Running and Alcohol

Battery Kinzie

What sort of effect do you find alcohol has on your training and how long before a race would you cut it out completely?

I'm doing a HM in 4 weeks this Saturday, and haven't drank at all for the past three weeks. It's a mates birthday Saturday night and I was thinking of having a few pints (no more than 3 definitely). I've no runs planned for Sunday (doing my LSR on Saturday), so I presume a couple of pints would make negligible difference to my half marathon time that is four weeks away? If it did, I could go the extra few weeks without having alcohol, I'm just more curious than anything.

Krusty_Clown

It'll have no affect whatsoever. Go out and enjoy your pints, particularly if you have no plans to run the next day. Sure it'll help, if you cut down the booze for the last week or two before the big race, but for most of us hobbyist runners, a few drinks won't have a negative impact on training.

When you get to the stage where you're trying to eke out those last few seconds of improvement, where you can't run any more miles or train any more than you currently are training, then there's an argument for giving up alcohol, but otherwise, it's largely unnecessary. Lots of people give up alcohol for other reasons (life choices, dependancy, diet/health etc.), and those are certainly all good reasons to do so, but in terms of your training, as long as you don't go mad, there's no compelling reason.

Having said all that, I drink less alcohol now then I ever have, but that's largely been due to the demands of the training. I haven't had a drink for a few weeks now, due to an upcoming marathon, but that's largely about weight management and ensuring I get sufficient sleep. Looking forward to a few jars on Sunday!

Notwork Error

Battery Kinzie wrote: »

What sort of effect do you find alcohol has on your training and how long before a race would you cut it out completely?

I'm doing a HM in 4 weeks this Saturday, and haven't drank at all for the past three weeks. It's a mates birthday Saturday night and I was thinking of having a few pints (no more than 3 definitely). I've no runs planned for Sunday (doing my LSR on Saturday), so I presume a couple of pints would make negligible difference to my half marathon time that is four weeks away? If it did, I could go the extra few weeks without having alcohol, I'm just more curious than anything.

I really don't think 3 drinks will do any harm to be honest, gotta have a bit of craic too outside of running. Some of the greats of the 70's and 80's swore by having two or three drinks the night before a race and some fairly high level runners still do this. You'll be fine.

I find for obvious reasons that the big sessions have a huge effect on my training. Motivation suffers and my legs always feel heavy for a few days after it, they hurt my recovery time and running can be a real struggle in the days after were I generally feel like crap Some people can stroll out the door the next day and run, don't know how they do it but I'm sure it has an effect on optimal training

walshb

Battery Kinzie wrote: »

What sort of effect do you find alcohol has on your training and how long before a race would you cut it out completely?

I'm doing a HM in 4 weeks this Saturday, and haven't drank at all for the past three weeks. It's a mates birthday Saturday night and I was thinking of having a few pints (no more than 3 definitely). I've no runs planned for Sunday (doing my LSR on Saturday), so I presume a couple of pints would make negligible difference to my half marathon time that is four weeks away? If it did, I could go the extra few weeks without having alcohol, I'm just more curious than anything.

Likely won't impact your time, but if you have only 4 weeks, and are only wanting 3 pints, why bother? Abstain. At least then you know that you didn't possibly jeopardise a true time.

Chivito550

I never drink any alcohol the night before a race. Other than that, I drink whenever I like. I'm not a heavy drinker so am not going to act the b0llox and screw up the possibility of running a good time 2 days later, but I wouldn't think twice about having 2-3 pints on a Thursday night if I had a race on a Saturday. It makes no difference whatsoever.

walshb

Alcohol is a toxin. OP, apply the Mayweather approach. Clean living.

Notwork Error

walshb wrote: »

Alcohol is a toxin. OP, apply the Mayweather approach. Clean living.

What's that? Get absolutely hammered and rehydrate with an IV before the run:p

walshb

Notwork Error wrote: »

What's that? Get absolutely hammered and rehydrate with an IV before the run:p

Classic!

Battery Kinzie

Yeah, I didn't think it'd make a huge difference, just wanted to be sure.

Cheers lads and lasses.

Mango Joe

OP if I were you Id save the drinking til your 60s as you'll most likely have crippling knee pain by then if you keep running to this extent and it may help etc,!!!

Krusty_Clown

Mango Joe wrote: »

OP if I were you Id save the drinking til your 60s as you'll most likely have crippling knee pain by then if you keep running to this extent and it may help etc,!!!

I see what you did there. Nice work!

rom

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Holden_(athlete)

You are going not to drink for 4 weeks prior to a race. Seriously unless your going for the A standard for Rio thats over the top.

walshb

rom wrote: »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Holden_(athlete)

You are going not to drink for 4 weeks prior to a race. Seriously unless your going for the A standard for Rio thats over the top.

It's very individual. He's going for his standard. Nobody else's standard is relevant.

tunney

walshb wrote: »

Alcohol is a toxin. OP, apply the Mayweather approach. Clean living.

So is oxygen at high concentrations.
So is water at not so high concentrations.

So Mayweather does it so its good? Should the OP also start to beat his wife? (or her husband)

walshb

tunney wrote: »

So is oxygen at high concentrations.
So is water at not so high concentrations.

So Mayweather does it so its good? Should the OP also start to beat his wife? (or her husband)

I wasn't advising you. I was advising the OP. I believe he did ask for opinions and advice......

OP, don't beat the wife. That's nasty sh1t!

Oh, and as far as I know Mayweather never beat his wife.

freethearmy

hammered 10 cans the night before dublin marathon last year...not a bother the next day

walshb

freethearmy wrote: »

hammered 10 cans the night before dublin marathon last year...not a bother the next day

Sleep it out?

Krusty_Clown

freethearmy wrote: »

hammered 10 cans the night before dublin marathon last year...not a bother the next day

Did you watch it on TV or just sleep it off?

Irish_rat

Everyone to themselves but I think avoiding big sessions and eating well is probably the best way to improve your overall fitness and health.

average_runner

freethearmy wrote: »

hammered 10 cans the night before dublin marathon last year...not a bother the next day

Was it a big hammer?

freethearmy

4hrs 31 mins not to bad

walshb

freethearmy wrote: »

4hrs 31 mins not to bad

Not bad for what? A beer mile?