This week's question was emailed by Martin, who's just realised that his first marathon of the year is six days after St George's Day. Which involves loads of beer. Any thoughts?
Advice from coaches and medical types especially welcome...
"How much harm will a skinful of ale a week before a marathon do me? I'm running my first full marathon of the year on Sunday 29 April, six days after St George's Day. St George's Day means a pressing engagement with a succession of public houses, and drinking loads of beer is a really key part of it. I won't be training much in the week before a marathon anyway, and the alcohol should be gone from my system by mid-week, so will my skinful do my marathon prep serious harm?"
- Emailed by Martin Pac
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Comments
Will be very interested to read the replies!
I've run with mega hangovers in the past, but no more than 8 miles, so I really couldn't say much more.
I had a skinful last night (only my 2nd since the new year, aren't I good?!) and won't be having another until after the FLM.
Will be very interested to see the other replies though!
If I were 6 days from the FLM, I'd be cocooned in cotton wool and bubble wrap.
After that night out, I didn't touch another drop until the event was over and I made sure I drank loads of water though.
Martin - go out and relax but make sure you compensate for it with plenty of water and sleep afterwards.
Expereince of last weekend taught me that as I've got older I need more hangover ecovery time - hence being p!$$ed up 12hrs before a long race did not have good effect.
A week though should be fine I'd have thought - not strictly in the "elite marathon runners preparation plan", but in the real world we have many different priorities...
When I was in my yoof, I ran a mara the morning after a student party the night before and felt fine.
I'm going Lochaber in 4 weeks, I think I might quit the beer after the London Social next Friday.
the older you get, the longer it takes to recover - I tend to be a steady drinker these days than having mega piss ups - the body can't take it any more
if he's a regular drinker as well, then he will probably recover quicker with less damage to his system as he will be used to training and running and drinking.....I think the less habitual drinkers wouyld suffer more and it would blow them out for a few good days..........
anyway - why celebrate St Georges Day?? modern day jingoism...........
a week before should be fine
you will be in taper anyway
But to answer the question - unless you intend drinking yourself into oblivion I would have thought you'll be OK. As Hipps says: you'll have done all the hard work by then.
Is it really obligatory to drink yourself stupid?
Why not just have a few and enjoy both your night out and your marathon? Your liver will thank you for it :-)
ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just accept it, then ignore it. works for me!
And to answer the question - a whole week to recover? Fill yer boots!
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother, be he ne'er so vile
This day shall gentle his condition
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here
And hold their manhood cheap while any speaks
That fought with us upon St. Crispin's Day
(Henry V)
St Crispins Day is also the anniversery of the Charge Of The Light Brigade - a somewhat less glorious enterprise but no less lionised Into the valley of Death rode the 600
So as an excuse for a Jingoistic booze up - opportunities don't come much better....
I think the answer lies in the fact that with drinking alcohol comes other effects like interrupted sleep patterns, consumption of junk foods, which will affect final conditioning runs, etc, rather than the big day. It’s probably difficult to quantify what effect it could have on your final performance and in all likelihood you’d never know, but if that extra minute or five is important to you and you want to make sure you are at your best on the day, then the advice almost goes unstated.
As I have stated before I have ran a marathon with a pretty bad Hangover (dublin). It added about 30 mins to my planned time that was with a couple of vomit stops. But It was really unpleasant so is best avoided.
Moderate and you will be fine - the last marathon I did (a few weeks ago) I had my sensible head on and stopped at two pints the night before the race(went for an indian), the curry was a lot better at slowing me than a couple of beers thats for sure.
If anyone wants me, I'll be in the pub.....
But good luck for your marathon anyway Martin.
But ultimately the books all say everything in moderation.
However, when p***d, it seemed a good idea at the time to jump around the dancefloor to Guns & Roses doing air guitar/bit of headbanging in true Jack Black School of Rock style. This also involved jumping in the air and landing on my knees on countless occasions.
Luckily I only ended up with black and blue knees with no injuries, goodness only knows how. Just imagine if I'd injured myself and scuppered my marathon chances?!
Take heed of this story and beware..... ;-)
Good luck in the race anyway!