Today I was told that I was rather ‘hard-headed’!  Moi?

I guess I am kind of a driven person, and I can be quite focused at times (SQUIRREL!), but then again I also find myself being quite flexible at other times.

But when it comes to athlete safety, I will plead GUILTY as CHARGED!

So as all you runners (and IM’ers) are getting ready to hit the starting line this month, please remember these words of wisdom:

1. If you are in any pain – don’t race

2. You are trained and ready to race, no IBUPROFEN or other forms of ‘pain’ medication should be necessary.

3. Pain medication during an ultra event (10 miles – whatever distance you’re covering past that) is a HUGE NEGATORY and can be dangerous!

Please see article below:

Ibuprofen is an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) typically sold under the brand names Advil or Motrin.

Many athletes, typically those in longer ultra-endurance events, often take ibuprofen during the course of a race or long training session. But is this necessarily a good idea?

Ibuprofen interferes with the production of a hormone called prostaglandin, which functions partly to keep the vessels of the kidneys open to maintain adequate blood flow.

Add dehydration — often encountered in a long race or training session, particularly in the heat — to the mix, and the problem is compounded. Renal (kidney) failure becomes a real possibility. Who wants to have a dialysis machine for their next best friend?

Ibuprofen use may also blunt your recovery after racing or training. Research suggests that ibuprofen reduces protein synthesis, one of the ways the body repairs muscles.

Other research points to increased gastrointestinal permeability during endurance exercise concurrent with ibuprofen use. This may be one of the reasons that research among runners using ibuprofen at the Western States 100 ultramarathon suggests an increase in some inflammatory markers post-race.

In this study, there was little or no difference in reported muscle soreness between ibuprofen users and non-users.

Ibuprofen is an accepted choice for dealing with the aches and pains of daily life. But does it help during a race? Probably not, and it can hurt you if you take too much and become dehydrated. For races and hard training sessions, the risks seem to outweigh the questionable benefits.

Anthony C. “Woofie” Humpage, C.S.C.S., is an Ultrafit Associate and USA Triathlon certified coach. He coaches Masters and female athletes for ultra-endurance events. Woofie specializes in performing in extreme environments. Contact him at [email protected].