Creatine supplementation during vo2 of OS

Dave Tallo

Any thoughts on the value (or consequences) of creatine supplementation during the 6-week vo2 period of the outseason?  I had this flagged as a possibility after reading Racing Weight last year, and thought it might elevate performance in the type of work that occurs during that phase. 

If there's a green light, does anyone have recommendations on a protocol for a 160lb athlete to follow? 

Please and thanks!  

 

penlynwilson

I'm not sure it would really make a difference. I can look into early to mid-December (have dissertation stuff going on until then that I need to concentrate on). For it to work, you have to: 1) follow the loading protocol, and 2) be a "responder." If you are a meat eater, if may not make a difference because you get creatine through your meat consumption. Downsides: increased weight due to water retention.

Dave Tallo

Thanks Penny.  I'd appreciate hearing further thoughts on it when you have the time.   My conclusion after reading Fitzgerald was that on blanace, there's no reason why I would not supplement, but I acknowledge that his was a simplified set of observations and analysis designed to fit in a section of a book chapter.   

mattsull

I read an article (study?) a couple years ago about creatine for endurance athletes. If I recall correctly, it found benefits from lower dose supplementation and not the normal loading protocol. I'll see if I can track it down.

mgraffeo

Dave,

I've always been suspicious of Fitzgerald's conclusions in that area. The basic thought process doesn't make much sense to me. The CP energy system is only involved in activities that are a max of about 20 seconds. This is when even the anaerobic system can't keep up. CP supplementation makes sense to me for power lifting, and other truly explosive, short burst exercises, but it just doesn't make much sense to me in any endurance setting. Even when we're doing VO2max work, we are nowhere near bringing the CP system into play, since by definition, VO2max is the highest point where oxygen is still involved, and usually one can hold that for 5-8 minutes.

Maybe it would help Farrar hang with Cav more frequently...

dan_forbes

 I agree with Mike 100%.  When I was in college, it was all the craze for lifters at my school, so much that in my ex phys class our prof. spent a day on it and basically said what Mike did.  Nothing that I've read lately has really changed in that sense as there was something out somewhere where someone touched on it recently (of course you can tell I have no idea what I'm talking about here!) but I do remember coming across it recently and it saying the same thing.  

Keith Wick

I remember using it a while ago while lifting and playing a lot of basketball. The one thing I remember was that I would cramp every time I Played basketball after an hour no matter how much I hydrated. I believe this along with other muscle pull/ tear factors is why it was placed on the NFL banned substance list.

Carl

I gave up Creatine for some supplemental Glutamine. Maybe its in my head but the Glutamine and Beta Alanine and it seems to help assist with my soreness. I can tell when I take it and when I dont!!!!!

timdawg7

I agree with everyone else that creatine supplementation should not really help with VO2 work; it's more helpful in huge efforts like powerlifting. Going off what I remember form physiology class in med school: The creatine works as a phosphate donor to help regenerate ATP from ADP. The ATP is necessary in the process of muscle relaxation, so more muscle fibers can be recruited for the next contraction. VO2 works probably lasts too long to see a real benefit from the creatine. But as Penny said as long as you don't mind the possible side effects there is probably little harm in trying it.

Coach Patrick

Thanks for the serious feedback and input all!!!