I just read an article on this by Cat Bradley, Ultra marathoner & trail runner, https://www.btrtoday.com/read/featured/is-alcohol-slowing-you-down/ and wonder what others think on this topic. I like to drink a beer or some mixed drinks on a limited basis but was thinking about this subject during my training.
No intelligent person does.
I quit drinking about 2 months ago for my marathon training cycle and lost about 10 pounds and feel better than ever. I always struggled with drinking in moderation though. I would be very dedicated and regimented with my diet and training during the week but on the weekends, almost every friday and saturday night I would indulge in drinks and not eat as well. I wasn't getting hammered drunk, but definitely catching a heavy buzz, like 5-8 drinks a night on average probably on the weekends. I definitely feel like it was having its effects on my training and recovery, especially since my biggest mileage was also on the weekends. If you're the type of person than has 1-2 drinks 1-2 nights a week then its probably not going to make a noticeable difference.
Yeah, I usually drive my route the night before a long run and stash a couple PBR tall boys so I can grab them for refreshment ten miles in. Track is easier, I can just take swigs from a thermos of gin & tonic between reps, though I've heard good things about something called the Jack Daniels training formula.
Serious answer is I've cut back a lot as I've gotten more serious about my running. Now I'll usually have one beer with dinner a few nights a week, not on the nights before a long run or track workout.
a little sip on your off day won't do any damage
Toshihiko Seko would drink a lot of beers after training, because he didn't have a appetite.
I prefer drinking water during serious training runs.
Thanks!
Well beer works for Camille Herron! Like with everything, moderation is important and everybody/every body is different. Of course the writer feels better replacing post-run mimosas with post-run recovery shakes because of the timing. That's like saying you discovered that having a balanced breakfast in the morning made you feel better than having a bowl of candy. There's a time and place for everything.
Zoom35 wrote:
Thanks!
Sure, during a timed beer mile.
I gave up alcohol for New Years resolution this year and honestly haven't looked back since.
I feel like I've gotten back into shape faster and recover better since I'm not drinking 3 beers a night. After this year, I probably will just continue not drinking since I honestly don't miss it at all. Only time I craved it was when I was at my parents and everyone else was drinking. I've dropped ~10 lbs since and have at least 15 to go to get to a good weight, just have to focus on giving up sweets.
I was at a fairly big race recently and saw 4-5 of the top finishers (a couple NCAA and USA championships among them), all in the midst of a big training cycle for bigger stuff this spring. They were enjoying a drink or two.
Drinking every day, even just one or two, probably isn't so good you. More than 1 or 2 and that's heavy drinking and that's definitely not good for running. Nor is downing a bunch once a week or so. But a drink or two a week or after an event, isn't going to harm most runners.
I find that anything under 10 drinks per week has no affect on performance
See Dave Bedford
Alcohol ruined my father's, my uncle's, my neighbor's and countless people's lives all through history. A smart person would never try it. A wise person knows what I say here is true.
Per myself, my goal is about 1 drink every other day. But in reality drink more than that. Instead of 3-4 it's often 4-6. I'll have a drink or two on the weekend nights, go for a few days without any, and then by mid-week have a single drink.
Had a big slate of races last fall, and afterward for about a month or six weeks, drank more than the usual. Maybe 7-8 a week, with only one or two nights a week without any and I felt some negative effects at some late season/post peak races.
txRUNNERgirl wrote:
Well beer works for Camille Herron! Like with everything, moderation is important and everybody/every body is different. Of course the writer feels better replacing post-run mimosas with post-run recovery shakes because of the timing. That's like saying you discovered that having a balanced breakfast in the morning made you feel better than having a bowl of candy. There's a time and place for everything.
There is a time and place for a bowl of candy? This is a stupid post
Gave up all alcohol December 15th training hard for 4/15. Things have went well so far.
logician wrote:
txRUNNERgirl wrote:
Well beer works for Camille Herron! Like with everything, moderation is important and everybody/every body is different. Of course the writer feels better replacing post-run mimosas with post-run recovery shakes because of the timing. That's like saying you discovered that having a balanced breakfast in the morning made you feel better than having a bowl of candy. There's a time and place for everything.
There is a time and place for a bowl of candy? This is a stupid post
txRUNNERgirl has what you seem to be lacking - common sense, call it wisdom, if you will.
r67i wrote:
Alcohol ruined my father's, my uncle's, my neighbor's and countless people's lives all through history. A smart person would never try it. A wise person knows what I say here is true.
That's sad.
But think we should go back to prohibition? How about women wearing clothing covering neck to ankles, and wearing veils in public. Mandatory church on Sundays?