Coffee and training

Coffee is a diuretic (sp?) so it tends to dehydrate you, but if you keep this in mind and make sure you take on water as well to compensate this by itself shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Some studies recently (one of the Aussie sports institutes I think) did some research that I glanced at a while back suggesting that a samll amount of coffee before a training session was beneficial - mainlydue to the stimulant effect of the caffiene.

I would suggest that unles you're aiming to become an elite athlete you shouldn't abandon thing you enjoy that aren't bad for you per se - hey, we're all doing this for fun aren't we?  BTW I drink 3-5 cups of coffee a day, I've never noticed fluctuations in performance that correlated with my caffine intake.  Maybe I'd go faster without it, but I like it, so the coffee stays.

I know there is a fair amount research available on the effects of caffiene and training ...but I'm like you and can't/won't give it up. So I just make sure that I keep the same routine with regards to my caffiene intake (lol and output!) for race days as I do for training day. 

If I'm doing an early morning swim (6 -7am) I usually have my caffiene in chai tea latte (a liquid mix I add milk too) so I can have calories and caffiene with out having to force food in that early in the day, and then have my multiple cups of coffee when I get home (lol- put the timer on the pot so it's ready!).  If  the w/o is later in the morning I will have usually 1- 2 cups of coffee before and make sure I have enough time to ...well.. go to the bathroom before I leave and then enjoy the rest after I get back.  On race days I do the same thing, even if it means getting up earlier.

As much as I love the training... don't think I could give up my coffee as a permanent lifestlye!

I do not drink coffee regularly.  Once a week perhaps?  Research has shown that for endurance athletes not "addicted" to coffee, an initial dose of caffeine equivalent to 1-1.5 cups of coffee does enhance endurance performance.

However, what was quite interesting is that subsequent caffeine doses during exercise for the same athlete does not change performance. 

The key to gaining the most performance benefit in endurance events is to not drink caffeine on a daily basis.

I typically drink a cup of coffee before a 5-7hr bike ride or before a "long" race.

Blessed nectar of LIFE!  My crew knows not to set foot in a sim or jet with me until I have had my coffee.  They would be risking certain death.  Okay, not that bad...but I'm cranky without it

I love Starbucks...I have tried every local coffee joint in this lousy small town...and I even make my own either brewed or via the espresso machine.

I don't have it before training/racing because I can't drink it without milk or creamer (I sooooo miss the light cream they sell in New England!  Come to think of it...I miss my Dunkin' Donuts coffee too!) and the milk or creamer tend to disagree with my stomach while doing anything athletic.

So other than not being able to have it immediately before training....I see no harsh side effects.  I love it as a post-morning swim wake up.  I am always so tired after early swims.  The coffee gets me through the rest of the day.

Dr. George Sheehan used to get asked this question all the time.  His answer was something along the lines of "without coffee, I wouldn't make it to the starting line of any race."  I'm with ya, George.  I'm with ya.

Here's an interesting article on the downside of caffeine.

http://chetday.com/nocoffee.html