Is anyone finding it hard to cut down on alcohol to improve their running? I don't (always) drink every day, but I do like wine in the evenings with my meal ... and sometimes feel like I am 'punishing' myself if I don't have any!
I am on Week 9, just done run 1 and still ridiculously slow - perhaps this could be part of the reason!
I have found that I drink far less now than ever before, because a couple of years ago before I started running I used to drink wine every night. I thought it was helping me deal with the pressures of work and family, but looking back it was just making things a whole lot worse. Now I use the running to help me deal with stress, but if the wine bottle is opened on the weekend it is hard to resist. Having a Sunday run planned can help with resisting temptation. At the time it seems really hard to say no to the wine but the next day there is a huge sense of relief that there's no hangover and so you have the whole day to look forward to!
Experiment, do without for the day before you do the next 3 runs and see what happens!! Just think of the money you will save, you could buy a lovely new top for running in. 
It's just common sense really (I don't mean that in a nasty way as I did the same thing last week!) by you not drinking the day before and reward yourself, in moderation on the days that you do.
I had a 'few' beers last Friday and struggled to finish a piddly 2 miler on Saturday morning. I was not pleased!!
Obvioulsy, giving up altogether is more beneficial for all of us! Ha!
A little off topic perhaps, but I am watching my calorie intake and the number of empty calories there are in alcohol I found to be quite shocking which has really put me off drinking, as I am trying to shed a few pounds as well as get fitter.
In terms of running, I have found running clears my head if it is a mild hangover, and doesn't affect the running too much, but I had a stonker of a hangover for one of my runs and it was a nightmare! I really dragged myself round and felt quite sick and lightheaded throughout it, not to mention dehydrated! There certainly was a noticable difference.
Like rollertoaster, I view the alcohol as empty calories and although I'm not massively overweight I could do with losing a few extra rolls of fat. I'm loving that running is already helping to sculpt my body and after all the effort put into each run, I don't wish to pile on extra calories which need more running to burn off!
I've cut down my drinking to only Friday and Saturday evenings. I'm feeling much much better for it. My two morning runs are on a Thursday and a Sunday (evening on a Tuesday) and I really notice the difference between the two morning runs for having a just a couple of glasses of wine on a Saturday night and nothing on a Wednesday. Also don't forget alcohol is dehydrating so when you do partake make sure you make it up with lots and lots of water.
I like a drink but not everyday, I don't drink the day before my run and find this helps. I always find the first 5 minutes hard going but then the rhythm clicks in and I'm away. I'm not fast but manage 5k in 30 minutes I'm in my 12th week now. Just do what you can, does it really matter if you think you're slow your doing it that counts good luck
I've not made any effort to really reduce the amount that I drink, I probably drink more than the medical fraternity would say is totally healthy but... Since I started the programme the quantity has naturally reduced. I'd like to reduce the empty calories but I like fine British ales, as the runs get longer I suspect it'll naturally reduce even further.
Thank you for all the helpful replies, you are all very disciplined! Like Chewy I like fine British ales, and also have a fondness for the grape! I am going to a beer festival tonight so this will not be the night I start to cut back, but next week I will try to have a few more alcohol-free days and hope it makes a bit of difference as I try to complete Week 9.
In our house, we decided at the end of last month to give up drink for the whole of September. Mostly to cut out the empty calories (and the associated calories of a bag of nuts or crisps to go along with the alcohol).
I feel less fat now than I did at the beginning of the month, although the scales are not confirming that as much as I would hope. However I also committed more to C25K this month (weeks 3-6) and I could attribute the inch-loss to that too.
I'm glad that I've (nearly) done it. Mostly it wasn't that hard, but for me preparing dinner on a Friday or Saturday night was the time I found myself missing a nice glass of wine or an aperitif.
Also, did I read somewhere that beer is a good recovery drink!?
Guinness is a good recovery drink, we always had a pint after a long hill walk.
Week two of no alcohol and need to get back on the cod liver oil
Alcohol 2 5k
damn u alcohol! please help!!
Good distance despite the speed and alcohol!
