Caffeine

i use gels with and without caffeine and both work. i hope i
get a little more oomph from the latter, but can't say i've
really noticed it. i do space gels (all food, actually) so
that there's a steady stream coming in. for me, this has
meant no periods of being hungry, much less running out of
gas. in IMs, if they have it, i take in defizzed coke
anytime after the half way mark of the run. who knows if it
works or the sugar works. by that time, for me, i barely
know if i'm on foot or horseback. peggy

I have a buddy who is a professional triathlete. He makes
extensive use of caffeine while racing including Red Bull,
Vivarin, etc. (below the legal limit, but that's pretty
high). Caffeine definitely has a boost (try some when you
are hungry at the end of a long training ride), but if you
overdo it, it begins to lose its effectiveness. I've heard
it recommended to completely eliminate caffeine intake in
the weeks before a race to maximize its impact when needed.

Stan

"Ironic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My training partner and I have noticed more of an
immediate boost from GU than Hammergel, most noticeably
when running. GU, it appears from the label, has caffeine,
while Hammergel does not (I suspect it is left out of
Hammergel because it can have a tendency to cause
dehydration?) Anyway, my question is have any of you had
experience with caffeine pills, like NoDoze, Vivarin or
store brand "stay Awake" pills in connection with
triathlon, and if so, what are your thoughts, comments,
cautions or railings? This is something I have not seen
discussed anywhere yet, except for a discussion that said
it causes dehydration and that cutting out coffee two
weeks out (and getting through the withdrawal headaches)
should be part of your taper.

Thanks

I've always been a big believer in caffeine, coffee before
races, gel
w/caffiene, cola during long races, but recently a
cyclist friend who is a fairly serious racer told me I
should get off the caffeine althogether because the
dehydration effects outweigh the energy-boosting
effects. Any thoughts?

Susan

I have read several studies in the last 2 years saying that
caffeine's diuretic properties do not apply to people during
excersize. I don't think the studies were paid for by the
caffeine industry, but YMMV. Most caffeine studies were done
on sedentary people, which I think most studies are unless
it is an excersize related study. I use and recommend
abstinance for a minimum of 7 days before key events, then
Vivarin, I don't have the dosage numbers here at work, 1-2
hours before an event that will exceed 2 hours. I don't
recommend utilizing for events under 2 hours, but people
certainly do.

That's a nickel worth of free advice...

Rod WestSide Performance Multi-Sports USAT Level I
certified coach

Susan in LA said:

I've always been a big believer in caffeine, coffee before
races, gel
w/caffiene, cola during long races, but recently a cyclist
friend who is a fairly serious racer told me I should
get off the caffeine althogether because the dehydration
effects outweigh the energy-boosting effects. Any
thoughts?

Susan

Find PubMed on the web and search for caffeine. More
information than you want to know.

Caffeine works for some people and not for others.
Caffeine is not as bad a diuretic as once thought
especially during exercise since blood flow to the kidney
is reduced during exercise.

Caffeine does not spare glycogen during exercise. It only
increases fat oxidation at rest (and not all that much).

"rod richeson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:d67q9c.aci.ln@c-24-21-54-
245.client.comcast.net...

Quoted message said:

I have read several studies in the last 2 years saying
that caffeine's diuretic properties do not apply to people
during excersize. I don't think the studies were paid for
by the caffeine industry, but YMMV. Most caffeine studies
were done on sedentary people, which I think most studies
are unless it is an excersize related study. I use and
recommend abstinance for a minimum of 7 days before key
events, then Vivarin, I don't have the dosage numbers here
at work, 1-2 hours before an event that will exceed 2
hours. I don't recommend utilizing for events under 2
hours, but people certainly do.

That's a nickel worth of free advice...

Rod WestSide Performance Multi-Sports USAT Level I
certified coach

Susan in LA said:

I've always been a big believer in caffeine, coffee
before races, gel
w/caffiene, cola during long races, but recently a
cyclist friend who is

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

fairly serious racer told me I should get off the
caffeine althogether because the dehydration effects
outweigh the energy-boosting effects.

Any

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

thoughts?

Susan

By the time I get half way through the marathon I KNOW I am
on FOOT but wish I were on horseback.

Ken DaVico

"PMcDC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040603224925.02211.00000447@mb-
m28.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

i use gels with and without caffeine and both work. i
hope i get a

little

Quoted message said:

more oomph from the latter, but can't say i've really
noticed it. i do

space

Quoted message said:

gels (all food, actually) so that there's a steady stream
coming in. for

me,

Quoted message said:

this has meant no periods of being hungry, much less
running out of gas.
in IMs, if they have it, i take in defizzed coke anytime
after the

half way

Quoted message said:

mark of the run. who knows if it works or the sugar
works. by that

time,

Quoted message said:

for me, i barely know if i'm on foot or horseback. peggy

"Ironic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My training partner and I have noticed more of an
immediate boost from GU than Hammergel, most noticeably
when running. GU, it appears from the label, has caffeine,
while Hammergel does not (I suspect it is left out of
Hammergel because it can have a tendency to cause
dehydration?) Anyway, my question is have any of you had
experience with caffeine pills, like NoDoze, Vivarin or
store brand "stay Awake" pills in connection with
triathlon, and if so, what are your thoughts, comments,
cautions or railings? This is something I have not seen
discussed anywhere yet, except for a discussion that said
it causes dehydration and that cutting out coffee two
weeks out (and getting through the withdrawal headaches)
should be part of your taper.

Thanks

Caffeine is not a strong diuretic, and during exercise it
will not cause dehydration. For a while, it was thought to
increase fat metabolism. But after lots of studies, that's
been pretty much debunked. It can *slightly* increase fat
useage at rest. Caffeine from coffee, however, will not
produce this substrate shift.

I've never experimented with pilIs but I love coffee. It's a
nice boost late in a long run or ride. Coffee taste
wonderful. In moderation, it's not bad for you, and the
caffeine is a nice stimulant to central nervous system.

I don't cut my consumption during taper. For IM's, I freeze
a 22 oz water bottle full of coffee with 4 servings of
"plain" Hammergel and put it in my run bag. That's all I
drink for the first hour & 20 minutes of the run. It's a
great pick-me-up, it tastes delicious. No problems with
hydration. If your worried about hydration, just make sure
you drink 16-26 oz /hour of fluid (water, coffee, gatorade,
sustain, coke, whatever), and supplement with electolytes.

I went ahead and tried caffeine today (200mg tablets). I
won't do it again, at least not in the heat. Here is how it
went: Did a 1.6mile swim; took one 200mg tablet then biked
25 miles, on a flat course (the terrain is flat and I got a
flat), heart rate seemed a little higher than normal, but I
didn;t seem to be noticeably faster than usual, but
generall, no problem; took another 200mg tablet; Set out on
a 6 mile run in the Florida sun at 86degrees, 73% dewpoint,
57% humidity; Stopped to drink water at two and three mile
point, and it seemed like my heart didn;t realize I had stopped--
it was very slow to recover, it was a little scary,
actually; Decided it was time to go home and abort the 6mile
run (unusual common sense for me). Ran the mile back home,
heart did not want to recover again. Happy to be done. Have
felt spacey the rest of the day. Metabolism high. Did not
stop sweating for several hours. 54 year old male. Want to
be 55 some day. Last week I did a 56 mile ride at a place
called Clermont, known for its rolling hills, and a number
that get you out of the saddle, and a few that test your
tolerance for pain--lowest gear, and near a track stand.
Temperature 90+. Followed up with a 5K run, with none of
these same physical symptoms. Each week I run about 25
miles, bike 125, swim 3-4 miles, so I am in OK condition for
a MOPAG (middle of pack age grouper). Just sharing my
experience.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Ironic) said:

I went ahead and tried caffeine today (200mg tablets).
I won't do it again, at least not in the heat. Here is
how it went: Did a 1.6mile swim; took one 200mg tablet
then biked 25 miles, on a flat course (the terrain is
flat and I got a flat), heart rate seemed a little
higher than normal, but I didn;t seem to be noticeably
faster than usual, but generall, no problem; took
another 200mg tablet;

Did you have any idea what the recommended dosing was? 400
mg seems awfully high. I think that's like 10 Mountain Dews.
No wonder you were spacey.

IIRC, there's a recommendation based on mg per KG of body
weight, which puts the dose for me in the range of 175 mg.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Th-
en it was every other day. . . ."
- Homer J. Simpson

Harold--On Dosage--I didn't just take a shot in the dark. I
read a couple of things that said 5mg per 2.2kg of body
weight. I am 184/2.2
* 5 = 418. So I broke 200 and about an hour and 1/2 later
took another
200.

Greg

One year I quit drinking coffee on January 1. I am a
confirmed coffee addict. I even got my kid a job at
Starbucks so I could get some perks.

My intention was to stay on the wagon until my first
race and then drink two cups the morning of the race. I
stayed off the stuff for 6 months, survived the
headaches and showed up at the Blackwater Eagleman armed
with two large coffees.

I did have to pee a lot, but I noticed no difference in
my racing.

Don't try this at home. Ask your doctor. Results may vary.

Ray "Ironic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My training partner and I have noticed more of an
immediate boost from GU than Hammergel, most noticeably
when running. GU, it appears from the label, has caffeine,
while Hammergel does not (I suspect it is left out of
Hammergel because it can have a tendency to cause
dehydration?) Anyway, my question is have any of you had
experience with caffeine pills, like NoDoze, Vivarin or
store brand "stay Awake" pills in connection with
triathlon, and if so, what are your thoughts, comments,
cautions or railings? This is something I have not seen
discussed anywhere yet, except for a discussion that said
it causes dehydration and that cutting out coffee two
weeks out (and getting through the withdrawal headaches)
should be part of your taper.

Thanks

I meant to type "I took 200mg..."

[email hidden] (Ironic) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Harold--On Dosage--I didn't just take a shot in the dark.
I read a couple of things that said 5mg per 2.2kg of body
weight. I am 184/2.2
* 5 = 418. So I broke 200 and about an hour and 1/2 later
took another
200.

Greg

"Ray Plotecia" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

One year I quit drinking coffee on January 1. I am a
confirmed coffee addict. I even got my kid a job at
Starbucks so I could get some perks.

"Perks" very pun-y.

Quoted message said:

My intention was to stay on the wagon until my first race
and then drink

two

Quoted message said:

cups the morning of the race. I stayed off the stuff for
6 months,

survived

Quoted message said:

the headaches and showed up at the Blackwater Eagleman
armed with two

large

Quoted message said:

coffees.

I did have to pee a lot, but I noticed no difference in
my racing.

Don't try this at home. Ask your doctor. Results may vary.

Ray "Ironic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My training partner and I have noticed more of an
immediate boost from GU than Hammergel, most noticeably
when running. GU, it appears from the label, has
caffeine, while Hammergel does not (I suspect it is left
out of Hammergel because it can have a tendency to cause
dehydration?) Anyway, my question is have any of you had
experience with caffeine pills, like NoDoze, Vivarin or
store brand "stay Awake" pills in connection with
triathlon, and if so, what are your thoughts, comments,
cautions or railings? This is something I have not seen
discussed anywhere yet, except for a discussion that
said it causes dehydration and that cutting out coffee
two weeks out (and getting through the withdrawal
headaches) should be part of your taper.

Thanks

"Sam" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Find PubMed on the web and search for caffeine. More
information than you want to know.

Caffeine works for some people and not for others.
Caffeine is not as bad

a

Quoted message said:

diuretic as once thought especially during exercise since
blood flow to

the

Quoted message said:

kidney is reduced during exercise.

Caffeine does not spare glycogen during exercise. It only
increases fat oxidation at rest (and not all that much).

"rod richeson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have read several studies in the last 2 years saying
that caffeine's diuretic properties do not apply to
people during excersize. I don't think the studies were
paid for by the caffeine industry, but YMMV. Most
caffeine studies were done on sedentary people, which I
think most studies are unless it is an excersize related
study. I use and recommend abstinance for a minimum of 7
days before key events, then Vivarin, I don't have the
dosage numbers here at work, 1-2 hours before an event
that will exceed 2 hours. I don't recommend utilizing
for events under 2 hours, but people certainly do.

That's a nickel worth of free advice...

Rod WestSide Performance Multi-Sports USAT Level I
certified coach

Thanks to both of you....glad to hear some research supports
caffeine not being a major diuretic during exercise. I'm
going to look into it some more.....

Susan

Thank you, thank you. I would have been crestfallen if
nobody booed me for that one.

Ray

"Sam" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:TD-
[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Ray Plotecia" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:BvmdnW3ZYOR8DFndRVn-
[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

One year I quit drinking coffee on January 1. I am a
confirmed coffee addict. I even got my kid a job at
Starbucks so I could get some perks.

"Perks" very pun-y.

Quoted message said:

My intention was to stay on the wagon until my first
race and then drink

two

Quoted message said:

cups the morning of the race. I stayed off the stuff for
6 months,

survived

Quoted message said:

the headaches and showed up at the Blackwater Eagleman
armed with two

large

Quoted message said:

coffees.

I did have to pee a lot, but I noticed no difference in
my racing.

Don't try this at home. Ask your doctor. Results
may vary.

Ray "Ironic" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My training partner and I have noticed more of an
immediate boost from GU than Hammergel, most
noticeably when running. GU, it appears from the
label, has caffeine, while Hammergel does not (I
suspect it is left out of Hammergel because it can
have a tendency to cause dehydration?) Anyway, my
question is have any of you had experience with
caffeine pills, like NoDoze, Vivarin or store brand
"stay Awake" pills in connection with triathlon, and
if so, what are your thoughts, comments, cautions or
railings? This is something I have not seen discussed
anywhere yet, except for a discussion that said it
causes dehydration and that cutting out coffee two
weeks out (and getting through the withdrawal
headaches) should be part of your taper.

Thanks