From the August 2004 issue of Runner's World
The Train-Hard-Party-Harder Personality
You justify binge drinking as the reward for a good run or race.
According to a study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, serious recreational runners drink more alcohol than their sedentary counterparts--and the group we surveyed was no exception. But no matter how much you run, the guidelines are clear: The health benefits of alcohol are reaped from one to two drinks a day. More than that can be detrimental, particularly to runners who need to pay extra attention to hydration. And don't think you can save up your weekly allowance for Saturday night. "We know from research that it's much healthier to have one drink per day versus seven drinks on the weekend," says Eberle.
Change your ways:
Choose alcoholic beverages that are diluted for less impact. Instead of a glass of wine, drink a wine spritzer.
Drink a glass of water or plain seltzer in between each drink to stretch the alcohol out over the course of a night.
After a run or a race, make your first drink a big glass of water. Have that beer later.
