Stress, Caffeine, recovery, and the immune system
I just started writing articles for Competitor.com and the first one went up today. In it I take a look at the negative side of taking Caffeine pre-race or workout. Caffeine is generally thought of as only a performance enhancer, which it does well, but there are drawbacks if you chronically use it. In the article I take a look at what happens to the CNS and the immune system when Caffeine is ingested all the time.
Do The Performance Benefits Of Caffeine Come At A Cost?
Secondly, Alex Hutchinson, who now has his blog Sweat Science on runnersworld.com wrote an article for Outside magazine in which I give my take on why stress is a good thing. Alex does a good job taking us through why sometimes we want damage to accumulate. In the article you’ll also get a take from one of my athletes, Jackie Areson, who changed some of her nutrition supplement strategies based on the theory.
Stress Tested
Enjoy!
Caffiene is an interesting drug. For me it actually hid and underlying brain injury from a car accident I suffored a year ago. I didn't know its power until I cut it cold turkey. From 3 Energy Drinks a day to zero turned me into a head injury patient. I had no idea that my CNS was getting confused when stimulated too much by outside distractions. Basically underlying ADD. The good news its treatable with another stimulate- Aderal (AKA- Amphetamine (Speed)). Its amazing how a stimulate works on my brain. Without my daily med I am easily distracted, frustrated, and don't make much sense at all if over stimulated. With a stimulate it fires it allows my CNS to keep up with everything around me. Now how do I use this to my advantage…
I don't take my Aderal before a long run. My brain functions very well without it because the running causes the stimulation I need. I do find my self spaced out about all the small details of my run (Run Alzheimers). On a lap course each lap gets clearer, but the 2nd lap is a whole new course. Over a long distance this helps get me through. Not remembering the pain I was in a mile ago. Now when I start crashing down from being tired I just need to take my medicine to stimulate my brain into its daily normal state and I am good to go with the side effect of not being able to sleep. This can only go on so long before I crash.
Now mix the two… The effect of caffeine is multiplied in me now. With Caffiene and Aderal I am ready to go….
So to bring me back to how great an article this is… Its right on!
Interesting, thanks for the links.
Stress Tested link seems broken…
Very interesting post! Recently started running again and blogging about it at http://runningscheduleforbeginners.blogspot.com/
Nicely said. I like your way of writing. Will certainly visit your site more often now.
nuvali
Thanks for posting- I haven't seen this article before. I think caffeine has a place in athletic training (running, weightlifting, etc.), but I also believe it can be abused more easily than people think. It's interesting that dependence on drugs (even legal ones) is frowned upon, but caffeine addiction seems to be the norm in society.
And that is why I've tried to eliminate as much caffeine from my diet as possible.