Alcohol and running. A daring mix, to say the least, but can you run with a hangover? You wake up with your stomach upset, a bit dazed and with flashbacks of some moments of the night while your head seems to be about to explode. But you, runner, wanted to seize the day and go for a run. Your mind, still a bit dazed, warns you that this might not be a good idea, and you wonder if in your condition it will be good.
That's why at Runnea, we give you the answers. First of all, let you know that there is no magic potion to get rid of hangovers, well yes, not drinking alcohol. And if you are like 38% of our Twitter followers who admit to have gone running with a hangover, this article deserves your attention. Or if you're just curious, here are some tips.
Running with a hangover, premises to take into account
First of all, we believe it is necessary to clarify several myths established in society. The first and most popular of all; sweating expels alcohol from my body. Alcohol cannot be sweated out, mainly because when you are hungover alcohol is no longer in your body, in fact, if so, you would still be under the effects of alcohol, that is, you are in another state very different from the hangover. Also, sweating will not directly make you feel better. Another thing is that, as a lover of running, you love to go running and that puts you in a good mood, it may be that this action will make your day more bearable.
Another popular one is to drink a bottle of water before going to sleep. This one is more along the lines of the previous one. The truth is, what alcohol consumption causes in your body, and consequently also the hangover, is dehydration. Your body has reduced glucose and amino acid absorption and low blood sugar, both of which deplete your body's energy -imagine running. What is recommended is that to mitigate the effects of alcohol is that you intersperse between drinks with a glass of water. Hydration is key.
The truth is that if you are a runner and you intend to go running that day, experts advise you that it isbest to leave it for another day. Damions Martin, a sports medicine doctor, assures that "you can't sweat out a hangover, but trying to do so will dehydrate your body even more, with significant negative effects".
Finally, if you win the battle against laziness, ignore the experts' advice and get your Running shoes on and go out for a few miles. Keep the following tips in mind:
Care and nutrition.
As we have already mentioned, a hangover causes, among other things, dehydration in your body. Therefore, it is important that you hydrate yourself well with water before going out. Another option for fluid intake can be sports energy drinks or red tea. The latter, in addition to hydrate you, helps the liver to metabolize. What we do not recommend at all is coffee, since it is a gastric stimulant and therefore it will upset your stomach even more. Something that can be very useful to know how your body is, is to look at the color of your urine, if you have read well, it should be light yellow.
Another thing you should keep in mind, and that is rarely mentioned, but in a recent article, according to Guillermo Rodriguez, sports doctor at the Avanfi Institute "you have to dress warmly, because alcohol causes vasodilation with the consequent loss of body temperature".
It's a wooden box, but if you had a few drinks the night before, don't go running on an empty stomach. In addition to hydrating with fluids, replenish and fill your stomach. Try to avoid very fatty foods and go for protein, vitamin B -better if it is B12- such as banana, oatmeal, fruit or multivitamin shakes. A hamburger or bacon and eggs may not be the best combination with your hungover body and the desire to eat.
If you decide to take some medication to make the consequences of the night before more bearable, don't take just anything. Forget about paracetamol and aspirin, in this case, Ibuprofen is the best option.
Dangers and injuries.
Following the idea of the experts, we recommend that you leave the sport for another day and do something else today. The truth is that there are good reasons not to wear sneakers. From runnea we recommend you the same, we all know that it will not be your best race, you will not enjoy it as much and also the risk of injury is much higher. So you may pay dearly for your stubbornness to go running. And the fact is that "the muscles will not be in their best condition, so the risk of injury increases," says Dr. Rodriguez. And not only because of injuries but also because of the risk of running dehydrated, because, as we have previously mentioned, the consequences can be much worse.
Recommendation
From the editorial staff of runnea we recommend that you preferably do not go out running, the same doctor Guillermo Rodriguez warns that "it is not convenient". Tomorrow se?a another day. However, if it is something you feel like doing and it will improve your mood, we encourage you to follow the recommendations we have given you in this article. Your health is the important thing.
Read more news about: Running News
