Planning on Drinking Before the Race?

Before everyone heads off to their fraternity or sorority formals or even just to Bull Run for a few beers, take a look at what the experts have to say about the effects of alcohol on training/race performance:

 
From a study done at UC San Diego there are strong negative effects associated with alcohol.  These include: dehydration, depleted electrolytes, impaired ability to regulate temperature, and decreased balance and coordination.   This UC San Diego article can be found here.

But, I don’t need an expert to tell me that a hangover is going to impede my workout routine…And everyone knows that “experts” never have any fun.

In an interesting forum post at trifuel someone asked whether or not the other athletes abstained from drinking during their training period. After a few relevant posts, the forum quickly turned into a discussion of favorite IPA’s and micro brews…after all, sound mind and sound body go hand in hand.

Photo courtesy of my brother’s photostream found on Flickr