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By Jonathan Poston CSCS
The Shut In Ridge Trail Race, coming up in November
every year in Asheville, NC, since 1979 carries with it a mystique that
lures runners from all over the country to partake in this approx. 18
mile rugged trail race.
Gary Curran MD of Pisgah Family Health spoke with a group of about 15
serious Asheville-based runners who are training for the Shut In with
an Asheville Race Training program, coached by nationally recognized ultra runner, Mark
Lundblad.
Dr. Curran lectured on OTC (over the counter) drugs and supplements;
highlighting their benefits and dangers.
Curran explains that one category of OTCs is the anti-inflammatory,
which is a common remedy for arthritis, aching joints etc. Athletes
typically use them after events for recovery and to reduce soreness.
He notes that these drugs can be "bad for your stomach" and an
overdose can also harm your liver and kidneys. The casual user will
most likely not have a problem with these drugs, but using them during
endurance events (or exercise) can harm the body (ex. G.I. irritation)
Acetaminophen, which includes Tylenol, is a separate group from the
aforementioned anti-inflammatory. It may be a safer, albeit less
effective, alternative as a painkiller for runners since it is not as
hard on the stomach.
Another widely used category of over the counter drugs is anti
histamines. Some that have been around for quite some time, like
Benedryl, can include side effects like dry mouth and drowsiness.
Newer ones on the store shelf, like Clariton, do not tend to cause
drowsiness, so these may be the better choice for runners suffering
from allergy disorders.
Pseudo ephedrine, an IOC banned substance, includes some well known
cold remedies like Sudafed. An athlete could be banned from official
competition just from taking this common cold medicine. "It is one of
the more stronger, potent drugs that you can go to the drug store and
buy.[It] can be processed and turned into methamphetamine, which is
illegal. It takes away stuffy nose, congestion. If you have to run a
race with a cold [its] good stuff. It raises your heart rate a little
bit, raises your blood pressure a little bit." Curran notes that this
drug could be considered one of the more performance enhancing drugs
that can be bought over the counter. Some, like ephedrine, have been
banned. He warns that these drugs " can cause problems if overused [or
misused] [For ex.,] If you have high blood pressure you should not
take it."
Supplements such as glucosamine and caffeine were also discussed.
Although studies vary, some results suggest that these can be
beneficial for some runners, but there can also be undesirable side
effects that could accompany usage.
Disclaimer: Everyone should always consult their personal physician
before taking any medicine and/or supplement. Do your own research
and fact checking before using any of the advice provided here for any
reason. (Misquotes, typos, and unclear sentences within this release
may result in unintended misinformation. )
Source
Jonathan Poston
PO Box 17535
Asheville NC 28816
828-768-6262
sunsetstampede@gmail.com
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