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Can Caffeine Enhance Your Running Performance?

RunConquerCelebrate
RunConquerCelebrate Posts: 956 Member
in Social Groups
As I was drinking my coffee this morning and going through my e-mails. I received this very interesting article. It is pretty long so I did not want to copy it but here is the link if you are interested in reading it.


http://runnersconnect.net/running-nutrition-articles/caffeine-can-it-improve-my-running-performance/?awt_l=9mPUE&awt_m=41WQmHPIo4QxdIP&utm_source=ebook-nutrition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ebook-nutrition-5

Replies

  • Carrieendar
    Carrieendar Posts: 493 Member
    I am a big believer in the 1 week caffeine fast followed by about 200mg caffeine before a race (marathon distance). I have not tried it out in other races; I was thinking of doing a fast then caffeine an hour before my upcoming 10k. we shall see...
  • vmclach
    vmclach Posts: 670 Member
    I drink lots of caffeine and I'm relatively fast lol????
  • jennalink807
    jennalink807 Posts: 226 Member
    I'm not sure if caffeine improves my performance, but I am not willing to do without it long enough to find out :P
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    This one is like the health benefits of dark chocolate: who cares if it's accurate?
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
    This one is like the health benefits of dark chocolate: who cares if it's accurate?
    Preach!
  • RunConquerCelebrate
    RunConquerCelebrate Posts: 956 Member
    I am a big believer in the 1 week caffeine fast followed by about 200mg caffeine before a race (marathon distance). I have not tried it out in other races; I was thinking of doing a fast then caffeine an hour before my upcoming 10k. we shall see...

    I have to look into this whenever I decide to run a marathon
  • RunConquerCelebrate
    RunConquerCelebrate Posts: 956 Member
    I'm not sure if caffeine improves my performance, but I am not willing to do without it long enough to find out :P

    I drink coffee but maybe not enough to make me fast
  • RunConquerCelebrate
    RunConquerCelebrate Posts: 956 Member
    This one is like the health benefits of dark chocolate: who cares if it's accurate?

    I know who cares I still like both of them
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    Athletes have been using caffeine for years - at Ironman races they hand out flat coke and GU and other energy gels can be bought with caffeine added.
  • rabblerabble
    rabblerabble Posts: 471 Member
    I need a couple of large strong cups of black coffee every single morning to get a jump start on the day whether I'm going out on a run or not. (Then am caffeine free the rest of the day).

    Unsure I'd make it a week or two without it during a pre-race taper but there are racers who do that then have some caffeine obn race day and claim it helps.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Oh. Also, coffee helps "get things moving" before long runs.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Oh. Also, coffee helps "get things moving" before long runs.

    Or during...

    ...if you don't plan everything appropriately.
  • DavidMartinez2
    DavidMartinez2 Posts: 840 Member
    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/health/nutrition/26best.html?pagewanted=all

    I've been all-in on caffeine withdrawls for a week now getting ready for my next "A" race. The headaches finally went away but getting through the morning to lunch has been a little tough.
  • pobalita
    pobalita Posts: 741 Member
    I'm reading Matt Fitzgerald's "The New Rules of Marathon and Half-Marathon Nutrition" now and there is a lot of information on caffeine. According to the book, one of the ways that caffeine aids performance is by enhancing carbohydrate uptake by the muscles when carbohydrate and caffeine are taken together. Caffeine also blocks adenosine receptors and keeps a person feeling alert and awake. The book recommends a caffeine fast (2 weeks!) before a big run, then taking about 3 mg (2 to 6 mg/kg is the range) caffeine/kg body weight before a race in the form of caffeine tabs.

    I have not tried the recommendation because I could never go on a caffeine fast; however, I did consume a Clif gel with 100 mg of caffeine and a venti coffee just before my half marathon this weekend. I felt much less fatigue during the half than normal and I PR'ed for the year by almost 5 minutes. I've been training hard, to it wasn't likely all due to the caffeine, but I do think it helpedl
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    I need a couple of large strong cups of black coffee every single morning to get a jump start on the day whether I'm going out on a run or not. (Then am caffeine free the rest of the day).

    Unsure I'd make it a week or two without it during a pre-race taper but there are racers who do that then have some caffeine obn race day and claim it helps.

    I can tell you that on the long runs, having a shot of caffeine half way through makes me feel like a new woman.

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