you've consumed enough liquids. Check the color of your urine for half an hour before running: if it is clear or yellowish, you have consumed enough liquid. Of course, for proper hydration of the body, you must also take care of it the days before scheduled race.
INDICATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIQUID INTAKE
- drink 500 ml of liquid 2 hours before running
- drink another 500 ml 1 hour before running
- drink 150 - 200 ml of liquid every 15 to 20 min
TOO MUCH OF LIQUID CAN BE DANGEROUS
Excessive drinking, especially plain water, can lead to serious health problems that results as dilution of body fluids or hyponatraemia. Presented are like nausea, fatigue, vomiting, sleepiness, severe spasms and unconsciousness occur. Some recommendations how to avoid hyponatremia:
- follow our instructions on the quantities of liquids, but of course the quantity depends on the running time for which you have applied and the temperature that will be on the day of the race
- drink liquids with added salt and other minerals
- if your doctor has advised you not to, then salty your food in the days before the run
- if is hot on the day of the race, drink salty liquids in the second half of the race or eat
salted sticks
- after the run drink salty soup and eat a salty meal
- stop taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at least 24 hours before the run and do not start with them for at least six hours after the run
medicines to relieve pain
Recent scientific findings have confirmed the adverse effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs if were consumed during the race. They are dangerous for the functioning of the kidneys, and they also contribute to the development of hyponatraemia. These drugs are: naklofen, ketone, brufen, voltaren, vioxx, etc. The only painkiller that has proven to be safe is paracetamol (e.g., Lekadol), which you can take a few hours before running, and then at intervals of at least 4 hours before finish.
OTHER MEDICINAL PRODUCTS
In principle, runners who regularly receive certain medications due to certain chronic illnesses, take their usual dose on the day of the race. Especially diabetic patients should be consulted with their physician about the doses of medicines on the day of the race. It will be very helpful for us to write down the names and quantities of medicines you have consumed during the last 24 hours on the back of your starting number or tell our cardiologist at the first aid tent, with who you can also consult.
AFTER ARRIVING TO FINISH
Sudden stopping after prolonged running causes an immediate relocation of large amounts of blood into areas that were active until then (legs). As a result, a sudden drop in blood pressure, dizziness, nausea and vomiting can occur. For this reason, you must walk after a long run for at least another 20 minutes after arriving to finish, as this will gradually shift the blood circulation to areas where it may be short. As soon as you arrive to the finish, avoid excessive drinking of liquids until you have not made a 20 minute walk.
We remind you that you are taking part in the race at your own risk, so pay attention to your health.
Expert advice was prepared by:
prim. dr. Ivan Žuran, dr. med.
Head of health service
Igor Klavora, dr. med.
