A Passion for Running

Welcome to the home of Mark aka The Running Blogfather – a 40 year-old dad, husband and marathon runner who's beaten injury and is on the comeback trail!

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passion for running category: running on Friday, June 11 2004

Holy cow – I think I’ve discovered something pretty fabulous. I imagine after you bloggers read this you’ll just be thinking, “well, DUH Mark” but what can I say – I can be a bit thick at times!

I’ve been feeling very sluggish lately – like for the past couple of months. In addition, something my doc has dubbed a “stress condition” returned about five weeks ago. The condition is a lump-in-the-throat sensation. It is a very uncomfortable always-present sensation but, thankfully not one that is painful. I’ve had it checked (full blood-work etc) a couple of times and the doctors keep saying the same thing – stress. For the most part, I’ve tended to agree with the assessment because the last couple of times I was bothered by “lumpy”, it was definitely during times of stress.

However, this time I have not felt overly stressed so its been a frustrating thing to put up with.

So, to the point of this post. A few days ago, I acted on a hunch that my low energy and return of “lumpy” may somehow be related to nutrition and bought myself some really good, expensive multi-vitamins.

Folks – I can’t believe the difference! Only a couple of days later and I feel like a new man. My energy levels have skyrocketed compared to the last couple of months and I swear “lumpy” is going away.

I should point out that I am not a poor eater but this definitely may be an indication that runners really do have greater nutrional requirements than the average person (something I’ve read before).

So, DUH huh? Do you take vitamins?




10 Comments

208

Comment by Marisa

Friday June 11, 2004 @

I’m not ashamed to say that I take Flinstones (kids) Vitamins. I tried Women’s One-a-Day, but they made me sick. The kids vitamins taste good and don’t make me feel like crap.

Nice goals posted yesterday. I wish you the best of luck in achieving them!

209

Comment by Dianna (Running Chick)

Friday June 11, 2004 @

I take a regular ol’ multi-vitamin every day (at least the days I remember to take it)…nothing too fancy. I’d LOVE to say that it had the same magical effects on me, but we already know how much I struggle with nutritional and caloric needs! Sounds like you are on to something good!

210

Comment by Christy

Friday June 11, 2004 @

A lot of people have told me I should take vitamines, one day I’ll start. What vitamines are you taking

211

Comment by Susan

Friday June 11, 2004 @

I’m a vitamin/mineral freak. C, Bcomplex, fish oil, quercetin, CoQ10, calcium and magnesium–plus a drink called “Green Stuff” that has too much to name. I started a year ago, and I do feel much better. However, I still feel sluggish in the afternoon if work slows down.

212

Comment by Jon in Michigan

Friday June 11, 2004 @

Geez, Mark, how’s your iodine? Maybe its a goiter!

I take a multi and calcium (about a 1.5 grams taken over the course of the day). I used to take fish oil too but its a pain and I decided I ge enough omega 6′s and 3′s from fish, nuts, and flax seed meal.

If I feel a cold coming on (or the family has colds) I will take extra folic acid and vitamin C. The C helps reduce cold symptoms and the folic acid boosts the immune system. I have also drank this funky echanasia (sp?) fruit drink stuff ($2.50/bottle!) when I’ve been real bad off. I know its useless, but I’m hoping for a good placebo effect. FYI, it tastes like total poison.

213

Comment by Deene

Friday June 11, 2004 @

I don’t take vitamin supplements but hey if it works for you, why not. Maybe you had a particular deficiency and your multivitamin took care of it.

214

Comment by Mark

Friday June 11, 2004 @

Jon, I don’t think so as I have had doctors do pretty extensive testing?

215

Comment by Another Pam

Saturday June 12, 2004 @

I do not take vits. It’s one of those things in the back of my head “maybe I should take vits” But I never know which ones to take.
Though I am liking the flintstone idea.

Glad you are feeling better.

218

Comment by Chris

Saturday June 12, 2004 @

I take a multi and get the rest from a decent diet. Dr. Andrew Weil has some great information on vitamins at his site.

222

Comment by Oliver

Monday June 14, 2004 @

Wow, didn’t visit your blog for some days and now I have to read a lot ;-) Doing/taking things where I can’t see an (more or less) immediate effect is always a mental obstacle for me. Anyway, after talking to some of my pretty experienced runners I am currently jst taking some vitamine E and Zinc. It might help (and it’s pretty cheap compared to all these stylish pills).

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