Preface: I have been always been a 5k/10k guy and have never run a marathon. I was re-watching the Dubai women's race finish and seems to me that the move of the race was when Mergia surged at around 40k when Cherono and Kabuu went for there drinks. Although Cherono only lost by a second she this seemed to be the difference. My question is why would they go for there drinks when there is only 7 or so minutes left in the race? I wouldn't think that that would be enough time from the calories/hydration ingested to benefit the runners. Experienced marathoners pleaze clarify this for me.