As the closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics approach, I was reading Sylvie's report of her adventures at the STORMY 100-miler. She made mention of Advil, a brand of ibuprofen, also commonly known as "Vitamin I" to endurance athletes. A couple of the more experienced 100-mile runners I know shared their thoughts with Sylvie in the comments section. Since doping is in the news with the Olympics and the Tour de France, I figured the subject was worth taking a look at from the distance running perspective.
As distance runners, where do we draw the line with what we'll take to get us to the finish?
I've completed 96 ultras and a wack of Ironman or longer triathlons, most in the top 25% or higher in the field, some... such as the World 100K Championships, being recognized international competitions. In all of those races, I've never heard of a drug test being administered. From my perspective, at least, it appears that an ultrarunner wouldn't get caught if they did use performance-enhancing drugs.
So how do we self-regulate?
I think most will agree that ibuprofen, which is available over-the-counter at any drugstore, is not a "performance-enhancing drug" in the same category as some of the fancy stuff that very high end competitive athletes might be tempted with when big money and global fame are at stake. Ditto with caffeine tablets or even drinks like Red Bull that many of us who run more that 50K at a stretch use. But it's clear from the post that Mudrunner shared that ibuprofen can cause harm as well as soothe our overworked muscles during a competition. One year at the Western States 100, a guy had to be taken by helicopter to the hospital because he took so many Advil his kidneys shut down and he almost lost his life. I've not heard of anyone being scraped off the trail for drinking too much Red Bull, but then, I've not done a lot of research on the topic.
Anyway, I recall the first time I took ibuprofen was during a 24-hour run on a track. After about 6 hours, I was thrashed. Went to the aid tent and sat down with the intention of never getting up again. Another runner in the tent for a pit-stop said, "Here, take 2 of these." I did. They worked. I finished my race and qualified for the national 100K running team. Since then, I carry 8-10 ibuprofen with me in a little film container along with tablets of table salt and maybe a few electrolyte caps to top off the gels I carry in another pocket. This little drug store has saved my bacon in countless races since.
While I feel my little "drug store" has allowed me to complete and to compete, I freely share with fellow competitors who appear to be in need. Does that make it OK? Should a "drug store" be allowed in a long distance running race? What should and should not be allowed? How much is too much? What's in your "drug store"?
Comments
White Willow Bark
Hey Ean:
I almost posted this in the vitamin D thread but didn't want to keep being the one to keep taking my thread off topic.
There is a natural alternative to 'Vitamin I'. I have not tried it in a race situation, generally I stick to the rule of only taking Advil in races longer than 50 km and by the package instructions, and I don't take anything for headaches or muscle pains in training.
While Vitamin I unquestionably helps your performance on race day, it and other NSAIDS also interfere with healing.
Something I have been curious to try is White Willow Bark. It is actually quite literally a natural from of Vitamin I, it contains salicin. It has additional benefits to being a natural product, in that in addition to reducing pain and inflammation, it works as a lubricant for the body and the joints in particular.
Probably the best way to make sure it is strong enough is to get a pure extract rather than powdered bark, so you know exactly how much you are taking. I have only tried the powdered bark from Mother's Herbs at this point.
Also, I have had previous experience with bromelain, which is a digestive enzyme found in pineapple, concentrated in the stem. It helps with digestion as the previous description would suggest, in addition to being an excellent anti-inflamatory. When I used it I was experiencing sctiatica-like symptoms from piriformis syndrome, because my piriformis was crushing my sciatic nerve. I found it nearly completely elmiminated my sciatica-like symptoms, though not necessarily the pain in my pirifomis. This is why I say it is an excellent anti-inflammatory, it didn't seem to relieve pain, but it obviously relieved swelling which is why the pain through my sciatic nerve went away.
I haven't really been taking bromelain in pill form since I went through that bottle, but now whenever I eat pineapple I make sure to eat the stem.
Most of the time, when
Most of the time, when steroids are mentioned, they´re brought up as the reason a particular athlete can run so fast, hit so many home runs, or make so many tackles. They are also claimed to have extraordinarily harsh side effects and for causing severely unforgiving and permanent damage.
Steroids can ruin one's life if not halted. These are dangerous drugs, and when used inappropriately, they can cause a host of severe, long-lasting, and often irreversible negative health consequences.
Considering how easy it is
Considering how easy it is for people to buy steroids these days im surprised more athletes haven't been caught using them when it's clear a lot of them do.
Little plastic vial
Ibuprofen has 200mg (regular) to 400mg (x-strength) per cap. Surfing the web I am finding recommended dosages of 200 to 800 mg every 4 to 6 hours with maximum daily dosages ranging from 1200 to 3200mg, depending on where you are reading. Those dosages are no doubt meant for someone sitting on the couch in pain, not someone taxing the rest of their systems running 100 miles.
I too am guilty of carrying that little drug store in a plastic vial. X-strength Vitamin I, Succeed electrolyte caps and Robax Platinum (which is for back pain with a muscle relaxer methocarbamol also contains ibuprofen). Luckily, this year, those old injuries; deep compartment syndrome, plantar fasciitis and achille's tendinitis have kept their nagging to the occassional moan & groan rather than the screams of agony experienced other years.
That has meant one 400mg ibuprofen taken during the KneeKnacker has been it for 2008.
What is it about that KK course that beats the sh*t out of my legs?!?!
On a side topic: I read the name of an antibiotic on another ultra-list the other day and not knowing what it was I googled it: CIPRO: from wikipedia - Ciprofloxacin (INN) is a synthetic antibiotic manufactured and sold by Bayer A.G. under the brand names Cipro, Ciproxin and Ciprobay (and other brand names in other markets, e.g. Veterinary medicine), belonging to a group called fluoroquinolones. Ciprofloxacin is bactericidal. Its mode of action depends upon blocking bacterial DNA replication by binding itself to an enzyme called DNA gyrase, thereby causing double-stranded breaks in the bacterial chromosome. Ciprofloxacin is available for oral, parenteral and topical use. It has a variety of indications, including lower respiratory tract infections (such as pneumonia and acute bronchitis), urinary tract infections, several STDs, skin and soft tissue infections, septicemia, legionellosis, and anthrax.
But the really interesting part was when I read the page at the link below. Jackson, you didn't take any of this stuff last winter did you?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080708/us_cipro_080708/20080708?hub=Health
July 8, 2008 - US drug safety officials imposed the government's most urgent safety warning on Cipro and similar antibiotics, citing evidence that they may lead to tendon ruptures, a serious injury that can leave patients incapacitated and needing extensive surgery.
Cipro and Jackson
A new use for the little blue pill
I've heard that some guys have taken Viagra to combat elevation sickness from high altitudes. Gilles, maybe you should try that the next time you do Leadville.
I've taken advil liquid gels, 18-22 over 34 hours at Tahoe last year.
I took only 6 this year at Stormy.
Nuun came out with orange-ginger flavor. I have ginger candy, saltstick (my new fav), elete drops, and I use Mtn Dew Amp'd a lot.
Very True
Tripod effect
Viagra to fight altitude, that's a good one. Why bother with hiking poles when you can advance swiftly on 3 legs.
The warning should say if effect last more than 100 miles consult with your physician.
Frisky 100-miler Runner Dudes
Mental note...
I've sworn by the tequilapatch...
A comparison of Advil, Tylenol, Aspirin, Ibuprofen
Here are a couple of articles that compare and contrast some of the goodies in my drug stash. And here I thought ibuprofen was the generic, and therefore more cost-effective, equivalent of Advil...
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/25643/aspirin_ibuprofen_naproxe...
http://www.scq.ubc.ca/should-i-take-tylenol-advil-or-aspirin/
Advil and Motrin is same
Advil and Motrin is same than Ibuprofen.
Use Tylenol
What Did Melcher Take?