Alcohol
Alcohol
In your experiences, how detrimental is alcohol to training regimes? There are folk in the 1st boat at college who can drink 2 bottles of wine at dinner and still make outings at 6.30 the next morning and pull well under 7mins for a 2k. This is my 1st term rowing and have seen decent results without much training without cutting back on alcohol intake, but I assume it will slow progress further down the line.
In moderation alchohol won't really slow you down at all. I remember reading in four men in a boat that Pinsent and Foster used to drink quite heavily sometimes and still make training.
I just remember not to drink before race days and thats about it, oh and drink water before you go to bed, then you're sorted.
I just remember not to drink before race days and thats about it, oh and drink water before you go to bed, then you're sorted.
34, 6'0", 82kg
SB: 2k - 6:47
SB: 2k - 6:47
I'm not advocating, but Steve Prefontaine, one of the very best American distance runners ever, was quote," Poured into bed the night before championships" and still won the 5000m. that said- he died in a drunk driving accident. Alcohol is basically a carbohydrate, albeit a dehydrating factor as well.
- PaulS
- 10k Poster
- Posts: 1212
- Joined: March 16th, 2006, 12:07 pm
- Location: Washington State, USA
- Contact:
Personally I didn't drink at all in college, but some of my crewmates did, generally partying on w/e's from what I could tell. That said, the Tradition was to have the "Initiation Party" just after Christmas Break and that was the last alcohol for the rest of the season. It all depends on what your goals are. I'm not willing to claim that it must be detrimental, but I'm quite confident in saying that it's unlikely to be beneficial.
Erg on,
Paul Smith
www.ps-sport.net Your source for Useful Rowing Accessories and Training Assistance.
"If you don't want to know the answer, don't ask me the question."
Paul Smith
www.ps-sport.net Your source for Useful Rowing Accessories and Training Assistance.
"If you don't want to know the answer, don't ask me the question."
-
- 2k Poster
- Posts: 288
- Joined: April 20th, 2006, 10:37 pm
- Location: Coronado, CA
I’m willing to claim that drinking alcohol is detrimental to training. This topic pops up on the forums periodically, and I occasionally respond with something like the following (originally posted on the UK forum in May, 2005):
Mike Caviston
This was absolutely ignored when I posted it originally, but maybe it will benefit someone here. Unfortunately, many young and impressionable athletes will likely be more influenced by the anecdotal accounts of top-level athletes performing well after binging. I won’t take the time to list my sources here, but as usual my information comes from a thorough search of the peer-reviewed scientific literature devoted to human performance.Although I choose not to drink, I don’t push a non-drinking agenda on others. Clearly a moderate amount of social drinking is enjoyable for some with no adverse effects on health, though I am not convinced that consuming beverages like wine offers any health benefits beyond those resulting from a lifestyle that includes proper nutrition and regular exercise. HOWEVER, most people are unaware that even small amounts of alcohol can interfere with aerobic training. Even a couple beers on Saturday night may have an impact on Monday afternoon. Alcohol metabolism results in an accumulation of free NADH and increases the NADH:NAD ratio, which slows the citric acid cycle and reduces the capacity for aerobic metabolism. The increased NADH:NAD ratio also results in an increased lactate:pyruvate ratio. In other words, alcohol consumption temporarily lowers an individual’s VO2 max and lactate threshold. Additionally, alcohol tends to result in a lower concentration of muscle glycogen, either as a result of displacing carbohydrates from the diet or by interfering with the enzymes that control glycogen formation (or both). Of course, alcohol also induces dehydration, and can impair the ability to regulate heat balance. Alcohol can create hypersensitivity to outside stimuli (as in the case of a hangover), and result in a higher RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) for a given workload.
Most athletes would avoid drinking shortly before competition, but don’t recognize the cumulative detrimental effect alcohol can have on overall training. So I’m not preaching for anyone to give up alcohol, but I am telling anyone who is trying to reach their ultimate performance to recognize that even a little social drinking will have some impact.
Mike Caviston
Alcohol is *NOT* a carbohydrate.joeevans8 wrote: Alcohol is basically a carbohydrate, albeit a dehydrating factor as well.
Alcohol is metabolized differently. It is primarily metabolized in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase to acetic acid and further converted to acetyl-CoA, which is then metabolized by the krebs cycle. Muscle does not have the capacity to metabolize alcohol. In contrast, glycogen (the prototypical carbohydrate) is broken down by a process known as glycolysis into acetyl-CoA, which then enters the krebs cycle. Glycolysis can be performed by the muscle and is the primary source of energy for anaerobic efforts. The krebs cycle generates most of the energy for aerobic efforts.
- PaulS
- 10k Poster
- Posts: 1212
- Joined: March 16th, 2006, 12:07 pm
- Location: Washington State, USA
- Contact:
Well then. Now I will be confident in claiming that it is indeed detrimental.Mike Caviston wrote:I’m willing to claim that drinking alcohol is detrimental to training. This topic pops up on the forums periodically, and I occasionally respond with something like the following (originally posted on the UK forum in May, 2005):
This was absolutely ignored when I posted it originally, but maybe it will benefit someone here. Unfortunately, many young and impressionable athletes will likely be more influenced by the anecdotal accounts of top-level athletes performing well after binging. I won’t take the time to list my sources here, but as usual my information comes from a thorough search of the peer-reviewed scientific literature devoted to human performance.Although I choose not to drink, I don’t push a non-drinking agenda on others. Clearly a moderate amount of social drinking is enjoyable for some with no adverse effects on health, though I am not convinced that consuming beverages like wine offers any health benefits beyond those resulting from a lifestyle that includes proper nutrition and regular exercise. HOWEVER, most people are unaware that even small amounts of alcohol can interfere with aerobic training. Even a couple beers on Saturday night may have an impact on Monday afternoon. Alcohol metabolism results in an accumulation of free NADH and increases the NADH:NAD ratio, which slows the citric acid cycle and reduces the capacity for aerobic metabolism. The increased NADH:NAD ratio also results in an increased lactate:pyruvate ratio. In other words, alcohol consumption temporarily lowers an individual’s VO2 max and lactate threshold. Additionally, alcohol tends to result in a lower concentration of muscle glycogen, either as a result of displacing carbohydrates from the diet or by interfering with the enzymes that control glycogen formation (or both). Of course, alcohol also induces dehydration, and can impair the ability to regulate heat balance. Alcohol can create hypersensitivity to outside stimuli (as in the case of a hangover), and result in a higher RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) for a given workload.
Most athletes would avoid drinking shortly before competition, but don’t recognize the cumulative detrimental effect alcohol can have on overall training. So I’m not preaching for anyone to give up alcohol, but I am telling anyone who is trying to reach their ultimate performance to recognize that even a little social drinking will have some impact.
Mike Caviston
Thanks Mike!
Erg on,
Paul Smith
www.ps-sport.net Your source for Useful Rowing Accessories and Training Assistance.
"If you don't want to know the answer, don't ask me the question."
Paul Smith
www.ps-sport.net Your source for Useful Rowing Accessories and Training Assistance.
"If you don't want to know the answer, don't ask me the question."
-
- 2k Poster
- Posts: 258
- Joined: September 10th, 2006, 12:13 pm
- Location: Durham, UK
Absolutely. I have a friend who is a cardiovascular physiologist, whose research interest is the cardiovascular response to trauma, particularly that of autonomic control of heart rate.Mike Caviston wrote:... even small amounts of alcohol can interfere with aerobic training. Even a couple beers on Saturday night may have an impact on Monday afternoon. Alcohol metabolism results in an accumulation of free NADH and increases the NADH:NAD ratio, which slows the citric acid cycle and reduces the capacity for aerobic metabolism. The increased NADH:NAD ratio also results in an increased lactate:pyruvate ratio. In other words, alcohol consumption temporarily lowers an individual’s VO2 max and lactate threshold. Additionally, alcohol tends to result in a lower concentration of muscle glycogen, either as a result of displacing carbohydrates from the diet or by interfering with the enzymes that control glycogen formation (or both). Of course, alcohol also induces dehydration, and can impair the ability to regulate heat balance. Alcohol can create hypersensitivity to outside stimuli (as in the case of a hangover), and result in a higher RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) for a given workload.
Apparently, even half a glass of wine has detectable effects on autonomic control of heart rate 24 hr later. Given that analysis of heart rate variability (during the respiratory cycle) is inherent in measurement of training effect performed by the Suunto heart rate monitors, it is not surprising that alcohol has definite, if subtle, effects on athletic performance.
The performance effects are probably only significant at the level of the elite athlete, where fractions of a second can make the difference between gold and silver.
Cheers
Dave
Some guys are wowsers. You should try a Bushmills Whiskey which is really smooth. Or a Pinot Noir from Central Otago in New Zealand which is like an angel crying on your tongue.
Though seriously it is evident from the above that grog impairs performance. If you want to become a good athelete you should leave no stone unturned.
Another thing to consider is the risk of hypertension or high blood pressure. It is recommended that alcohol be limited to 1 or 2 drinks per day.
Furthermore, a 375ml glass of mid-strength beer equals 430 kilojoules. And a 120ml glass of red wine equals 335 kilojoules. So the odd glass means extra kilojoules. From personal experience my 2 or 3 beers and a glass of wine per night contributed to some weight gain which had me baffled since I was training 8 or more times per week. Since I have reduced alcohol I dropped 4kgs.
So if you want to become a good athelete it would be wise to abstain.
In Vino Veritas
Though seriously it is evident from the above that grog impairs performance. If you want to become a good athelete you should leave no stone unturned.
Another thing to consider is the risk of hypertension or high blood pressure. It is recommended that alcohol be limited to 1 or 2 drinks per day.
Furthermore, a 375ml glass of mid-strength beer equals 430 kilojoules. And a 120ml glass of red wine equals 335 kilojoules. So the odd glass means extra kilojoules. From personal experience my 2 or 3 beers and a glass of wine per night contributed to some weight gain which had me baffled since I was training 8 or more times per week. Since I have reduced alcohol I dropped 4kgs.
So if you want to become a good athelete it would be wise to abstain.
In Vino Veritas
M48 182cm 87kg PBs .5k 1:30 2k 6:40.9 5k 18:02 6k 21:21