| Case study: Cup and fluid calculation for combined marathon and 10-mile race – For the Twin Cities in Motion combined marathon and 10-mile (16-km) race, the following approach and calculations were used to determine the fluid amounts provided at race aid stations: 7-ounce (200-mL) cups are used. Each cup is filled with 4 to 5 ounces (100 to 150 mL) of fluid. There are approximately 25 to 32 cups per gallon of fluid, or approximately 6 to 10 cups per liter of fluid. |
| For each aid station: |
- Marathon field limit is 11,500 registered participants, but about 9000 start the race. Assuming every participant takes one cup of water, between 360 and 450 gallons (or between 1360 and 1700 L) of water are consumed.
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- The 10-mile field limit is 10,800 participants, and approximately 9000 start the race (ie, combined total of participants for marathon and 10-mile races is 18,000). Assuming every participant in the 10-mile race takes a cup of water, this is between 360 and 450 gallons (or between 1360 and 1700 L) of water.
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- On the combined 10-mile and marathon courses, total water consumption if every participant runs the race is between 1394 and 1744 gallons (or between 5275 and 6600 L) per fluid station.
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- On the marathon-only portion of the course, total water consumption if every participant runs the race is between 720 and 900 gallons (or between 2725 and 3400 L) per fluid station.
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- Cup count is between 44,000 and 55,000 cups (22 to 28 cases) per fluid station on the shared portion of the 10-mile and marathon course. If also providing a sports drink, the number of cups is doubled at each fluid station.
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- Cup count is between 23,000 and 29,000 cups (12 to 15 cases) per fluid station on the remaining marathon-only portion of the course. If also providing a sports drink, double the number of cups at each fluid station.
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