"Caffeine can boost endurance racing"

TakeaBowSon

Interesting article in todays Independent..

http://www.independent.ie/health/diet-fitness/caffeine-can-boost-endurance-racing-2239947.html

connundrum

I think I read something similar in Triathlon Europe magazine last month, but they were kind of focussing on the 'is it/isn't it something that anti-doping bodies will become involved in' side of things.

bart simpson

anyone here try red bull before a race? never did myself just wondering.

connundrum

I'd personally be worried about the possible diarrhetic effect drinking red bull/coffee would have prior to a race/training.

The article suggests that pill/powder or concentrated liquid would be the best.

I've taken a Thermobol before training a couple of times and have found that it can pick me up a bit. But the whole thing would still depend on the amount of sleep I'd had, food intake during the day, hydration etc.

MrCreosote

bart simpson wrote: »

anyone here try red bull before a race? never did myself just wondering.

I chugged a redbull about 15 mins before the Hell of the West Tri last year. Spent the entire swim regurgitating it. Horrible! It was the syrupy sweetness. Normally I'd take a strong coffee about 90mins before the start, and caffeinated gels during the event...

digme

I always found drinking a can of coke helps me .

hunnymonster

The diuretic effect is relatively small so not something to worry about except in extreme climates. Some people suffer more than others.

caffeine is very useful but
- no good if you're used to it, lay off the caffeine for a few days before the race and you'll get the maximum caffeine
- not everyone can tolerate it
- carbonated drinks are not ideal (either shake the fizz out or take tablets)
-dosage is key. Enough to get the beneficial effect, but not so much to make you jittery.


Red bull makes me sick. So does a lot of coke (as the very nice doctor I puked over after IMDE 2009 will tell you!)

Sport101

Last 10k of an ironman, switch to coke and/or redbull... delicious, especially when youur stomach can't hold anything else down!

plodder

Bring a bottle of sweetened, cold, black coffee and drink it 30 min before hand.

Never occurred to me to lay off the stuff for the few days beforehand. Makes sense though ..

Conor20

connundrum wrote: »

I think I read something similar in Triathlon Europe magazine last month, but they were kind of focussing on the 'is it/isn't it something that anti-doping bodies will become involved in' side of things.

I remember reading that caffine was indeed a banned substance above a threshold concentration until the head of WADA said something like "we can't ban the most popular social drug in the world" in the early 90's and it was removed from the banned list.

Conor.

shg101

bart simpson wrote: »

anyone here try red bull before a race? never did myself just wondering.

I used the Red Bull shot included in the Hell of the West goodie bag last week. Had only 3.5 hours sleep the night before so I thought I needed all the help I could get.

The statistician in me knows that anecdotal evidence here is worthless, so all I can say is I had no obvious negative effects. The race was still hell, too....

hunnymonster

shg101 wrote: »

...The statistician in me knows that anecdotal evidence here is worthless,

plenty of PR evidence out there too




[URL="javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'Amino%20Acids.');"]Amino Acids.[/URL] 2001;21(2):139-50.
The effects of red bull energy drink on human performance and mood.

Alford C, Cox H, Wescott R.
Psychology Department, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom.
Abstract

The effects of Red Bull Energy Drink, which includes taurine, glucuronolactone, and caffeine amongst the ingredients, were examined over 3 studies in a total of 36 volunteers. Assessments included psychomotor performance (reaction time, concentration, memory), subjective alertness and physical endurance. When compared with control drinks, Red Bull Energy Drink significantly (P < 0.05) improved aerobic endurance (maintaining 65-75% max. heart rate) and anaerobic performance (maintaining max. speed) on cycle ergometers. Significant improvements in mental performance included choice reaction time, concentration (number cancellation) and memory (immediate recall), which reflected increased subjective alertness. These consistent and wide ranging improvements in performance are interpreted as reflecting the effects of the combination of ingredients.

sarsfieldsrock

Whenever I run a marathon I am usually glug a can of Red Bull just before the race start.
I often would have had one a few hours earlier to wake me up as well.
I find them very good but I would not use them in training and two would be the limit.

SomeFool

I use half coke/half water when I'm on the bike if I've run out of the fancy high5 stuff. It's actually not too bad.

menoscemo

sarsfieldsrock wrote: »

Whenever I run a marathon I am usually glug a can of Red Bull just before the race start.
I often would have had one a few hours earlier to wake me up as well.
I find them very good but I would not use them in training and two would be the limit.

Yeah, you are well known to glug a can or two* after a marathon as well :pac:

*albeit heavily diluted with vodka