Why I Decided To Cut Back On My Alcohol Intake
How one run changed my relationship with running and alcohol.
Endurance running and drinking alcohol in excess do not go well together. While this notion may be obvious to most, I had to learn this the hard way. It happened after one particularly bad experience where I ended up dialing 911 for help after running with a hangover on a hot Summer’s afternoon.
While there doesn’t seem to be much harm in having an occasional drink, studies show that excessive drinking can have a seriously negative impact on our athletic performance. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, meaning it causes you to expel fluids from your body at a much faster rate than if you were drinking water. This leads to dehydration which can make you more prone to injuries.
I actually used to take pride in my willpower to lace up my running shoes after a night out with friends and logging those miles. In fact, I though that doing so would help cure the said hangover. While training for my first marathon in 2019, I was truly dedicated in getting those training runs in no matter what. And the fact that I was feeling under the weather with a case of the brown bottle flu was no excuse to slack off.
On a Sunday afternoon in early August, I decided that despite partaking in a day drinking event the day before, I was going out for a 10 mile run. After all, the Cape Cod Marathon I was competing in was only a little over 2 months away and I didn’t want to waste the day laying in bed clutching a Gatorade bottle and watching the room spin. So while the sun was at it’s highest point I took in not nearly enough water and began my run at a nearby park I frequented.
The sun felt especially oppressive that day, beating down on my head, which on the inside felt like a game of pinball was taking place. But despite the discomfort, I insisted on trudging along. That was until at about 9 miles into the run when I started feeling extremely light headed. I decided to end the run a little early and made my way back to my car. I collected my faculties and after taking in some more water I drove to a nearby coffee place I often went to after my runs.
While waiting for my iced coffee I began to feel shaky and weak, almost like I might faint. I asked the girl working behind the counter for a water bottle, which she then pointed me in the direction of the small fridge that contained them. After paying for my water I chugged it immediately in record time in hopes of feeling better.
As someone who is prone to anxiety, I started getting that all too familiar panicky feeling. Luckily my coffee was soon ready and I reassured myself that I would be fine for the short drive home. While walking to my car I felt a brief spasm occur in my arm causing me to clutch the iced coffee, the contents overflowing all over my hand and car keys. “It’s just a quick ride home.”, I kept telling myself.
Perhaps less than a minute into the drive, the shakiness got worse and I could feel myself fading. This put me into all out panic mode as I pulled over in front of a high school and fumbled with my cell phone as I tried calling for someone to come get me. After not being able to get a hold of my dad, I tried my friend who luckily answered. I could barely put together a proper sentence but managed to relay that I needed someone to pick me up. She assured me that she and our other friend would be there soon.
Still panicking, I decided to dial 911 as I worried my friends wouldn’t get there soon enough. While on the phone with the operator I continued to struggle to convey what the problem was but eventually calmed down enough to realize that perhaps I was being a bit overdramatic and didn’t need emergency help. However, they still had to respond to the scene since I called and assured me I could just refuse help if I felt I didn’t need it. The ambulance and a police officer arrived soon followed by my friends. An EMT checked my vitals and this little episode was chalked up to dehydration and anxiety.
According to Healthline, alcohol has the ability to change the levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain. The effects of anxiety brought on by alcohol can last for hours, and sometimes even carry over into the next day which unfortunately is what happened to me.
Needless to say this experience was a bit traumatic and had me rethinking my relationship with alcohol, especially if I were to take this training seriously. The month leading up the marathon I decided to abstain from drinking altogether in which I soon saw the benefits. Not only was I able to get up for those long training runs without feeling overwhelming anxiety, I found my performance had improved.
Even after my marathon I discovered that cutting back on the alcohol helped with my anxiety tremendously. I started to feel much more clear headed, and thoroughly enjoyed my runs more. They became less a chore and more of something that I looked forward to.
I still enjoyed nights out with friends, but I would make an effort to be more mindful of my consumption and to follow up with drinking plenty of water. I don’t think there is anything wrong with celebrating a race or a long run with a drink but it is important to remember to respect our bodies and that moderation is key.
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