I only drink on weekends, usually about three Guinness Imported Extra Stoudts. The next day's run, after the alcohol, (12 hrs after consuming last drink) is always a better FEELING run than the other 4-5 runs the rest of the week. My times are 10-15% better, with apprx. the same effort. Anyone offer an opinion as to why?
As long as you stay hydrated, drinking doesn't really hurt your running as long as you don't drink a lot. I could see where it could help in limited amounts as well...kind of like carb loading. I'm probably way off in my guess. But who cares.
Keep in mind you are also drinking GOOD quality beer...not some Natural Light or something.
I know what you mean though, I've felt the same thing. The problem is binge drinking, and I would not call 3 Guinesses binge drinking.
My roommate in college subscribed to your theory. My experience tends to be similar if I stay hydrated. Maybe it's good carbs. Maybe it's just having a relaxed buzz the night before and not wasting your energy on worrying. I tend to think the latter.
Really? I feel worse. The past two weeks I've had some drinks on Monday night watching the Football game, and Tuesday practices never go well for me.
Could be the carbs, or could be the iron. Guiness contains a lot of iron, which would in theory raise your haemoglobin level, and therefore your bodies ability to transport oxygen.
The great Buddy Edelen was a believer (perhaps tongue in cheek) in the value of dark beer for vitamins and minerals. In any case, he drank regularly and was the best marathoner in the world.
When I was a swimmer in HS, I got smashed the night before a meet. The next day, I set a PB in my best event. Alcohol does have calories in it. So, while your liver and kidneys are young and fresh, alcohol is just energy: carbo loading mentioned in another post. Wait till you get older and your hangovers last for a couple of days.
paskesm wrote:
Maybe it's just having a relaxed buzz the night before and not wasting your energy on worrying. I tend to think the latter.
I don't understand. Who sits around worrying at night? Believe it or not, it is possible to loosen up and have a good time without drinking alcohol.
Stater of the Obvious wrote:
paskesm wrote:Maybe it's just having a relaxed buzz the night before and not wasting your energy on worrying. I tend to think the latter.
I don't understand. Who sits around worrying at night? Believe it or not, it is possible to loosen up and have a good time without drinking alcohol.
You're right. I'm not much of a drinker and have had many enjoyable nights without alcohol. However, I do remember being a little bit uneasy the day before a meet or a hard workout. I think it's natural to feel nervous before you're about to endure a lot of pain, and I don't think this is an uncommon feeling for many runners. If a few drinks takes the edge off and you perform better, then what's the problem? I don't think anyone is suggesting that 15 beers and a night kissing the toilet seat is what's beneficial here.
one night me and my friend went to this party and got really trashed. and are coach wanted us to do a road race in the morning. so we woke up at 6 am we got there still smelling of beer and still drunk. needless to say we throwing up on the warm up feeling absolutely horrible we got on the line and my friend ran the fastest 5k he ever ran by 30 seconds the course wasn't short or anything and I ran the worst race I ever ran. and every time he drinks and dose a race he feels like crap but run awesome. its weird
trail runner06 wrote:
one night me and my friend went to this party and got really trashed. and are coach wanted us to do a road race in the morning. so we woke up at 6 am we got there still smelling of beer and still drunk. needless to say we throwing up on the warm up feeling absolutely horrible we got on the line and my friend ran the fastest 5k he ever ran by 30 seconds the course wasn't short or anything and I ran the worst race I ever ran. and every time he drinks and dose a race he feels like crap but run awesome. its weird
i knew a guy who was a 15:02 5k guy, got hammered one night, next day last minute heard of a road race, jumped in and ran 14:42, course was legit too because it was the 3rd year they had done it, same course and he was the only one who PR'd everyone else ran their times, and i measured it afterwards.
trail runner06 wrote:
one night me and my friend went to this party and got really trashed. and are coach wanted us to do a road race in the morning. so we woke up at 6 am we got there still smelling of beer and still drunk. needless to say we throwing up on the warm up feeling absolutely horrible we got on the line and my friend ran the fastest 5k he ever ran by 30 seconds the course wasn't short or anything and I ran the worst race I ever ran. and every time he drinks and dose a race he feels like crap but run awesome. its weird
I stand corrected. Some people are suggesting that getting thrashed is the key.
paskesm wrote:
My roommate in college subscribed to your theory. My experience tends to be similar if I stay hydrated. Maybe it's good carbs. Maybe it's just having a relaxed buzz the night before and not wasting your energy on worrying. I tend to think the latter.
For each beer I consume I'll drink an equal or greater amount of water to literally chase it down. Oddly enough, if I drink shit beer like Bud, MGD, etc, I don't seem to get the same performance enhancement. At any rate, Guinness, and occassionally, Sierra Nevada seem to have the most postive effect on my performance. I've never tried much wine, but I'm going to give it a whirl soon.
• antioxidants
• iron
• lowered risk of heart disease?
• 24 ounces!! whoooohooooo!
dnixon, Thanks for that link. Interesting. One more thing: three to four drinks at any one sitting is my self imposed limit (Friday and Saturday evenings only). :)
guinness is a poor source of iron. it only has .3 mg a serving. youd be better off eating 1/4th of an egg for iron.
Stater of the Obvious wrote:
paskesm wrote:Maybe it's just having a relaxed buzz the night before and not wasting your energy on worrying. I tend to think the latter.
I don't understand. Who sits around worrying at night? Believe it or not, it is possible to loosen up and have a good time without drinking alcohol.
Actually, I spend a significant amount of time worrying, although not just at night. And I'm not even out of college yet.
blaznbison24 wrote:
guinness is a poor source of iron. it only has .3 mg a serving. youd be better off eating 1/4th of an egg for iron.
Don't come on here speaking the truth, we don't want that!
We want to continue believing that our bodies can use ethynol calories as pure energy!!! Nevermind that it is against the basic laws of biology!!!
oh my gosh, who is worrying -- you are buddy... relaxno one is saying that alcohol is required to loosen up, they just mentioned that drinking a few beers can have the effect of temporarily lightening the moodbut thanks for the comment alcohol police
Stater of the Obvious wrote:
paskesm wrote:Maybe it's just having a relaxed buzz the night before and not wasting your energy on worrying. I tend to think the latter.
I don't understand. Who sits around worrying at night? Believe it or not, it is possible to loosen up and have a good time without drinking alcohol.