I take melatonin. Obviously don't test this out the night before a race, but I feel like it helps me fall asleep and I've never noticed anything odd in the mornings.

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JustinDoesTriathlon

Owner, FuelRodz Endurance.

Never tried that one. I have used Diphenhydramine to sleep before races. I’ve found it takes about 8 hours for nearly all the effects to wear off and 10 hours for no residual effects. I chew up two Benadryls about half an hour before I want to be asleep.

It Does dehydrate some but I am usually over hydrated before a long race.

Definitely try it before race night. I have noticed some of my morning workouts suffer if I take it too late.

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Oui, mais pas de femme toute de suite (yes, but I am not ready for a woman straight away) -Stephen Roche's reply when asked whether he was okay after collapsing at the finish in the La Plagne stage of the 1987 Tour

I've had really good luck w/ CBD (full-spectrum stuff though) fwiw. Occasionally get a little groggy/very mild hangover like symptoms that dissipate after a few minutes.

What's my luck getting CBD through the airport though? I take CBD at home in Colorado, but for race day in Texas it might be hard to transport.

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Team Zoot 2023

I take a couple hammer nutrition REM caps . . . basically melatonin.

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David
* Ironman for Life! (Blog) * IM Everyday Hero Video * Daggett Shuler Law *
Disclaimer: I have personal and professional relationships with many athletes, vendors, and organizations in the triathlon world.

Personally I'd worry more about my sleep in the days leading up to the race and not worry so much about sleep the night before the race. I also don't think it's wise to use a medication for something other then what it was intended for. I know that they market Benadryl etc as a sleep aid, but that isn't what it was intended to be used for.

I work extreme swing shifts. Lunesta works great for me. Its half life is a lot shorter then antihistamines half life....

I've taken ambien and NyQuil capsules on different occasions and they both help. I don't think I have gone a night before racing without a sleep aid in 10 years. Maybe throw a beer or three on top of that.

Race day nerves and excitement is always enough to counter any of the groggy feelings I would otherwise have when I get up.

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New Training/Racing Log - http://www.earthdaykid.com/blog --- Old Training/Racing Log - http://colinlaughery.blogspot.com

to my (limited) knowledge and after a cursory (albeit very limited) google search you "should" be fine w/ the stuff that isn't full spectrum - as in the Hemp stuff you can buy on Amazon.

that said, i do know that not everyone is as affected by it as I am. I value the hell out of my sleep (seems to get worse w/ age) and have trouble before race day as well as after hard workouts/races (say tss >= 250). Good luck!!

Personally I'd worry more about my sleep in the days leading up to the race and not worry so much about sleep the night before the race.

THIS^^^^^^


Honestly, the night before really does not matter much, in fact, if you dont sleep too much I have found that the body is more ready to race, not sluggish after a hard sleep.. I can recall a lot of my best races happening after a restless night before. It is that 2nd night before that you have to nail...And keeping those sleep drugs out the night before is probably a good thing too..

Melatonin has a very unique side effect in some people. Very vivid and weird dreams. I worked in a sleep lab for years and have seen this with many of my patients also. That is why I stopped taking it.

Somewhere on ST I typed out a primer on sleep meds. Could be worth searching for if you have questions about sleep drugs. Doesn't cover anything that came out in the last 4 or so years though, but otherwise is full of info.

I spent 6+ years immersed in the world of sleep/sleep drugs but sadly not sleeping haha

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
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