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.

However, drinking too much in relation to how much you sweat can also be dangerous. It can lead to a life-threatening condition where body fluids become diluted and your salt 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.

Once you cross the finish line, continue to jog lightly or at least walk. If you stop suddenly, blood can pool in your legs (as the muscle pump has stopped), and you may faint if you are dehydrated.

Don’t try to "catch up" on drinking, but if you’re thirsty, drink, preferably the beverage that suits you. If you drink regular water, try to get some salt 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 Göteborgs healthcare services. We are here for both the runners and the spectators. Along the course, there are 12 medical stations staffed with medical personnel and equipped with defibrillators. There are also five circulating bike ambulances with defibrillators. Medical care is provided in close collaboration with SOS Alarm and the public healthcare system.

Along the final stretch of the course, from Slottsskogen to the finish line, there is a dedicated medical organization with three medical stations staffed with doctors and nurses, and at the finish line, a well-equipped medical tent with high medical competence available. We also have a medical station staffed by doctors and nurses at Bältesspännarparken. It is possible to transport sick or injured individuals from our medical stations to the large medical tent at the finish line via electric trucks. An ambulance is always on standby at the large medical tent to transport critically ill or injured individuals to the hospital if needed.

Our team consists of doctors (intensive care specialists, orthopedic surgeons, doctors from other specialties), intensive care nurses, nurses with other specialties, nurse assistants, and physiotherapists. A total of about 130-140 volunteers with medical expertise work in the finish line tent, in our two emergency teams, and at the three medical stations along the last part of the race from Slottsskogen to the finish line.

In our large medical tent, we have the capability to treat everything from severe medical conditions, severe cases of what is called "runner’s collapse," medical conditions, and injuries related to the musculoskeletal system, to minor injuries and ailments. In the intensive care section of our medical tent, we treat between 50-100 people during the event, individuals who otherwise would require hospitalization, primarily due to runner’s collapse. By treating most cases with us, we help relieve the public healthcare emergency departments during the event, ensuring that both runners and spectators have close access to high-quality medical care.