Apr 11, 2009 11:13 am US/Eastern
Caffeine Delivers Energy & Focus To Marathoners
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Will some java give you that extra edge in a marathon?
WBZ
To caffeinate or not to caffeinate? Many ask themselves that question every morning.
It's also a question many marathoners wrestle with. Caffeine can boost performance, but it's not for everyone.
In the hours before a starter's pistol sends thousands of runners toward Boston a number of them trickle into the Hopkinton Gourmet to order coffee.
"Always black. No sugar, no additives," said David Phillips with Hopkinton Gourmet. "I think for some people, they just need that kick, you know, to get them kick started for that heck of a journey."
CAFFEINE CAN DELIVER THAT EXTRA EDGE
Caffeine has long been something some runners swear by.
"Before my long runs every weekend I usually do between 3 to 5 shots of espresso, and I feel it makes a big difference," said runner Dean Cestari of
Team Mass Eye & Ear.
"Defizzed Coke. Because they said Frank Shorter did this when he ran the marathon," one runner said.
"Coffee, hot, about 15 minutes before I run," said runner Susan Hurley of her choice power drink.
"I tried to give it up last year about a month before a marathon, and I couldn't do it," said Team Mass Eye & Ear runner Alicia Priselac.
THE SCIENCE OF IT
There's a reason caffeine is a featured ingredient in sports energy gels favored by many marathoners.
A growing body of research suggests it does, in fact, improve performance. Researchers say it kicks in about 30 minutes after consumption, allowing muscles to tap the body's fat stores for energy sooner -- very helpful in an endurance event.
"Caffeine actually has a direct effect on the muscle and also on your perceived level of exertion," said clinical dietician Carol Rodriguez. "I do have runners who do a lot of coffee."
BUT IS IT FOR YOU?
Rodriquez is the sports nutritionist for the Massachusetts General Hospital marathon team. She tells her runners caffeine isn't for everyone.
"Caffeine is a stimulant. If you're drinking a lot of it, it may disrupt sleep, which could hinder recovery," she explained.
A lot of runners' recovery between tough workouts happens during sleep. Caffeine can also upset some runners' stomachs.
But for the caffeinated masses, "I think it just gives me that energy, gets me to focus," one runner said.
Energy and focus -- two things a runner needs to make it to Boston.
While caffeine is a perfectly legal performance enhancer, it is on a world anti-doping agency watch list. That means it's being monitored for signs of misuse in sport.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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