caffeine and tylenol before races?

Training Advice/Discussion

9 years ago 01/31/2015 11:50am EST

hi everyone,

I'm a high school runner. I run events ranging from 800 to 3000 meters and I focus on the 1500. I saw a few different articles about how caffeine and tylenol can boost race performance on runnersworld. Before a race I usually take two 200 mg caffeine tablets, and three 500 mg tylenols. So 400 mg caffeine and 1500 mg of tylenol. I haven't raced without taking these In a while. I know these substances can be potentially harmful to things like your liver in high doses, and I was wondering if they could actually be decreasing my performance.

9 years ago 01/31/2015 11:57am EST

re: Raymond14

Caffeine works, no doubt . Tylenol does too because of it's blood thinning effect. The problem is you are taking A LOT of these two substances - like way too much. Even if you only take them on race day that is still a lot. Try cutting back at least a bit - your races will suffer at first I would think, but after 2 or so you would be back to normal.

Also if you are going to ingest caffeine drink coffee or something because then you actually like what your taking in.

9 years ago 01/31/2015 11:59am EST

re: Raymond14

Don't take so many. You're going to become dependent on them. Take 1 caffeine and one tylenol. If you double down on the caffeine it's better than doubling down on the tylenol IMO. Running is about pain tolerance. Hiding behind a pain killer is going to make you suck long term. The caffeine is just bad for your blood pressure but if you're a runner in good health you should be fine.

9 years ago 01/31/2015 12:22pm EST

re: Raymond14

Raymond14 wrote:
hi everyone,
I'm a high school runner. I run events ranging from 800 to 3000 meters and I focus on the 1500. I saw a few different articles about how caffeine and tylenol can boost race performance on runnersworld. Before a race I usually take two 200 mg caffeine tablets, and three 500 mg tylenols....

I hope anyone who's reading this doesn't get the crazy idea to try this!

I've experimented with both- 400mg of caffeine makes you feel like you're getting heart palpitations/gonna pass out. I stick w/ 100mg.

For the tylenol, it can cause GI bleeding if you get dehydrated. Not fun, at least for the longer events.

9 years ago 01/31/2015 3:22pm EST

re: Oedipus Rexing

so you don't think it's harming my performance at all? I looked on the caffeine informer website and it said doses of up to 400 mg a day are safe, and the tylenol site said up to 3000 mg in a 24 hour period. Can these two things combined be dangerous? I only take them on race days

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caffeine and tylenol before races?

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