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running and hangovers
Catalin Bond
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Is it worth going out running when hungover? or should you leave it til tommorrow and then train harder?
On the one hand, when I do my legs feel heavy, I stuggle to maintain a good pace and I don't feel i'm getting that much out of it. On the other hand, are you building up fitness if you run when it's a struggle? If you train with a drink enduced handicap will you do better in races when not hungover?!
I know the answer is probably don't have a lot to drink if you want to do a good session the next day, but it's a bt too late for that 
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Comments
I remember doing a 10k off road race one Sunday morning, and tackling a tricky hill, and the bloke next to me looking decidely dodgy, he then proceeded to tell me he was hung over from the night before, and then promptly chucked up the entire contents of his stomach up (I am fairly positive he'd had a fryup that morning) over the narrow path, nice.
Sorta reinforced the reasons why I don't drink!!!!
If it's a light hangover get out there go for a run it'll be fine. If it's the hangover from hell and your hair hurts give it a miss and don't drink that much again.
I have done a 7km trail race with and without a hangover (best friends wedding day before) and it's only slowed me down by a minute. In fact my OH was faster with a hangover.
I went to a party last Sunday and drank 3 pints of lager + 2 glasses of champers. Went out for a run on Monday afternoon and it was an absolute nightmare run...I failed to consider the impact of de-hydration caused by the booze. Never again will that happen.
I don't drink often...perhaps this was partly the reason for the dreadful after effects.
I went out again last evening and still felt sluggish.
Bad boozer me...
I drink...I fall over
You sound like a cheap date to me!
I drank far too much on Sunday evening too, I couldn't move let alone run!
I would drink water until I know that I am rehydrated. Then go for a bit of a run later in the arvie.
I discovered that doing more with a hangover means that you actually feel better later on
And that you can actually start drinking again that night!!!
I would ignore any advice that says don't drink. Drinking is a way of life, and must be continued!
I have given your thread some serious thought, I've done some research, and here is my highly technical, scientifically proven advice: if you feel like running, then do so; if you don't, then don't.
Thanks Dan I was eating my lunch reading this
I always find a run will clear the alcohol out of the system and get rid of the hangover.
I once completed a 30k speed march carrying all of the usual gear after a night of mega boozing. The boozing finished at 2.30 am and the march started at 8am, nearly killed me, and the aroma of beer and wine that I was sweating out was very unpleasant indeed.
Not to be recomended.
Tails
SO GENERALLY people have either had a good race/run or an awful race/run with a hangover!
But it takes us away from what I really wanted to know (don't think I made my point well in the OP) Given that (I personally) don't seem to run well when training on a hangover, is it still worth going if you are hungover? or are you better off waiting a day and then doing a much better session when not hungover? or I guess should you try both?
If you don't run when hungover then how are you supposed to ever train?!
Ah, the old sick n slip. Bad times.
I don't run when I'm hungover. If I know I'm going out on a Saturday night I'll do my long run on a Saturday morning so I have Sunday free to wallow in the errors of my ways.
If I run after drinking the night before I'm sluggish, dehydrated and tired and all it does is put me in a bad mood. If you're hungover today then drink lots of water, sleep, eat well and go out tomorrow.
Works every time. Almost.