Chromium is involved in normal glucose metabolism. To test whether chromium is also associated with the exercise-induced increases in glucose utilization, urinary chromium excretion, serum glucose, insulin, and glucagon of nine male runners (23-46 yr) were evaluated. Blood samples were taken prior to, immediately following, and 2 h after a strenuous 6-mile run. Urine samples were also taken at these times, and total daily urine collections were made the day of the run and the following day. Mean serum glucose for all runners immediately after running was 185 +/- 19 mg/dl compared with 90 +/- 1 mg/dl (mean +/- SE) prior to running. Mean serum glucagon immediately after running was significantly elevated compared with that observed prior to or 2 h after running; serum insulin levels were not altered significantly. Mean urinary chromium concentration was increased nearly five-fold 2 h after running; similar results were obtained when chromium concentration was expressed per mg of creatinine. Total daily urinary Cr excretion was approximately two times higher the day of running compared with the following nonrun day. Daily urinary excretion of sodium, potassium, and calcium were measured to determine if exercise had a general nonspecific effect on renal function; daily urinary excretion of these was not changed by exercise. These data demonstrate that accompanying the exercise-induced changes associated with increased glucose utilization, there is a significant increase in chromium excretion.