Running and Partying: a tough balance...

During xc we ran meets every two weeks. So during the middle of the "off" week, I'd go get blitzed after a tough workout (usually a wednesday or thursday). And on the "off" Saturday, I'd go to practice & do a workout in the morning, begin drinking immediately afterwards & drink all day while watching college football, and then procede to get rocked that night. The following week of the meet, Tuesday would be the last day I'd consider going out. Then it'd be party time after the meet Saturday!

I know people are going to bash the whole partying thing and say that it is no way to perform at your best, which is probably true. But all I know is that I had a kick ass time last fall and pr'ed in the 8k while doing it.

And another thing; I almost think going out after workouts help me in some aspects. Being drunk, I probably ate more calories than I would if I was sober (although the calories were often in the form of nachos, onion rings, etc), plus, getting blitzed just got my mind off running for awhile and kept me from getting too stressed about it.

I'm older and out of undergrad now but it is a tough balance. I've done both as far as party or try not to drink a drop, neither seemed to be a good thing. My senior year a T.A. said a comment that still sticks with me "If you want to be a good distance runner you better understand right now that you won't be a normal college student." There is truth to that, I'm 26 and have a choice to make, train my ass off or realax enjoy that last part of being young and party. I feel now that I still have more "fun" taking it seriously and training.

Though, I work so much during the week, workout anywhere from 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours a day, and I'm poor so I really don't know how much of a choice I would have to drink.

Now, since I don't have a big meet coming up for 8 weeks I try and throw down on Friday or Saturday and that's it, but when I go out I like to have a good time, look forward to the weekend and don't want to be inside every night(kinda similar to what the guy stated above about not getting too stressed). But as I get closer to race, just out of fear of getting sick, I may go out till midnight but won't drink at all. I'm getting too winded but, when (or if ever) I get a college coaching job, I would explain the disadvantages nutritionally, recovery wise etc etc etc but I won't "force" a dry team. If I noticed it becoming out of hand (I can't really define out of hand, kinda subjective), yes I would force that, but if some guys get together once every other week have a few beers and stay out till 1 a.m. it may not be a bad thing, but a good thing.

If you really want to reach your optimum speed, then you have to sacrifice the partying. I always say why not just for 1 season give up partying to accomplish that? Then 20 yrs from now you won't be wondering, "If only I didn't party so much, then I could have been a 2:30 marathoner." Try it for one season. Partying does take it's toll - for some it's marginal but for others it's significant.

can someone define their version of "partying"?

partying: drinking until you can't feel feelings or wake up naked in your bed with no recollection on how you infact got there or who the ugly minger next to you is/what you did with her last night.

As far as I can tell its about figuring out when you are able to do it. Which is basically after XC season until you get back from winter break, after indoor until the end of spring break and during the summer. (this was the advice passed on to me as to when I am able to go out).

The best balance I have found is this:

During XC I don't party for 5 days before races or important workouts.

During Track I don't party for a week before races. Sometimes after a hard workout I will go out just to relieve some stress from the workout and have some fun.

Depending on how well you hydrate yourself, you can drink 3 nights before a race and run the race of your life.

According to another post you might want to ask Brandon Leslie.

hmm, there's another option which is going out but having a few drinks, not getting crazily drunk. you don't need to take it to extremes.

I spent a lot of time drinking between 18-27 (I'm 35 now). I deeply regret the amount of time, money, etc, that went into that. I'd have been a much better runner (and person) if I hadn't been a drinker. I ended up giving up booze for good at 27 years old, never looked back, life is grand. Good luck.

This is exactly right. it really took me until my senior year of college(im a slow learner) to really comprehend that I could go to a party without having 8-10-12+ beers throughout the night and throwing up half the time.

If you go out and have 3-4 drinks you'll be happy, fun and silly along with the people who are completely wasted. Then it won't take you until Monday or Tuesday to be fully recovered from the drinking binge. Maybe a few like 3-4 times a year after the season you can go crazy if you want and it wont hurt you that much.

The thing I think about drinking a lot in college in terms of running is that it basically keeps you from improving(in many cases). You can get back to whatever moderate level- arbitrarily say 80% of your ability(totally made up) but you can't continue to get better as you get closer to the limits of your personal ability. At least in my case that seemed to be true.

Also its a lot cheaper to have low tolerance haha- here's to being a lightweight!

Anthem sucks wrote:

I spent a lot of time drinking between 18-27 (I'm 35 now). I deeply regret the amount of time, money, etc, that went into that. I'd have been a much better runner (and person) if I hadn't been a drinker. I ended up giving up booze for good at 27 years old, never looked back, life is grand. Good luck.

well said...i wish i'd figured it out that young!

Anthem sucks wrote:

I spent a lot of time drinking between 18-27 (I'm 35 now). I deeply regret the amount of time, money, etc, that went into that. I'd have been a much better runner (and person) if I hadn't been a drinker. I ended up giving up booze for good at 27 years old, never looked back, life is grand. Good luck.

That's odd. I spent a lot of time drinking between 18-27 also. I had great times with my friends, building great memories. I am a happy drunk, not a mean one so alcohol didn't make me treat people poorly. I got laid so many times that would simply not have happened had I been completely sober. I ran well but probably not as well as I could have had I not drank. But those times and the opportunity for that kind of fun will never come again and I am thoroughly glad I enjoyed that time to the fullest.

Now I run and train with much greater discipline and drink very little. I have no regrets. I was never going to be a world beater anyway. Being able to say I ran a 10k a minute faster than I ended up doing would not have been worth giving up all that fun.

I had a lot of fun, too, but it was pretty empty. It was a phase, and possibly a useful one at some level, but there was also a lot of wasted time and effort there.

A lot of guys I've trained with over the years have been very obsessive-compulsive. On some level, with this sport, I think you almost have to be. Otherwise, it would be really easy to skip a run due to rain, what have you. Anyway, I've noticed that alcohol + obsessive compulsive personality is not really such a good mix. In other words, most of the guys I used to train with have serious drinking problems.

I had a lot of fun, too, but it was pretty empty. It was a phase, and possibly a useful one at some level, but there was also a lot of wasted time and effort there.

A lot of guys I've trained with over the years have been very obsessive-compulsive. On some level, with this sport, I think you almost have to be. Otherwise, it would be really easy to skip a run due to rain, what have you. Anyway, I've noticed that alcohol + obsessive compulsive personality is not really such a good mix. In other words, most of the guys I used to train with have serious drinking problems.

I have to agree with the obsessive-compulsive factor. I'm just out of college and I didn't even start drinking till I was 21. Then it was out of control craziness for about 2 years and the running went downhill. I went from a sub-3 marathon runner to basically nothing. That's when I decided to give up the booze altogether. I'd go for weeks at a time with NOTHING. I am also a total spaz. I worry about everything! Without the occassional release, things just built up and I'd end up getting beyond wasted one night. Then I'd feel guilty the next day and go a couple of weeks without anything again. I realized I needed at least something here and there to just relax and be a normal person rather than a constant running freak. I'm going with the idea that a drink or 2 on the weekends won't kill you as long as you're not planning an important run/race. I just don't get wasted anymore and I keep my 8 hours a night. Hydration is also key even after very little alcohol. There's no need to drink yourself to the point of loosing all feeling and control...even when your still in college. I don't know why I did back then! Now, I am also a light-weight/cheap date!

Why does everyone say you only have a short time to drink and party?

That is such BS.

I am 29, married, happy, and have to turn down opportunities to go out and get sloppy with friends.

Maybe it is because I live in Chicago, but there sure as hell is not a shortage of people in their 30's partying it up every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Then throw in Sundays during football season. I am talking hard partying.

It does not end when you are out of college, if anything it is easier. Going to work hug over is nowhere near as bad as going to class and practice.

If you are a decent runner, you only have those 4 years to train as hard as you can with a good coach, great meets, wonderful doctors and trainers, and an incredible support staff.

Take advantage of the years you can run, the partying will always be there.

Once you have a job, the running is tough, but the partying is easy.

wants to party wrote:

As far as I can tell its about figuring out when you are able to do it. Which is basically after XC season until you get back from winter break, after indoor until the end of spring break and during the summer. (this was the advice passed on to me as to when I am able to go out).

Exactly the way I do it. You can have fun, but not when it's time to be serious

I agree 100%

I wish I would have trained harder and partied less in college. I had good times, but I am having good times now too. I party just as hard now as I did then. I am 26.

I second that opinion. I'm 39 and wouldn't swap my fun for 1 min in a 10k.

Don't live the life of a "running monk" then wonder why you wasted your youth doing NOTHING but running. It's one thing if you are on the edge of qualifying for the Olympics, but if you are a typical runner, you need to enjoy life.

You can strike a balance.