Advice from the race doctor

Fill in your details on your bib

Don’t forget to fill in the back of your bib. We appreciate if you write down details such as your name, any medical conditions, medications, and allergies. This can be crucial in helping us if you need medical assistance during Göteborgsvarvet.

If you drink too little during a long-distance race—especially if the weather is warmer than usual (>23°C)—you risk becoming dehydrated. In milder cases, this can reduce performance by up to 30%, but in more serious cases, it may lead to overheating and symptoms of shock.

If you drink far more than you sweat, this can also lead to a life-threatening condition, as body fluids become diluted and your sodium levels drop too low. The risk of this increases if your finishing time is over 3–4 hours.

Choose the right drink

If you're used to drinking plain water and it works well for you, that's perfectly sufficient on a typical spring day in Gothenburg. The sports drinks provided contain sugar, which gives you a bit of extra energy, and salt. Studies have shown that this combination helps your body absorb fluids more quickly and effectively.

Practice drinking while running

Most people training for the Göteborgsvarvet typically run 5 to a little over 10 kilometers per session during the fall and winter—distances you can complete without drinking. However, note the following: to avoid dehydration and the risk of collapse during the 21 km race, you need to regularly take in fluids. This becomes even more important if it’s a warm spring day! It’s also essential to train your body to drink while running—both the right type and right amount of fluid (water or sports drink). A stomach unaccustomed to drinking while running may protest during the race.

Try out whether water or a sports drink works best for you. You might also test salty snacks like pretzels during training, as they provide an important salt supplement (avoid salty licorice). A good way to check your hydration level is by observing your urine: if it’s clear to light yellow, you’re well hydrated; if it’s dark and in small amounts, you’re likely dehydrated.

Eat and drink smart before the race

Make sure you're well hydrated ahead of Göteborgsvarvet — avoid alcohol in the days leading up to the race, as it can lead to dehydration.

Eat salty foods the day before to ensure your salt levels are topped up. A great tip is to snack on something salty, such as pretzels, and drink 1–2 cups of water or sports drink a couple of hours before the race. Up until the start, you can drink another 1–2 cups—drink more if it’s warm outside. When you use the bathroom before the race, check your urine as mentioned above: if it’s dark, drink more!

During the race, remember: “A cup a mile (1.6 km) makes you smile”! Drink moderately and follow your thirst. It’s usually enough to have a cup of water or sports drink every 15–20 minutes—especially important if it’s hot (over 23°C). You might also bring salty snacks or small packets of salt and use them in the final quarter of the race—particularly if it’s warm or you’ve been sweating a lot.

The warmer and sunnier the day is, and the less wind there is, the more you need to drink to maintain fluid balance. Pay extra close attention to how your body feels if race day turns out hot.

Infections, such as the common cold, can disrupt your body’s fluid balance. If you have an active infection, feel generally unwell, or have a fever, you should not run a long-distance race (a runny nose on its own is harmless). Please note that if you've recently been sick, you should be fully recovered for at least three to four days before participating.

Avoid taking NSAID medications—such as Voltaren, Ibuprofen, Ipren, Celebra, or Naprosyn—on the day of Göteborgsvarvet, as these can also interfere with the body’s fluid regulation. However, common medications like Alvedon or Panodil (paracetamol) are considered safe in this context.

If you start feeling unwell or experience symptoms such as stopped sweating with cold skin (a sign of dehydration!), heavy breathing, nausea, vomiting, or chest discomfort/pain, stop immediately! If you don’t feel better within five to ten minutes after stopping, contact medical assistance.

After you cross the finish line, continue to jog lightly or at least keep walking. If you stop suddenly, blood can pool in your legs (as the muscle pump has stopped), which may cause you to faint, especially if you are dehydrated.

Don’t forget to drink after finishing. There’s no need to overdo your fluid intake, but drink as long as you feel thirsty. If you’re drinking plain water, try to also consume some salt – for example through salty snacks as mentioned above – and enjoy a well-deserved banana.

Göteborgsvarvet's medical organization during the event

Göteborgsvarvet has a large and well-equipped medical organization staffed by volunteers and the Gothenburg emergency medical services. We are here for you as a runner. Along the course, there are medical stations staffed with healthcare professionals and equipped with defibrillators. There are also roaming bicycle ambulances carrying defibrillators. Medical operations are conducted in close cooperation with SOS Alarm and the public healthcare system.

Along the final stretch of the course, from Slottsskogen to the finish line, medical stations are staffed with doctors and nurses. At the finish area, a fully equipped medical center with a high level of medical expertise is available. There is also the possibility to transport sick or injured runners by electric vehicle from the medical stations in Slottsskogen to the main medical center at the finish. An ambulance is always on standby to transport seriously ill or injured individuals to hospital if needed.

Our medical team includes physicians (intensive care specialists, orthopedic surgeons, emergency physicians, cardiologists, and other specialists), nurses (intensive care nurses, anesthesia nurses, emergency nurses, and others), assistant nurses, and physiotherapists. In total, approximately 130–140 volunteers with medical expertise work at the finish area, in our emergency response teams, and at medical stations along the final part of the race from Slottsskogen to the finish line.

At our main medical center, we are equipped to treat everything from serious medical conditions and severe cases of so-called runner’s collapse to musculoskeletal injuries and minor complaints. In the intensive care section alone, we treat between 50 and 100 individuals on race day—people who would otherwise have required hospital care, primarily due to runner’s collapse. By managing most cases on site, we help relieve pressure on public emergency departments during race day, while ensuring that you as a runner have close access to highly qualified medical care.