otter wrote:
Use your judgement. A cup of coffee in the AM before a race is ok. Taking caffeine pills might be a slippery slope to something else as you have suggested.
I disagree. I discovered caffeine helped my running by accident the first time I had a coffee-ish beverage and had a great practice shortly thereafter. I started drinking coffee before workouts knowing it would help. I had tired it before races but it just didn't settle well in my stomach. After a while, I discovered caffeine pills.
I generally just take 1 (200mg) only before races, otherwise I am just a coffee drinker. I noticed it certainly does seem to help me race, If nothing else, it helps me focus on pushing and getting more out of myself during the race.
It is not a banned substance in normal amounts, therefore there is nothing wrong with it, morally or otherwise. I've been using caffeine pills before races for years and have not went down 'a slippery slope' as some have suggested. I'm just smart enough to not leave time on the table.