Have a 1/2 tomorrow and developed some knee pain from a previous long run. Been resting it but still have some soreness. Sometimes take Ibuprofen or Naproxen after a run and it works well for me. Searching online I see various conflicting info (surprise) on taking any NSAIDs before a run, but I have heard it’s common thing to do for marathoners and ultra runners. Other than ‘nothing new on race day’, does anyone have any experience taking these before a long run?
kidney failure and hyponatremia…
Basically, for every five runners who took ibuprofen, there was one additional case of acute kidney injury.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30785678/
In association with other risks factors such as overhydratation, NSAIDs increase the risk of exercise associated hyponatremia (EAH). Risk of acute kidney injury increases also with the use of NSAIDs.
better to skip the 1/2, if the pain can’t be handled without the ibuprofen etc…
I’ve done it, just don’t go crazy and take 800-1000mg
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Have a 1/2 tomorrow and developed some knee pain from a previous long run. Been resting it but still have some soreness. Sometimes take Ibuprofen or Naproxen after a run and it works well for me. Searching online I see various conflicting info (surprise) on taking any NSAIDs before a run, but I have heard it’s common thing to do for marathoners and ultra runners. Other than ‘nothing new on race day’, does anyone have any experience taking these before a long run?
In the ultra world it used to be commonly used in long events and humorously referred to as “Vitamin Iâ€. Not anymore. Now people are strongly encouraged not to use it in events for the reasons stated in a previous reply.
Is it legal to use in IM events and such? How about Tylenol?
From what I remember in Alex Hutchinson’s book Endure, he mentioned that it can have a negative effect when it masks the pain. Pain can be there to tell you to slow down and without that pain you can risk a huge blowup since you don’t realize you’re incorrectly pacing. In a very short race that may be OK, but certainly not for a half marathon. The 2nd post though has the best case against using it for racing IMO.
Have a 1/2 tomorrow and developed some knee pain from a previous long run. Been resting it but still have some soreness. Sometimes take Ibuprofen or Naproxen after a run and it works well for me. Searching online I see various conflicting info (surprise) on taking any NSAIDs before a run, but I have heard it’s common thing to do for marathoners and ultra runners. Other than ‘nothing new on race day’, does anyone have any experience taking these before a long run?
Doctor here.
I do use ibuprofen before many runs including long runs and in 70.3 races.
There are risks, the key one being acute kidney injury if you are overly dehydrated. If you are on top of your dehydration plan then the overall risk to you would be very low. If it is a super hot race etc then might be best to reconsider.
This is pragmatic advice about what I do and what I know many others around me do, not what you should do yourself, that is a decision for you based on what you read etc.
Is it legal to use in IM events and such?
It is legal, and IM has even promoted its sponsor Aleve in terms of using it for training and racing pain (for which it faced some justified criticism).
Yeah I think I would stick to something like that post race. I would go for something more like icy hot before the race.
I’ve had better luck with aspirin for knee pain, than ibuprofen. The Excedrine migraine formula with caffeine, works really well.
So what do they use now?
I wasn’t aware of any issues and have used it in all IMs and sometimes before run training if I have any aches and never been aware of any problems it may have caused.
I understand that things like ibuprofen and caffeine are/were common inclusions in “finishing bottlesâ€.
Have a 1/2 tomorrow and developed some knee pain from a previous long run. Been resting it but still have some soreness. Sometimes take Ibuprofen or Naproxen after a run and it works well for me. Searching online I see various conflicting info (surprise) on taking any NSAIDs before a run, but I have heard it’s common thing to do for marathoners and ultra runners. Other than ‘nothing new on race day’, does anyone have any experience taking these before a long run?
Picking up an injury before an event is frustrating but painkilling drugs… No, no and no! What is it with people, pain is one’s body telling oneself something isn’t right. Masking the pain with drugs is definitely NOT the way to go and may lead to permanent injury.
If you’re injured rest, recover and return when you’re fit and well.
Big problem is cramps. I found out the hard way at Ironman Wisconsin. Never use anything before a race now.
Go to Walgreens get there brand of diclofenac sodium topical gel 1%. Use very little rub in your knees. Works for me but I am careful with it.
Have a 1/2 tomorrow and developed some knee pain from a previous long run. Been resting it but still have some soreness. Sometimes take Ibuprofen or Naproxen after a run and it works well for me. Searching online I see various conflicting info (surprise) on taking any NSAIDs before a run, but I have heard it’s common thing to do for marathoners and ultra runners. Other than ‘nothing new on race day’, does anyone have any experience taking these before a long run?
Picking up an injury before an event is frustrating but painkilling drugs… No, no and no! What is it with people, pain is one’s body telling oneself something isn’t right. Masking the pain with drugs is definitely NOT the way to go and may lead to permanent injury.
If you’re injured rest, recover and return when you’re fit and well.
I would disagree. These are not black and white situations. Minor niggles may be able to be safely managed with pain relief etc and I think you would be surprised at the number of people that use them on a regular basis.
I am not the best one to talk, having gone through some nasty stress fractures from not listening to my body, but in most of them the onset was acute and pain relief would not have masked anything, even in the lead up to the injury itself.
Thanks for all the great responses. Ended up not taking anything and just used a knee support compression sleeve. Had low level pain the entire race, more in the first two miles, but it wasn’t affecting my stride. After the race my knee didn’t feel any worse than before. Thinking that since I don’t use NSAIDs on a regular basis, taking occasionally before a race if having this same issue wouldn’t be so bad.