Sweat rate testing for athletes

DrDobbin will provide free estimates of your sweat rate if you send your data to him at robin.dowswell@virgin.net. This is on the assumption that you are happy for him to use your data on his athlete spreadsheet. This data could be shared for research puposes, but your name will not be used or associated with tha data.

The procedure you should use is as follows:

• Time the duration of your exercise session in minutes.
• Record weight before and after the session by weighing yourself with as little on as possible before and just after the session. This avoids difference in weight between wet and dry clothes. Accuracy should be to 10ths of a kilo if possible. If not try to estimate to the nearest 10th of a kilo. Stone and pounds are fine also.
• Record how much drink you consume in grams. Know your bottle sizes 750ml=750 grams etc.
• Record any food/gels/salt tabs that you consume.
• Record the number of pees you have.
• Record your effort level - (Average HR). Easy is when you can hold a conversation throughout. Medium is when conversation would be sporadic, hard would be when it is difficult to talk at all.

Send all the data you have recorded and DrDobbin will provide an estimate of your sweat rate during the exercise you recorded for him. Bear in mind that sweat rates vary with temperature, humidity, a person's health, hydration levels and a number of other factors. DrDobbin takes into account not just the water you drink but using the factors you record, will estimate movement of water between body compartments, levels of salts and carbohydrate reserves. This will enable DrDobbin to provide a short piece of advice on hydration strategy for future training and competition as well as your estimated sweat rate.