Runners: vitamins and/or supplements.

There is a growing body of evidence that runners benefit (well, everyone benefits but runners more so) from anti-oxidants.

Here's an article that may interest you.....

http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=12434&PageNum=3

you'll also note that a lot of your anti-oxidants can be consumed as food rather than supplements.

There was also an interesting article on competitor.com by Matt Fitzgerald (7 Supplements that Aren't a Total Waste of Money)

http://running.competitor.com/2012/08/nutrition/7-nutritional-supplements-that-arent-a-total-waste-of-money_29434

Interesting, and I don't have any factual input just a personal experience story. I've been running (again) since January and have not used supplements. I recently had bloodwork which showed I was very, very low in vitamin D and that is after coming off the sunniest summer, spring and fall Seattle has ever had.. it made me wonder if all my running was sucking the 'd' right out of me. I'm taking 1000 iu's a day now (just two weeks in so I'm not sure if it is changing anything).

I also recently developed a respitory infection and for 9 days no running.. but have been pounding the vitamin C (6000 iu's a day) and I was able to run yesterday. I've had Pneumonia and or bronchitis 1 x each year (since my twinlings were born) and this is the fastest I've recovered. I did recently read, but didn't save (sorry) an article about the effects of vitamins c on lung recovery and muscle recovery and (although, I'm not sure) I think the vitamin C has made a huge difference for me.

When I remember, I take chelated iron, calcium/mag/D, B complex, and glucosamine/chondroitin and wash it all down with Emergen-C. I think it helps....?