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Comment by dpifke | Hacker News Reader

I think the title could be better stated as, "Problem drinkers are less likely to be regular exercisers." It's hard to get up & exercise when you're hungover.

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> It’s hard to get up & exercise when you’re hungover

I’ve heard this from almost every runner I know, yet I have never ever found it harder to exercise because of a hangover - in fact, I’ve done many of my fastest 5km times after a heavy night. It curtails neither my desire or ability to get out and walk/hike/run — on the contrary, I often feel like going for a run will be a surefire way to cure a hangover (and atone for the behaviour that caused it).

At what age? I also used to be in tip top shape in the morning and even crave exercise after a night of drinking. Great way to wake up and shake off the hangover heh.

Up until 26 or so.

Since then I just started feeling like shit and can't do anything if I drink more than 4-5 beers in the evening.

I didn’t start running until my mid-30s. I’m in my mid-late 40s now.

Were you generally fit before hand? I’m in my early 30s and I’ve tried starting couch to 5k but inevitably give up after repeating week 2 like 7 times because my legs and feet are in pain. Tried changing how I run, shoes I wear, etc… Any tips?

Water, stretching the legs, and understanding that you are asking your body to transform. But more importantly, I always remember that when I went 1k to 12k at age 15, it took me six months, running twice a week, pushing like hell through a wall of courage, and I didn’t think it was even possible to run one hour in a row. You may be underestimating what an achievement it is, and be disappointed that it is actually hard. So, keep repeating your best score until you power through it.

Also, some people are more made for swimming, others for running.

There's a huge genetic variance in natural talent and response to training. Some people are just fast, and get faster with even minimal training. Others can follow an optimized training plan for years without significantly improving their speed. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle.

I hit 27 recently.

Went out with some ex-coworkers, had a great night, maybe 4-5 beers and a solid 6 hours sleep. Felt absolutely awful the next day.

I would imagine your HR would be higher running at the same speed if you are hanging. I'll do 4:40min/km at 145 bpm on a normal day but if I'm hungover I'll do the same speed 10bpm higher so just tipping into tempo HR zone.

Yes alcohol consumption is known to increase heart rate.

https://www.triathlete.com/nutrition/a-nutritionist-shares-w...

In Washington, DC, the Hangover Classic 10K used to be held on the morning of January 1. One year a midshipman from Annapolis set the Hains Point course record, which seemed a bit contrary to the spirit of the thing.

I rarely get hungover these days, but in my 20s I found that about four miles of hard running would break a hangover. I would feel much better, but also still tired.

I feel that, I usually have a bit of cannabis after a session, get some fluids and food in me, then after another hour of so of rest I’m ready to hit the road and 8 miles later I’m fresh as can be (after a shower!)

I’m honestly surprised how running can be so neatly slotted into the degenerate things I enjoy (except gorging on food: baaad idea)

What’s your last few post heavy night 5K times?

I was hungover on my 40th birthday. Decided to go for a fast 5k and ran a 19:32. I don't normally run 100% for a 5k, so I'm not sure about the timing. I tend to do a fast 5k session once a month and aim for 85%. I wanted a sub 20 5k on my 40th, however, as a sort of goal that I thought I could clear without any extra training. I do wish I hadn't have drank the night before but I'm still happy with that result.

edit/ I had a bourbon and then 6 IPAs that night. Which is a pretty big / unusual session for me. I'm 6'0" and at the time I weighed around 170 lbs.

I also just recalled another "fast" run that I had on a hangover and wanted to share. I ran my half marathon PR hungover on maybe 3 hours of sleep. Stayed with a friend in Haight-Ashbury, who I hadn't seen in probably 5 years at the time, stayed up drinking til 3am, and then ran the first half of the SF marathon. I ran a 1:41 that day and I'm still not entirely sure how it happened. My normal half times are around 1:45-1:50.

I’m not sure times are really the point, and certainly not the most recent handful. I’ve never been objectively fast - I’m a big bloke, and have asthma severe enough that I’m on 4 drugs for it daily and was told to shield by my GP/consultant. Plus, I’ve run hundreds of 5kms so cherry picking the last few post-booze outings would say nothing evidential about my original statement, which is that many of my best times ever have been after a big night.

I will offer that my PB was at 9am (Parkrun) after a night on which I drank at least 5 beers, likely more (it was a celebration).

Ok but 5 beers for a big guy isn't even close to what most people think of as a hangover. We're talking about trying to exercise after 15 beers and 4 hours of sleep.

By big I mean overweight. I’m 5’9”/175cm. Lightest I’ve been as an adult is 90kg.

I believe that is a better explanation of the data indeed. Especially when you almost cannot call it a hangover anymore but a continued state of never being sober.

Maybe when you’re hungover, not when you’re going through withdrawals.

Enough binges and your brain is kindled, then you’re in trouble. The one day recovery turns multi day, then week+. Then The Fear, brain zaps, and insomnia make you incapable of anything but drinking. Which only makes the withdrawals worse of course.

I wouldn’t say someone is a problem drinker until they have withdrawals.

When you have to get up in the morning, you're less likely to over do it.

After hearing stories from friends who served in the military I'm skeptical that it's really hard to get up and exercise when you're hungover. Just vomit in the bushes and keep running.

Well, that's the boring part of the findings. The interesting part is about regular excercisers drinking more

I think you misunderstand op's point.

It's like saying the interesting part of the study is "why people who die younger choose to smoke" about a study correlating early death with smoking.

The point being there is no such choice being made.

Pretty much all sport clubs I have been at when younger drunk a lot. The socializing after sport often involves a lot of alcohol. Includes underage clubs.

Don’t they just both correlate with socio economic status?

Can’t read actual methods to check if this was adjusted for…

> It's hard to get up & exercise when you're hungover.

And yet it's the best way to shake a hangover.

bingo

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