True or false - if you take antacids shortly before a 800/mile can you delay and/or reduce the effects of lactic acid buildup in the blood?
Antacid for the stomach would not seem to be to be a natural buffer in the blood, but since I am not a excercise physiologist, perhaps I am mistaken.
Sodium bicarbonate can serve as a buffer by increasing blood pH. Therefore, in a race like the 800 meters, where anaerobic metabolism plays a major role, having an increased blood pH could offset the fatigue caused by hydrogen ion accumulation (blood acidosis would not occur to as great of a degree). But I have both heard and read that a runner would have to take large quantities of sodium bicarbonate in order for it be effective. Such large quantities immediately before a race could cause stomach distress.
They actually have done studies on this...one I heard about was done in a swimming pool. The athletes went quickly...in the direction of the bathroom...
It does work, but you have to take it about 2 hours before a race. Sodium Citrate appears to work as well, and has fewer GI side effects:
Just for the record this can be a doping violation.
...and as said before. In order to get a performance boost you have to take so much it gives you the shits. So, as long as you don't mind having a brown stream following you around the track you're fine..:)
Alan
Runningart2004 wrote:
...and as said before. In order to get a performance boost you have to take so much it gives you the shits. So, as long as you don't mind having a brown stream following you around the track you're fine..:)
Alan
Can that "brown stream" be whiskey? And can pretty girls in bikinis be lounging next to that brown stream of whiskey? Cause if so, count me in hombre.
I reviewed the list and do not see where it could be. Straight over the counter much like drinking a few cokes beforehand.
Sodium Citrate sounds better - less GI issues.
While it may seem cool taking antacids, your body already has a system in place to fight acidosis. Taking antacids to mitigate acid build-up is just plain dumb. If you want your body to adapt to the stress of acid build-up you want as much acid in your body as possible during the end of a workout. If you use antacids you will undoubtedly compromise this effect. Also you blood has internal antacids produced by your body. If you really want to be a purist, you could just train those factors to an intense level instead through hardwork and not eating baking soda and spitting up your stomach. It should be illegal.
It's better to make yourself stronger than take shortcuts, and this seems like a shortcut.
I'm in complete agreement about training the body for the acid buildup, but was wondering if taking antacids would also help buffer/delay the buildup of acid. If I was sufficiently trained and ready to 4-flat for the 1500, could using such an antacid be the difference between 4 and 3:59?
I'm merely asking the question, haven't done it. Yet...
Boy Wonder wrote:
I'm in complete agreement about training the body for the acid buildup, but was wondering if taking antacids would also help buffer/delay the buildup of acid. If I was sufficiently trained and ready to 4-flat for the 1500, could using such an antacid be the difference between 4 and 3:59?
I'm merely asking the question, haven't done it. Yet...
In theory, the antacid should work, although the actual amount of the antacid that gets broken down and into your blood won't raise your blood pH any. Sodium citrate, however, will. As mentioned, there are GI problems associated with it, so try it in practice first....a few times and make sure there's a bathroom close by and you don't mind burping. I have found a teaspoon diluted in a litre of water, 2 hrs before warm-up to be okay.
And that "brown stream" post makes my Post of the Day. First out-loud laugh on LetsRun today. I haven't read the Lance thread yet, though.
a new study coming out in JAP:
http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/01534.2005v1?papetoc
as a positive test of what?