Alcohol
Alcohol must also be avoided before a race. Drinking alcohol the night before a race can result in dehydration and poor performance1. Acute alcohol consumption, i.e., on the day of a race, can adversely affect reaction time, balance and coordination and will consequently impair running ability1,3. Alcohol also has a negative impact on the way the body utilises energy stores and will increase the risk of dangerously low blood sugar levels during the race1.
Illegal Drugs
Illegal drugs of any kind should not be used during training or on race day as they impair the body’s ability to regulate metabolic processes, increasing the risk of medical complications during exercise2. Drug use also impairs the runner’s ability to recognise worrying signs or symptoms associated with injury and illness so runners may not seek help appropriately.
Stimulants are a particular risk; this includes cocaine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. Stimulants act on the central nervous system3 and can raise the heart rate and blood pressure2 as well as potentiating underlying abnormal heart rhythms. This increases the risk of sudden cardiac death as well as heat-related illness2.
References
- Gutgesell M, Canterbury R. Alcohol usage in sport and exercise. Addiction biology. 1999 Oct;4(4):373-83.
- Seely KD, Crockett KB, Nigh A. Sudden cardiac death in a young male endurance athlete. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. 2023 Jun 29;123(10):461-5.
- Malve HO. Sports pharmacology: a medical pharmacologist’s perspective. Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences. 2018 Jul;10(3):126.