This article is inconsistant.  It states that hypotremia [sic; should be hyponatremia] is caused, not by an overabundance of water, as the title would lead one to believe, but by a depletion of, and subsequent imbalance of, electrolytes.  Yet, nowhere in the article does it offer a solution of replenishing those electrolytes.  Instead, it suggests we drink on a regular basis, even while exercising, and not guzzle water at the end.

In a race, especially a fast-paced race under 10 miles, stopping to drink will definitely lose one a few places in the standings (it's happened to me), as well as really doing little good.  I mean what difference would a small Dixie cup of water make?  What it's more likely to do is gag one, as they're breathing hard and all pumped up from racing.  Sorry, in a race under about 1 to 1 1/2 hrs I think one is better to drink at the end.  Then, take some Gatorade and water or an electrolyte pill and water, if one was sweating that much.  Extreme heat, of course, is an exception.

Further, I believe, with practice one could go as long as a HM distance without drinking and without any bad effects.  Longer distance, like marathons, are run at much slower paces and times on the road are very long, so drinking and eating as the race goes on is a natural thing to do.

Ron