First things first, yes I am really talking about sex and performance in athletic events. Second, this article is a culmination of research and interviews from people whose partners wish to have their identities kept secret. Sorry ladies, I can’t speak from the other half, so this is all about the guys.

We all have thought about it, but will getting randy (not your friend in high school) in the sack the night before a race make you miss your PR or cause you to bonk? Most of the information on this subject comes from boxing. As it goes, trainers would watch over their athletes for an entire week before a fight ensuring they are not doing anything promiscuous. The age-old adage was that it will weaken the legs. No one in his or her right mind would want to compromise leg strength before any sporting event.

But no one really did any research, that is, real research. I was watching a particular TV program and they did an objective experiment with a boxer. It might have been torture. They did some strength tests at the end of a 7-day period of abstinence and then recorded the results. They sent him and his wife to a hotel for a few hours, then did the same tests and compared the results. There wasn’t a material difference in the results, but some were higher than previously recorded.

They pointed to higher testosterone and dopamine levels as the culprits. When sexual arousal happens, these are released into the bloodstream. Dopamine aids in adrenalin release, while the raised heart rate is a side effect of the sexual arousal and stimulation. Basic knowledge tells us that testosterone will help in muscle production and muscle growth; while adrenaline will give you that “gorilla strength” you didn’t know you had in you. Which logically points to increased strength and performance; however, nothing solid has come from research with regards to long-term affects or endurance sports, such as triathlon.

The results of these tests though, were based on a sample size of one, and not necessarily an endurance athlete. Bear in mind, that sex is a basic function of human behavior and can be considered as strenuous as running up a flight of stairs (how many stairs is yet to be determined).

If sex is a normal and regular part of your life, you may consider not straying from your normal routine. Like basketball players at the foul line, or hockey goalies tapping the post, these routines or superstitions give the athlete a mental calm that puts them at ease and in a familiar place. If you are more comfortable having sex before events than not having sex, you should keep it up (pun intended) and vice versa.

Mixed messages are floating around about sex and performance. Like most anything else, it is going to come down to the individual. Some people may have no problem giving up the sex life for the lead up to a big race while others might. The best and most fun way to figure this out is to do your own experiment (between consenting adults where money is not involved). Different activities affect different people in different ways and only you know how these things are going to affect you. We can tell you what will chemically happen in your body, but how you respond is another story.

Written by Chris Berg