General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Caffeine, friend or foe? Rss Feed  
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2013-03-25 11:08 AM

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Regular
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Central Coast, CA
Subject: Caffeine, friend or foe?

I've seen plenty of comments about having coffee in the morning before an event to get things moving (both mentally and physically).  What about right before or during an event?  Does the diuretic effect lead to dehydration? Are caffeinated Gu/gels a boon or bane?

Caffeine, friend or foe?  Discuss!



2013-03-25 11:09 AM
in reply to: #4673367

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

33mg = friend

100mg = foe

that is how my body looks at it.

2013-03-25 11:11 AM
in reply to: #4673367

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Elite
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PEI, Canada
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

Give me caffeine and I'm your friend.  

Deny me caffeine and I'm your foe.

2013-03-25 11:12 AM
in reply to: #4673367

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Regular
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Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

Friend.

I drink it in moderation during the week and don't believe in changing anything on an event day. 

2013-03-25 11:15 AM
in reply to: #4673367

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Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?
If you're used to it, keep using it.
Don't try anything new on race day.

2013-03-25 11:18 AM
in reply to: #4673367

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Master
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Livonia, MI
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

In the past, there was much conflicting info out there on caffeine; but as of right now, there is no compelling evidence that shows a moderate amount (1-2 cups per day) of caffeine will do a healthy body any harm.  The nutritional community generally concludes that it harmless in moderation and actually has some antioxidant properties.

I do 1-2 cups of half-caf per morning.  This does not change on race day, in fact I try to keep that morning as normal as possible as far as routine and food.

I cannot handle caffeine while I train or race because it makes me....well....have to go if you know what I mean.  But that's just me.  I know several people that have luck with caffeine charged gu while training/racing.

So I stick to my normal AM coffee which gets things going and gone before it's time to race.

Experiment to see what works for you but do it BEFORE and not ON race day.



Edited by noelle1230 2013-03-25 11:20 AM


2013-03-25 11:29 AM
in reply to: #4673367

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Expert
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Detroit, MI. Kinda.
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?
I love that sh**tuff. I do frequently try to wean myself off of it...not because I'm worried it's bad for me, but race day caffeine is more effective if you're not already a junkee.  I'll pop a 200mg tablet on race morning (including Ironman Day).  I've never notice a dehydrating effect, but I do notice that I suck if I have zero caffeine before a workout/race.
2013-03-25 12:14 PM
in reply to: #4673367

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?
2013-03-25 12:22 PM
in reply to: #4673367

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2013-03-25 12:50 PM
in reply to: #4673367

Expert
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Ontario Canada
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

Friend Oh Yea

Its how I start every day, Race days are no different but maybe only one instead of two cups.

2013-03-25 1:02 PM
in reply to: #4673389

Elite
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Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

DanielG - 2013-03-25 12:15 PM If you're used to it, keep using it. Don't try anything new on race day.

Damn, there goes that raceday caffeine colonic..shucks



2013-03-25 1:21 PM
in reply to: #4673367

Pro
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Bellingham, WA
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

I need coffee when I wake up to clear the cobwebs.  A morning without coffee is almost unbearable for me.

I try to limit to one cup in the morning before a race and I have to time it because it will make me pee at least once.  The only run I do in the morning is on Saturday's so every weekend is like a race simulation that has become so routine that race morning is very predictable for me.

2013-03-25 1:41 PM
in reply to: #4673367

Expert
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Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?
How about caffeine pills during the race?
2013-03-25 1:43 PM
in reply to: #4673367

Expert
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South Windsor CT
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

Best Friend.

 

2013-03-25 2:52 PM
in reply to: #4673367

Regular
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Central Coast, CA
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

How about caffeine pills during the race?

That's kind of what I'm looking for, a valid option for during a race.  I hit a wall on Sunday at the start of my run and was thinking a nice little kick near the end of the bike would have helped.

2013-03-25 3:02 PM
in reply to: #4673367

Veteran
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austin, Texas
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?
The only time i have any caffeine is in gu's. I'm abnormal in that an afternoon diet coke or late morning coffee will keep me up late at night. So strange. I have too much energy as is.

But during the run at the end of long races, I'll eat almost exclusively caffeinated gu's.

I say friend


2013-03-25 4:49 PM
in reply to: #4673367

Expert
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Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?
Friend.... A cup of dunkin is a ritual on race morning - it's not loaded up on caffeine.  I also enjoy a little caffeine long into a race to give me a little added mental boost.
2013-03-26 2:28 AM
in reply to: #4673367

Master
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Eugene, Oregon
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Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

Friend..... old friend. I'll admit, I've been hitting the coffee since grade school! But in moderation.

I'm not a morning person and never have been, and am just a space cadet in general. I need that cup, or at least half a cup, of coffee to be safe on the road, whether it's a morning run or ride or just driving or biking to work. Plus it always seems to make a hard workout a bit easier. I think there's research that says it reduces perceived effort/fatigue? Maybe it is all in my head, but I'll take it.

I use gels/gu with caffeine, but only for my longest training and races. I usually take one somewhere between 2 and 3 hours into a 3-4 hour brick, or at 1:15 to 1:25 of a two-hour run. It not only gives me a little physical boost, but also makes me sharper mentally--the last stage of my long ride is in scary traffic and even though I'm hot and fatigued, I need to be super alert at that stage.

In my HIM I think I had three gels with about six total shots of espresso--I was feeling pretty good the whole way! (Our tri club coach said she had ten shots in a full IM!)  Would not recommend this without trying it first in training, unless you are a fellow OregonianTongue out. Caffeine pills would probably be difficult to get down in a race, and the dosage might be too high. Some of the Powerbar gels, and Cliff Shot Turbo,  provide a goodly shot of caffeine in palatable form; Powerbar Tangerine also has 200 mg of sodium so you get an electrolyte wallop as well.

Beyond my morning java and a few caffeine gels a week, I'll sometimes have an early afternoon iced coffee or my special treat--innards of a young coconut, crushed ice, and black Vietnamese coffee made into a smoothie. That's pretty much the extent of my caffeine consumption these days--I drank quite a bit more when I lived in Oregon, and in the freezing Beijing winters.



Edited by Hot Runner 2013-03-26 2:37 AM
2013-03-26 2:59 AM
in reply to: #4673367

Pro
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Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?
Caffeine and me, BFF.
2013-03-26 4:45 AM
in reply to: #4673367

Extreme Veteran
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England
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

Non-coffee drinker here but use cafeeine during races and occasionally during training.

I used to use a caffeine tablet before the start, again after the swim and then take one with me for the bike and run.  Definitely helped push through some walls.  Now I use caffeinated gels on the bike and run for less of a hit more often, keeps my alertness/focus up without hitting any walls.

All my n=1 of course.  Try it and see what works for you.

2013-03-26 6:48 AM
in reply to: #4673367

Veteran
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Northern Illinois
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

Give me my Diet Mt. Dew or there is going to be trouble!!

 

I have 12oz of diet Dew every day before 10:00 and that includes race days. I don't supplement with any additional caffeine during a race.



2013-03-26 9:30 PM
in reply to: #4674433

Extreme Veteran
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, Guam
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

Caffeine is my friend.

2013-03-27 8:00 AM
in reply to: #4673667

Veteran
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The Cold North
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

odpaul7 - 2013-03-25 1:41 PM How about caffeine pills during the race?

You would probably be better using something like PreRace instead of pills, to give you a better handle on how much you're getting with each dose.

2013-03-27 1:41 PM
in reply to: #4673367

Member
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Utah
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

I have a Diet Coke every morning, and then mid afternoon, but a friend of mine who is an ultra-marathoner told me to try pounding a 5 hour Energy before a race.  I tried it and have for every race since then, it does give a good boost!  Love the caffienated Gu's as well.

Definately a BFF...

2013-03-27 2:16 PM
in reply to: #4673367

Veteran
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Greenville, SC
Subject: RE: Caffeine, friend or foe?

you can pry my coffee from my cold dead hand....that give you an idea Tongue out.  I love my morning coffee.  I use the Roctane GU for races which has the double caffine.  I tried the 5 hour energy and just did not work for me.  I felt nothing.

I have caffine in moderation and try to use a little sugar/creamer as possible.  But if you take my morning coffee from me...."Say hello to my little friend!"-in my best Scar Face Voice....

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