Brennen,
You raise the interesting question of exactly how many members of the Wasatch Speed Goat Mountain Racing Team does it take to bring a conversation around to beer. The answer – 3. One to start the conversation, one to respond, and one to say “yeah, that’s nice, now on to beer!” ;-D

Ian,
Noted. Thanks for the link – I’ll post it in the main entry.

Steve,
If you’re saving the NoDoz for night two at HRH, what are you doing on night 1?!

As for NoDoz or other caffeine pills. There are small and great to have around when you crash hours from an aid station. Certainly worth the weight in my opinion.

Grae,
Sometimes caffeine and naps just can’t overcome circadian rhythms and the light’s effect on serotonin levels. We’s was made to sleep sometimes and to not sleep sometimes. A pacer can help during the body’s off periods… unless, of course, the pacer falls asleep, too! When pacing or being paced, I kind of expect 2-5 or 3-6 a.m. to be a quiet time. Fortunately, just having some company can keep you moving down the trail. I don’t know what your WS pace table’s like, but I’ll be sitting around Green Gate waiting to pace again once AJW paces through.

As for the STOK, don’t worry. 40 mgs of caffeine is child’s play. Not even half a cup of coffee. Heck,most sports gels have 25 mg of caffeine.

Will,
Thanks for dropping by iRunFar and sharing with us. I can totally understand giving up caffeine or any addictive substance. For most of us, ultras are about competing against ourselves. Stick to your guns!

Meredith,
I probably would have gone preemptive on the caffeine. Let me rephrase that, I do go preemptive on the caffeine when heading into the late night hours during a 100. I like not taking in any amounts above what’s in gels during the day and evening. I usually try to last a few hours into darkness, then it’s time to start playing games with my head and body. I know that the sun will raise me up come morning, so it’s smoke ‘em if you got ‘em time by midnight or 1.

I can’t remember where I read it yesterday, but I noticed a statement to the effect that your body clears caffeine in 6 hours and that a month long cleansing is not necessary for full effectiveness. I’m not sure I buy that. While caffeine may have some effects at hour 6 at the same intensity as at hour 0, I’d guess that an addict like me takes longer to fully reset my system. I’d like to hear more about the washout period is others know anything on the subject.

But really now…my Nathan pack “always” has three baggies in it. One with Ibu’s, one with salt tabs and the last one with some No-Doz! gotta love those little white “easy to go down” caplets at 10AM on night #2 at Hardrock!

Esteban (NM name)

Also, I train hard with beer. After a long run on Saturday, I made sure to drink some strong ones that night. Up early to catch the train, 40 miles on your legs, the delicious haze from some Southampton Old Ale: There is no fatigue quite like that!

Thanks for the great info!
Tim

I had brought tea with me in my drop bags, but the reality was, it was way too much trouble to brew some tea at an aid station. I like to be in and out fast, no more than a minute, tops. So, maybe at my next 100, WS, i will have my crew prebrew tea for me, probably yerba mate, the energizing drink of South America!

At Umstead a few weeks ago, i kept a fwe no doz in my pocket as insurance, so i did not fall asleep on the trail like at RR.

I have since then discovered this wonderful sport of endurance running and feel that caffience can be just the tool needed to bring a participant through a hard patch and to the finish line.

I still stand by my personal decision not to use caffiene outside or in endurance events and I know it taxes me and can put me at a disadvantage to my competition. I just have to remember that I do this to compete against myself and not others and it also adds that one additional element of challenge that makes it that much more rewarding finishing an endurance event caffiene free.