Alcohol intake and marathon training

arlahile

posted: 6/4/2008 at 12:35 PM

Anyone ever completely quit drinking altogether in preparation for a marathon? Did it make a difference? Some of my favorite drinks pack a bit of a punch, so I'm thinking that even one might be a problem as I up the mileage. This running thing really does mess up my drinking schedule. Arla

2013 Valley Runner of the Year Series: Feb 16 5K (4 points out of 10) ... Mar 2 10K (20/30)... Mar 16 4Mi (21/30) ... Apr 6 10K (DNS) ... Apr 21 2Mi (5/10) ... May 11 5Mi (where the fuck are the results?)... Jun 8 1Mi ... Jun 16 6Mi ... Sep 28 10K ... Oct 5 5K ...Oct 12 5Mi ... Oct 20 5K

jEfFgObLuE

More Cowbell!

posted: 6/4/2008 at 1:41 PM

I can see laying off the sauce the week of the race just to avoid any issues w/ hangover, dehydration, etc. But unless you're getting hammered all the time to the point that it's inhibiting your ability to do the runs, then I don't see the point of going cold turkey. Disclaimer: I never see the point of going cold turkey.

When you're on your deathbed, you won't be wishing that you'd spent more time at the office. But you will be wishing that you'd spent more time running. Because if you had, you wouldn't be on your deathbed.

PWL

posted: 6/4/2008 at 6:29 PM

Beer is a good way to carb-load. That's all I got.

"I would never die for my beliefs, because I might be wrong."--Bertrand Russell

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Fanatic #3965

posted: 6/4/2008 at 6:36 PM

I'm not planning to completely not drink, but I rarely drink enough to feel it the next day, anyhow. I'd think the worst effect that alcohol could have is if one isn't hydrating well or if they are overdoing it. And my main reason to limit booze is the calorie-intake. I really want to drop 5-10#s before my marathon--it will make me faster and be kinder to my knees (which have been pissed lately).

Kirsten

'07: 1324.5 | '08: 1561 | '09: 1810.9 run ~ 208.7 bike | '10: 1,000.3 run ~ 3513.5 bike | '11: 710.3 run ~ 4157.9 bike '12: 659.9 run ~ 3365.6 bike (100% benched by ortho last 4.5 weeks while in long-arm cast)

'13 Goals:

• DON'T BREAK ANYTHING!!!

• get within 5#s of 130#s (and stay there, gotdammit!)

• 1st olympic distance duathlon

• 1st Iceman Cometh mtn bike race

• Half Fanatic

• punch Type 1 in the junk

arlahile

posted: 6/4/2008 at 11:11 PM
modified: 6/4/2008 at 11:13 PM

That's interesting. I've been fine doing my runs per usual, I just wondered if it might be even better without any alcohol, which clearly is not exactly a health food - well, maybe it is, there's some evidence for that... Never Mind! Big grin

Arla MTA: nice Bo Diddley pic Jeff (I saw him in Holland - um, that was on a different kind of "sauce")

2013 Valley Runner of the Year Series: Feb 16 5K (4 points out of 10) ... Mar 2 10K (20/30)... Mar 16 4Mi (21/30) ... Apr 6 10K (DNS) ... Apr 21 2Mi (5/10) ... May 11 5Mi (where the fuck are the results?)... Jun 8 1Mi ... Jun 16 6Mi ... Sep 28 10K ... Oct 5 5K ...Oct 12 5Mi ... Oct 20 5K

JVol44

posted: 6/5/2008 at 7:11 AM

Quote from arlahile on 6/4/2008 at 12:35 PM:

Anyone ever completely quit drinking altogether in preparation for a marathon? Did it make a difference? Some of my favorite drinks pack a bit of a punch, so I'm thinking that even one might be a problem as I up the mileage. This running thing really does mess up my drinking schedule. Arla

Blasphemy. My personal opinion is that running hung over gives an awesome HTFU opportunity. What's better than smelling alcohol seeping from every pore of your body as you stagger along the course, while your head feels like a spear has been inserted through it, and your innards are in total revolt mode? Tight lipped

"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" - Steven Wright

alan f

posted: 6/5/2008 at 7:13 AM

Arla- I would think it really depends on how much alcohol you drink during the training. If it is an occassional beer or occassional "drink with a kick" I don't think it would be too bad. If it is everyday or high intake I think it would affect the training due to: 1- hydration 2- mental (hard to run hung over or tired) 3- weight 4- and maybe most important- muscle recovery. I think with the miles you put in with marathon training that the alcohol definitely hinders the recovery your muscles need. The fastest marathons I have run were in a period of my life where I abstained from alcohol. Granted- I am running about half the miles per year now that I was back then and that's not to say I can't train hard and get my times back down, just an observation.

http://distance-runner.blogspot.com

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Fanatic #3965

posted: 6/5/2008 at 9:38 AM

Quote from JVol44 on 6/5/2008 at 7:11 AM:

Blasphemy. My personal opinion is that running hung over gives an awesome HTFU opportunity. What's better than smelling alcohol seeping from every pore of your body as you stagger along the course, while your head feels like a spear has been inserted through it, and your innards are in total revolt mode?

You mean these symptoms shouldn't be present all the time...? Confused

Kirsten

'07: 1324.5 | '08: 1561 | '09: 1810.9 run ~ 208.7 bike | '10: 1,000.3 run ~ 3513.5 bike | '11: 710.3 run ~ 4157.9 bike '12: 659.9 run ~ 3365.6 bike (100% benched by ortho last 4.5 weeks while in long-arm cast)

'13 Goals:

• DON'T BREAK ANYTHING!!!

• get within 5#s of 130#s (and stay there, gotdammit!)

• 1st olympic distance duathlon

• 1st Iceman Cometh mtn bike race

• Half Fanatic

• punch Type 1 in the junk

Drinkers with a Running Problem

Alcohol intake and marathon training (Read 223 times)

'13 Goals:

'13 Goals: