Hydration Helps, But It’s Not Enough: What ATs Should Know From a Boston Marathon Study

A research team from the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions is helping shed new light on how the body responds to the extreme demands of long-distance running. The team recently published findings from a study conducted at the Boston Marathon, examining how hydration influences organ stress in marathon runners.

The study, titled “Biomarkers of organ stress and injury following the Boston Marathon,” evaluated participants before and after the 2024 race, focusing on indicators of kidney and gastrointestinal stress.

Researchers included Cory Butts, Brendon McDermott, Zachary McKenna, Abigail Morris, Rose Perez, Shawn Wierick, and Xiujing Zhao from the University of Arkansas’ Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, along with collaborators from other institutions.

“Our study is a reflection of the amount of stress the body experiences during a moderately fast marathon,” said Brendon McDermott. “We found that renal [kidney] stress persisted, whether runners were hydrated or not. This lets runners know that hydration is protective, but only to a certain extent.”

He added that runners should prioritize recovery strategies, recognizing that both the gastrointestinal and renal systems are challenged following a marathon.

McDermott, who has taught athletic training and exercise science courses at the university for nearly 25 years, is a leading researcher in thermoregulation and serves as director of the Heat and Hydration Optimization (H2O) Lab. His work focuses on prevention and treatment strategies for heat illness and hydration-related conditions.

The full study was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology and added to the National Library of Medicine. It was also highlighted in the health and nutrition newsletter Run Long, Run Healthy.

“Having others read and show interest in our research brings the satisfaction that we need to continue answering scientific questions to help the population,” McDermott said.

Looking ahead, McDermott emphasized that future studies will continue exploring the physiological demands of distance running. He also credited the College of Education and Health Professions for its ongoing support.

“The college has provided funds, administrative support and moral support behind all the research we do,” he said.

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