Need Supplement advice from you runners/high endurance athletes

[SuperKat 0]

My goal is to run about 3 miles a day and do some serious calisthenics right afterwards. I find myself sleepy afterwards and running out of steam quickly during the running. I know I should take the natural approach like food sources but I need an extra energy boost and I need it on on the fly. I believe these products may do the trick but I just need to know which of these will do the trick for lasting a 3 mile run and heavy calisthenics (jumping jacks, squat thrusts, push ups, and ab workouts). And I mean seriously intense heavy calisthenics.

Thanks in advance.

http://www.affordablesupplements.com/clif_shot.asp

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cn/revenge.html

http://www.affordablesupplements.com/endurathon.asp

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/sterol.html

http://www.affordablesupplements.com/kranker_extreme.asp

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[skycat 0]

Derek swears by Gel packs (like your first link) for an energy boost during adventure races and all day training events. He doesn't use them while training for the running sections because he goes ultralight only carrying water.

The biggest thing that helped him survive the running part of his training was getting a K-9 jogging partner who thinks a 5 mile run is just a warm up.

Fly it like you stole it!

[Stumpy 284]

Before you start using the supplements, how is your diet? 3 Miles and some calisthenics i wouldn't have said was enough that the correct diet shouldn't give you most of what you need. Out of the links you posted, 4 of them seem to be glorified energy drinks/ snacks, and 1 seemed to be some kind of natural steroid (apologies i only had time for a very quick look) I would probably avoid the steroid one, and the others are ok but so is watered down lucozade or maxim or any of those kind of things. I personally would also steer clear of the top one because of the caffeine but thats me.

I would say the most important things are eat properly and hydrate properly and that should solve most of your problems.

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[mnealtx 0]

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The biggest thing that helped him survive the running part of his training was getting a K-9 jogging partner who thinks a 5 mile run is just a warm up.

So *that's* why you bought all those steaks.... "Here, honey...let me tie this to your leg...."

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[ntrprnr 0]

Before you start taking supplements, can I suggest making sure you're properly hydrated?

I find that if I drink a TON of water before I go to bed, and then another few glasses when I have the obligatory "you must pee now" wake up call at 4am, then when I go for my run at 6:30am, I'm totally good with it, and never logey. It's only if I'm not hydrated that I lose steam really fast.

Had a friend who used to say, "Wanna run better or faster? Run better or faster." Use to piss me off something fierce that he was right.

Peter (Best time, Marine Corps Marathon 02, 4:07:56.)

_______________
"Why'd you track away at 7,000 feet?"
"Even in freefall, I have commitment issues."

[jmpnkramer 0]

There are many factors which play into this.

1. Age
2. What have your previous exercise habits been like
3. What condition is your body in

My first suggestion is to be sure that you are eating decent.
Drink plenty of WATER & a 50/50 split of Gatorade & water. Hydration will keep your energy up.
Depending on your metabolism look at your carb intake. More carbs usually equals more energy for me. I can definitely tell the difference.

On the regime:

I suggest running on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays. Alternating your distances. Before running do a lighter calisthenics. Remove the arm workout as your body needs recovery time. Abs can be worked everyday.

On Tuesdays & Thursdays conduct the intense calisthenics. You should also do some wind sprints. Not only does it mix things up it is better developing for your body.

You can PM me if you like.

Another source to try would be "Runners World" magazine. I work with a few people who read it regularly and get some good tips.

Hope it helps,

Laters,

K-MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


.

The REAL KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!

"HESITATION CAUSES DEATH!!!"
"Be Slow to Fall into Friendship; but when Thou Art in, Continue Firm & Constant." - SOCRATES

[PLFXpert 0]

Yes, I would agree about diet.

I run 2-6 miles/day 4 days, occasionally 5 days/week at 5 a.m.

I stretch before and after, no calisthenics.

But, still...feeling that tired, etc. from what you've described seems like you're lacking in other areas like diet & sleep.

Sleep is when your body repairs itself, and if I have to be up earlier than my 5 a.m. run, or if I've had to go to bed late for any reason, I don't run.

Diet is also essential---someone mentioned staying hydrated, which is great. I drink, geez, I don't know, 20 glasses of water/day?

Just some food for thought

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[brierebecca 0]

Hi,

I've been running between 5 and 7 miles a day during the week for the last few months, and I ran in college before that. In my experience, Iron supplements and EmergenC packs really help me stay well and energized, but I've never needed to take supplements to finish a run.

If you're struggling through three miles and feel "dead" or "sleepy" afterward, I would suggest one of two things:

1. You may be running too hard or too long for your fitness level. You should never feel like you're going to collapse after a training run. Scale it back, try to relax your shoulders and face (tension takes a lot of energy), and be patient with yourself. Gaining your fitness goals will never happen overnight.

2. Go get bloodwork done. If you're a light-skinned, blonde, or generally little female, you may be exhibiting classic signs of anemia. I've dealt with this condition a lot, and it really kills your energy level. Hence the iron supplements.

Hope this helps
Brie

"Ive seen you hump air, hump the floor of the plane, and hump legs. You now have a new nickname: "Black Humper of Death"--yardhippie

[SuperKat 0]

Quote

Derek swears by Gel packs (like your first link) for an energy boost during adventure races and all day training events.

Thanks, sounds good to me.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

Quote

I find that if I drink a TON of water before I go to bed, and then another few glasses when I have the obligatory "you must pee now" wake up call at 4am, then when I go for my run at 6:30am, I'm totally good with it, and never logey. It's only if I'm not hydrated that I lose steam really fast.

Sounds like a good plan but I need a little cheating boost. I don't want to just make it. I want to do this w/o breaking a sweat kind of thing, know what I mean?

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

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Before you start using the supplements, how is your diet?

I eat mostly a lot of protein. I have fruit with one of my 5 meals I have a day (3 hour intervals).

Quote

Out of the links you posted, 4 of them seem to be glorified energy drinks/ snacks, and 1 seemed to be some kind of natural steroid (apologies i only had time for a very quick look) I would probably avoid the steroid one, and the others are ok but so is watered down lucozade or maxim or any of those kind of things. I personally would also steer clear of the top one because of the caffeine but thats me.

Thanks. I guess, I could just sample each one, except for the natural steroid one.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[turtlespeed 226]

I drink lots of beer - it helps me last a LONG time.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[skycat 0]

Other things he uses for races is honey sticks and emergen-c. Remember though this is an 8-12 hour race so he can only have things that are easy to digest and will quickly give him what he needs on the trail.

Fly it like you stole it!

[SuperKat 0]

Here's the deal, people. I'm in the Police Academy, I have to train everyday, no ifs, ands or buts. I cannot scale the training down. I'm the company sergeant and I have to look good. If I drop out of runs like most of my recruits do, I'll lose face, get demoted and walk in shame for the rest of my career as a cop at the NYPD. Sometimes they make us run 3-4 miles a day sometimes just one mile a day, depending on the tactics regimen that they have in plan for us. The Academic instructors think that the training regimen that they give us is inhumane but we cannot do anything about it. It's their house and their rules. I only sleep 4.5-5 hours a day because I have tons of homework and studying to do afterwards. Unfortunately, there's no going around this. The only sound sleeping that I can do is on the weekends.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[mnealtx 0]

Skycat's advice sounds good - easy to digest and a good energy boost. You most DEFINITELY want to stay hydrated, as well.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[ntrprnr 0]

Easy without breaking a sweat means you're not getting anything from the run. Means your body has adapted, and you're just exercising at "average." Totally not worth the effort at that point, if you're trying to improve.

_______________
"Why'd you track away at 7,000 feet?"
"Even in freefall, I have commitment issues."

[brierebecca 0]

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Here's the deal, people. I'm in the Police Academy, I have to train everyday, no ifs, ands or buts. I cannot scale the training down.

Okay, don't cut the training down. But do go get tested for anemia. It sounds like you are experiencing some of the symptoms.

Hope this helps,

Brie

"Ive seen you hump air, hump the floor of the plane, and hump legs. You now have a new nickname: "Black Humper of Death"--yardhippie

[SuperKat 0]

Thanks but I think it's probably because I only get 5 hours a sleep a day, I'm not hydrating myself properly, and fruit is scarce in my diet.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?