"World's toughest canoe race" claims 30-year-old Texas paddler

[MoMan]

From the Houston Chronicle:

A paddler participating in the Texas Water Safari, a 260 mile endurance boat race on the San Marcos and Guadalupe rivers, died Monday afternoon at a San Antonio hospital, marking the first fatality in the event's 50-year history.

Brad Ellis, 30, was pronounced dead around 2 p.m. at San Antonio Military Medical Center after he was flown there early Sunday, according to a hospital spokesman.

Ellis died of hyponatremia, or low sodium, said Allen Spelce, president of the Texas Water Safari.

The full story is in today's Houston Chronicle

[Ian McColgin]

People seem to have forgotten salt tablets.

[skuthorp]

Staminade is my preferred poison for electrolyte replacement. Can't stand it otherwise but on a long hot canoe race..... perfect.

[MoMan]

According to someone interviewed for the story, he had been takin electrolyte pills but they weren't sure if the pills had properly dissolved.

[skuthorp]

Gotta take them in water, otherwise they draw moisture from your system and probably add dehydration to your problems. Not sure about that though. I used to paddle a K1 or K2 in a series of races from 20, 40, 60, 100 miles, and culminating in a 450 mile race over 5 days in up to 45C heat and managing your body was more than half the battle to stay on the water.

[skuthorp]

Gotta take them in water, otherwise they draw moisture from your system and probably add dehydration to your problems. Not sure about that though. I used to paddle a K1 or K2 in a series of races from 20, 40, 60, 100 miles, and culminating in a 450 mile race over 5 days in up to 45C heat and managing your body was more than half the battle to stay on the water.

Um...........Paul Oman pointed this out to me, MY BAD. I never was superman, where I have used "MILES" I meant "KILOMETERS". Don't know where that came from as we haven't used miles as a measure since 1963. Put it down to a senior moment!
Race series was an annual schedule and the 450K event a fund raiser for the Red Cross as well. And there were regular club events on some sundays as well.

[ahp]

I have read that those who have collapsed during the Boston Marathon, in no case was it due to dehydration. It was due to electrolyte depletion or imbalance. GatorAid or something like it is needed. When I play tennis at this time of year I always bring a jug with me.