Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Emilio Romero on 21/06/2009 17:59:21

Title: All other things being equal, who would dehydrate more?
Post by: Emilio Romero on 21/06/2009 17:59:21

Suppose 2 runners are running a marathon. Both have equal physical attributes, both have the same size and weight, both hydrate equally during the race and have the same sweat ratio... but one of them regularly spits out saliva.  Will he dehydrate more?

thanks

Title: All other things being equal, who would dehydrate more?
Post by: lyner on 21/06/2009 23:31:19

My first reaction is "of course he does".
I think that's my second reaction, too.
The runner who constantly needs to be spitting is probably not fit for a long distance race because he is having to breathe too fast and is losing water and concentrating  saliva quicker than is good for him / her.
When I used to run humble 10k distances and when I got fit, I would breathe through my nose unless I was pushing it. You stay much fresher that way.

Title: All other things being equal, who would dehydrate more?
Post by: LeeE on 22/06/2009 01:35:42

You swallow less bugs breathing through your nose too.

Title: All other things being equal, who would dehydrate more?
Post by: Emilio Romero on 22/06/2009 16:11:45

Quote from: sophiecentaur on 21/06/2009 23:31:19

My first reaction is "of course he does".
I think that's my second reaction, too.
The runner who constantly needs to be spitting is probably not fit for a long distance race because he is having to breathe too fast and is losing water and concentrating  saliva quicker than is good for him / her.
When I used to run humble 10k distances and when I got fit, I would breathe through my nose unless I was pushing it. You stay much fresher that way.

As you state in your answer, I think there is a difference in the way we breath, which is tied to to running pace, thus, ultimately tied up to oxygen demand.  I have been running for over 10 years and have found myself breathing trough my mouth at the moment of greatest physical effort, and it does generate more saliva for me... thus --->spitball  (jetsnot and fartlek are reserved for further topics [;)]).

Title: All other things being equal, who would dehydrate more?
Post by: Emilio Romero on 22/06/2009 16:22:13

.... and I've swallowed my share of bugs too.. [xx(] [xx(]

(and since we are in the subject... how much protein in a fly?

Title: All other things being equal, who would dehydrate more?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 23/06/2009 06:21:29

< 0.2 grams maybe...