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Do you take Ibuprofen during a marathon?
I was reading Steph's 50 Marathon Challenge and noticed that she mentions taking GU and sport beans during her races, but also an ibuprofen around mile 15 at her last race. Is that normal? It's never occurred to me to take one, but it sounds like a logical thing to do. Anyone else? Is that standard procedure? I've never run a marathon, so maybe this is understood to be part of the deal and not as clever as it seems to me.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by martha on -
It's not recommended, but a lot of runners do. While one ibuprofen most likely wouldn't cause any issues, "more is better" is not true in this case. Lately the recommendation seems to be to take Tylenol instead of ibuprofen or sodium naproxen during an event, but Tylenol also causes problems for some people. It's best not to take anything during, but if you're going to, try it on a long run first, and don't take more than the maximum recommended dose.
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Permalink Reply by Run Happy on -
I found this - (I've heard of people taking so many pain relievers that they've put themselves in kedney failure-so be careful out there)
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Question: Should I Take a Pain Reliever Before or During a Marathon?
Marathon runners and walkers often want to take pain relievers before or during a marathon. Which are the safest to take?
Answer: The expert physician panel at the 2005 Marathon Directors College advised to avoid pain relievers before and during a marathon.
Marathon Problems with NSAIDS
The most common over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxyn sodium (Aleve). They have two effects: pain relief and prevention of inflammation. They can cause nausea and they decrease kidney perfusion. If you plan to use these drugs before or during the marathon, you should be using them on your longest training runs or walks to see if can tolerate them and whether they have ill effects on you.
Marathon Problems with Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Acetaminophen has two effects: pain relief and fever reduction. It can be toxic to the liver when you are overheated and at oxidative stress, as when running or walking a marathon. Some people get nausea from acetaminophen.
Marathon Problems with Aspirin
Aspirin has two effects: pain relief and fever reduction. It also inhibits the ability of the blood to clot effectively in most people. This can result in in bleeding more if you have an injury, and experts suspect you have more micro-bleeding and burst capillaries from the 26.2 miles of pounding your feet and legs take during a marathon. Many people experience nausea and even gastric bleeding from aspirin.
Beer
While presented with humor, the panel noted that beer provided hydration, carbohydrates, salts, and pain relief when taken during the marathon. In fact, it was prescribed by one physician as a quick remedy for muscle cramps. Personally, I can attest to the amazing restorative qualities of Belgian beer in the final mile of the Blankenberge Two-Days Walk. Portland Marathon Race Director Les Smith experimented with beer as his sole hydration during a marathon and the results were "When I finished, I was looped." It was noted that beer decreases athletic performance, "It was a slow marathon."
Bottom Line: Try Nothing New on Race Day
It is best to avoid pain relievers before or during the marathon. Use your long training days to experiment with how you feel running or walking without any pain relief, and what effects you have if you resort to using pain relievers. As always, Try Nothing New on Race Day.
SOURCE: Marathon Directors' College. Meeting hall, Portland, OR. 06 OCT 2005.
Run Happy and pain free
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Permalink Reply by Joseph Ryan on -
Run Happy: Its the beer!!! That explains everything. That is why you can't correctly count creek crossings. You carbo load on the run with brewskies !!!! Now I understand perfectly. Your inability to count is caused by cloudy senses.
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Permalink Reply by Run Happy on
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but, but, but Joe... I do not drink alcohol... oh wait, mabe THAT is the reason I can not count...I need the beer "carbs" to focus....
:-)
Run Happy and all carbs count...just not along a stream
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Permalink Reply by Vega Sinclair on -
Wow, Tylenol sounds dangerous when you are running from what your posted. I usually use a NSAID after running if my muscles feel sore. I try to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water after wards to rehydrate myself. This usually helps with any inflammation.
Vega,HSA Health Coach
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Permalink Reply by Michael Poole on -
I do around 7 and again at 16 (I am slow) and my knees are not what they used to be.......but i tested first on long runs.....with no "ill" effects.....
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Permalink Reply by Kyle Beddoes on
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I've only taken ibuprofen before (or during) a run once. I took two ibuprofen before the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon. I developed cramps in my calves around mile 16 which got progressively worse and spread to my quads and shins. My 5K splits went from 30 minutes to 38 to 45 as I was forced to walk more and more and it hurt bad. That's the only time in 4 marathons plus a number of other races that I've ever had muscle cramps during a run. I drank Powerade at every water station. I'll never know if it was the ibuprofen that caused it, but I've read (after the race) that NSAIDs can contribute to hyponatremia by interfering with kidney function.
The fact is, running a marathon is going to hurt. No point in trying to mask it with pain relievers - it's your body's feedback mechanism. Taking a pain reliever during a race is like turning up the radio when your car's engine starts knocking.
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Permalink Reply by Curtis J on -
I have routinely taken ibuprofen before and around mile 14 of my last 3 marathons. No problems and it has helped me thru pains in my achilles (which I've battled for the last 2 yrs). I'll repeat the advice others have already given: if you're going to try it, do it on a training run first.
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