I've been experimenting with differnt products that contain about 200mg of caffien before running.
I'm trying to figure out if it's worth using before an Olympic trials qualifying marathon attempt. I've yet to feel good durring any run that I took a caffien product beforehand. I've tried it about 5 or 6 times.
Does caffien just not work well with some runners or am I perhaps doing something wrong?
Advice is appreciated!
It's caffienE.
And if you've yet to experience any positive effects, then you're probably good without it. Good luck.
Why are you so attached to this idea? If you've tried that many times without results, don't bother.
As someone who does use caffeine on race day, I would suggest abstaining from caffeine for the week before your race -- this is if you're a regular and have some tolerance...
outsider wrote:
It's caffienE.
And if you've yet to experience any positive effects, then you're probably good without it. Good luck.
Now sure if you're joking, but it's caffeine.
I used to workout/race with caffiene over shorter distances and felt great. But I used it prior to a marathon when I was hoping to run 2:25. I felt great early on but cramped up very badly the last 3 miles. I have never cramped up like that before or since and I attibute it to the dehydrating effects of the caffiene. So be careful. Maybe later in the race but the first 15 mile just go without.
Sorry just couldn't resist....I've had my spelling errors pointed out to me more time then I care to mention.
It's NOT sure if you're joking....
caffeine is a diuretic.
If you want to run out of water and cramp up as your body processes the caffeine during a marathon... be my guest.
My recommendation would be to not take caffeine BEFORE the race/long run, but try some (i.e. in GU) in the last hour or so. At that point it seems to pick me up mentally, and the side effects of dehydration are minimized. Still take on plenty of fluids until teh last 30 minutes or so.
Really, it depends if you're a moron about it or not.
Running in hot weather? Hydrate more.
Taking a diuretic for stimulant effects during a long run? Hydrate more.
Even after the diuresis, 60% of the water in a normal cup of coffee is retained, so caffeinate at will!
This from October's Running Times:
"I was discouraged to read Pete Pfitzinger's comment that caffeine has a diuretic effect. Dr. Larence Armstrong published original research that is contrary to Mr. Pfitzinger's statement. In fact, Dr. Armstrong states that caffeine has the same diuretic effect as a bolus of water, which should not be confused with dehdration, and that caffeine intake does not alter the body's thermoregulatory response to exercise in the heat. The American College of Sports Medicine's position does not reflect the current literature and recommendations for hydration and thermoregulation during exercise."
Linda M. Yamamoto/Human Performance Laboratory Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut
Response from Pete Pfitzinger: "You are right in that recent evidence suggests that there is less diuretic effect from caffeine than previously reported. The correct interpretation currently seems to be that there is a mild/morderate diuretic effect and that this is less among habitual caffeine users."
That said, I would like to recommend it for both training for and racing the marathon. There are studies that suggest that caffiene will help the flow of fatty acids into the blood stream. This in turn helps the body to metabolize them during exercise as an energy source. Just loaded up on $5.99/lb of Kenya AA, Mexican Altima Pluma, and Costa Rican beans at Sherms Thunderbird. I suggest you do the same.
Negative effects could be an excessive need to go to the toilet (both 1 & 2) and dehydration... Caffeine can also inhibit the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals.. For the short term caffeine can enhance performance but overall I don't really think its a good idea... See how it works for you but I'd say there's no substitute for eating right and training properly....
I had a race this weekend a 6k... I took 200 mg 45 min before hoping to have a little energy burst.. felt great for 800 meters then died BRUTALLY like worse than that.. I'm 6 2 and 160lbs. why did i have such a drop off.. I never have had high dosages of caffeine before....
help?
still help?
What goes Up must come Down......
Based on my experience i would NOT advise anyone to take caffeine in a marathon. When i took caffeine in a marathon it caused me to burn my glycogen stores too quickly with the result that i slowed hugely in the final 10k. (To outside 6min miling for the last 10k when my 19th mile had been 5.05). I blame caffeine primarily for this slowdown as it only happened in the marathon when i took caffeine, not in other marathons i've run.
For 10k and half marathons - where glycogen depletion is not an issue that will adversely affect performance - i think caffeine can be effective.
In the marathon, it caused me harm. Other runners may find different, doctors may advise different, but i wouldn't risk it again over 26.2. Good luck
pisano wrote:
Sorry just couldn't resist....I've had my spelling errors pointed out to me more time then I care to mention.
It's NOT sure if you're joking....
It's THAN, the grammer on these boards is atrocious.
grammar
28.40 guy wrote:
Based on my experience i would NOT advise anyone to take caffeine in a marathon. When i took caffeine in a marathon it caused me to burn my glycogen stores too quickly with the result that i slowed hugely in the final 10k. (To outside 6min miling for the last 10k when my 19th mile had been 5.05). I blame caffeine primarily for this slowdown as it only happened in the marathon when i took caffeine, not in other marathons i've run.
For 10k and half marathons - where glycogen depletion is not an issue that will adversely affect performance - i think caffeine can be effective.
In the marathon, it caused me harm. Other runners may find different, doctors may advise different, but i wouldn't risk it again over 26.2. Good luck
Very interesting. I've never heard this particular claim before, but it's certainly one worth following up. I HAVE heard both the other claims made in earlier posts--1) that caffeine is a diuretic, thus bad for marathoners; and 2) that caffeine facilitates fat burning.
Your claim is that caffeine facilitates glycogen burning.
Burn, baby, burn.
I had half a cup of coffee at 3 AM yesterday and a full cup at 4:15, prior to a 5 AM marathon start. I always have coffee before my shorter races; this was my first marathon in 23 years and when I ran the handful I ran in the early 80s, I'm pretty sure I had at least some coffee before all of them (ranging from 3:11 to 2:53.)
I slowed radically--translation: hit the mf wall--just after the 21 mile point. Next time I'll try less coffee: a half cup, rather than a cup and a half.
As a regular coffee drinker I couldn't imagine not drinking coffee before a marathon. At the same time, yes, I do think I would say, for regular drinkers, try to cut back during the week prior to reduce your tolerance to it some so you don't have to drink as much. My problem in my first two marathons has been stomach issues, which is no doubt, I'd say, related to my coffee consumption. Long story short, for Chicago, I'd like to knock my tolerance down to the point where, say, half a cup will give me a sufficient jolt, not a 20-ounce dark coffee from Wawa (first marathon) or a cup of coffee with espresso (second).
I'd say, for me, the unforunate part of my coffee consumption is that it no longer gives me a performance boost like it used to: it simply helps me function the way I already should. I'd like to be able to cut back, but running a 100 miles a week and being a full-time journalist makes that a bit hard.
So I guess what I'm saying/asking is this: Does anyone have any advice on how to counteract the very basic fact that coffee is a necesary ingredient pre-marathon but, over the course of 26.2 miles is more than likely to make you have to shit?
For 3 cups+ drinkers each morning (like me), I'd suggest drinking 2 cups first thing, morning of the race. Then go on with your race prep as normal. If you drink coffee normally before morning runs it should not effect a marathon. By cutting back slightly (from 3 to 2 cups) you should not have intestinal issues. Again, practice....before your 20+ mile runs leading up to the marathon, drink your 2 or 3 cups and then just before starting the run drink a couple glasses of water, or gatorade etc....then run.