Looking at the first deeper dive cited source the Australian study gave large amounts of alcohol and "In the New Zealand study, 1.0 g/kg (4.9 drinks for the 150-pound person) hindered recovery, but 0.5 g/kg (2.4 drinks) didn’t." Yes, many people drink too much and alcohol should likely not be considered healthy at any amount (based on current evidence). But the dose makes the poison (e.g. your prescription medicine is necessary but too much can kill you). The last time I looked into this low amounts of alcohol appear to be fine especially for men.
This is BRILLIANT and BRAVE! Thank you Runner’s World - Very few participants in popular media are brave enough to tell the truth. You have done this here and I, for one, am incredibly grateful. I am so SO so sick of alcohol being part of a supposed reward for running. I ran a half marathon locally where beer was the ONLY beverage available at the end - not even water. With the recent health reports regarding alcohol’s link to breast cancer and colon cancer and 16 other types of cancer it’s ludicrous that someone who cares about themselves would ingest a poison. ENOUGH of the stupid “Race for the Wine” nonsense and THANK YOU for bringing this to the spotlight. I was going to let my Runner’s World subscription lapse but I changed my mind now. I’ll support you forever.
Great info. As much as people may want to believe it, drinking in moderation is not healthy. Doctors need to stop perpetuating the myth of red wine being healthy. I gave up alcohol completely last year and have enjoyed seeing how far N/A beer has come over the last few years. I'm also glad to see races embracing this, as Athletic brewing has been the post race beer at several recent running events that I have done. Very glad to see that :)
The “no alcohol message” is not helpful because it isn’t realistic. She even admits this at the end of the interview. I wish the message were “the less you drink the lower your risks.” I enjoy 1/2 glass of port a few days a week. I get joy from the different flavors of port and the ritual of having a few sips of a small glass after work. There are so many factors that “increase” risk from running in an urban area or in a place with poor air quality. It is all about moderation and enjoying the little things. We are all going to die one way or another. A glass of wine is not going to make all that much of a difference.
We try so hard, like all the questions posed in the video, to find one, just one good reason to drink. There ain’t one folks. Really appreciated the candor and not giving in to social pressures in the piece!
It's actually a complex topic and a 2022 research paper published in nature summed it up in part: "Abstract Modest drinking has been repeatedly discussed in scientific papers as protective against certain diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, but in most cases, alcohol worsens health conditions, especially when consumed at high risk levels. The complexity of the risk relationship between alcohol and health conditions has confused clinicians as to whether it should be recommended. The study aims to balance the risks and benefits of modest drinking. This retrospective cohort study of 430,016 adults recruited from a standard health-screening program since 1994, with 11,031 deaths identified as of 2008. Drinking distinguished “modest drinker” (no more than one drink a day) from “regular drinker” "Nearly one out of 4 males (23%) was a modest drinker, who gained 0.94 year (95% CI 0.65-1.23 year) in life over non-drinker and had 8% reduction in adjusted all-cause mortality (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.97). In contrast, regular drinkers had 43% increase in overall mortality (HR 1.43, CI 1.35-1.52) and shortened life by 6.9 years (95% CI 6.6-7.1 years). "The gain of one year by modest drinkers was erased by a two to fourfold increase in oral and esophageal cancer and that drinking beyond modest amount led to a large loss of life expectancy. Given that drinkers are prone to cross the line of drinking, clinicians should balance the risks and benefits of drinking, as well as the understanding of whether the patient is at risk for addiction."
So as someone who got into running regularly later in life, I feel every aspect of my life, not just running was improved by getting sober. I even smoked from time to time, which also was bad. but 8 years 6 mos away from all that, I do not miss it one bit. Getting on that keto/carnivore-ish thing starting last july was a HUGE game changer. (I watched Mikhaila Peterson's TedX talk and then her interview with Dr. Ken Berry and followed his channel) I went from a bum knee in the spring in which I didn't think I'd be running at ALL again, to dropping 25lbs, my knee healing up and then doing the half at CBUS in Oct 2022. I'm sure there were tons of after race events and parties that included booze, but I chose not to partake, I also didn't partake in the bagels and bananas and other foods or drinks given out at the end of the race. Except a beef stick, and some bottled water. But that's just me. And probably more than just me. Getting sober and eating better may be a good path for many others too. Thanks for posting the video Runner's World. Making it okay to not drink is a good thing.
I have known a few international athletes. None of them avoided alcohol altogether. Obviously they drank the stuff (beer mostly) in moderation at the right time but to say alcohol impairs performance is way too simplistic. Crude rule of thumb was always said to be six miles a pint (or was that six pints a mile?). Don't drink alcohol the night before a race? Frank Shorter had a few beers before the Olympic marathon in 1972. Guess what? He won the damn race!
This, this and this. I don't expect this video to get many likes! I gave up alcohol before I got into running but it was a great decision. So much more intentionality and clarity in my life now. Seems so backwards to work hard on health and endurance and then put some poison into your body. I totally get that for some people it's the social aspect that is important, and others really enjoy craft beers and fine wines in the same way I enjoy specialty coffee.
I was recently diagnosed with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, mostly due to alcohol consumption. I considered myself a moderate drinker, having 2-3 drinks each weekend night. Although it was not much, it was enough to affect my heart. I cut back to virtually no alcohol consumption, and I have not felt better in my adult life. Sure, I sometimes miss the taste, but today there are a ton of non alcoholic alternatives (beer included) along with NA spirits. These certainly satisfy my interest to get the taste of an alcoholic drink. I also must say that my sleep is better and I am recovering more quickly from long runs. Although it may seem drastic to go totally alcohol free, try it and you will see the difference in your life.
Finally a non-alcohol sponsored article with hard honest truths about alcohol use. A definite use-at-your-own-risk product (and if you are an athlete or training for an event it is the best way, hands-down, to sabotage yourself).
