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Below is a summary of an article from newscientist.com that some of you may find interesting.

Basically, by zapping peoples brains with electric fields an Australian brain science research group has found evidence that energy drinks don’t only work by supplying your body with Carbohydrates, but can also improve your performance immediately (even if you don’t swallow the drink) by fooling your body into thinking that you will be getting some energy from the drink soon.

Energy Drinks work as soon as they touch your tounge

IF YOU spit out an energy drink after taking a sip, it could still boost your strength. This pre-digestive effect is immediate and seems due to a newly discovered neural pathway that links taste buds to muscles.

Nicholas Gant at the University of Auckland in New Zealand previously showed that mouth-rinsing and then spitting out a carbohydrate solution immediately improved performance at sprinting and cycling - even though it takes at least 10 minutes for carbohydrates to be digested and utilised by muscles.

This time, Gant’s team had 16 participants tire out their biceps by flexing them for 11 minutes before rinsing their mouths with either a carbohydrate drink or a non-calorific, taste-matched one. One second after rinsing, the team applied transcranial magnetic stimulation to the participants’ scalps, which aided the detection of activity in the motor cortex, a brain area known to send signals to biceps.

The team found that the volunteers who swilled with carbohydrates were able to flex with more force immediately afterwards, and had a 30 per cent stronger neural response compared with those given placebo. Gant says it’s likely that taste receptors detect carbohydrates, resulting in a signal to fatigued muscles “that help is on the way” so they continue working hard (Brain Research, DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.04.004).

First time on the summer course this year, and some impressive times. The summer 5k series is already starting to look competitive.

Whilst a good number of the club ran around London this morning, Julian Algar headed north for the Shakespeare Marathon in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Great running from all today. Special congratulations to Mike May for finally getting in under 4 hours, and to Jo Griffiths for taking close to quarter of an hour off her pb.

Commiserations to Scott Hepburn who was going well when his knee went at 15 miles. He hobbled on to 18 miles but eventually he had to drop out. Bad luck Scott :( 

If your name is missing from the list let us know

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Stat Attack here: Datchet Dashers London Marathon Stats

The inaugural Brighton marathon was run in excellent conditions, and the generally flat course proved to be as fast as promised.

Special congratulations to our esteemed chairman who ran an excellent 3:11:37 to guarantee a GFA place for next year’s London Marathon.

Note: these times have been updated as the times originally published on the Brighton Marathon site were 2 minutes out.

Tony Curtin Reports:

The dashers group that travelled to Majorca did Datchet Dashers proud winning 3 prizes in the prestigious Pollensa half marathon. The race, although in a small Majorcan Town, attracts runners from mainland Spain and boasted two European Champions one of who was also a World Champion and both 2 hr 08 min Marathon runners. Chema Martinez who will represent Spain at this years World Championships won the European 10000 mtrs in 2002 and Martin Fiz who in 1995 won the World athletics Championship Marathon and came 4th in the 1996 Olympic Marathon. Pride of place goes to Julie Humphries who won her age category, and also set a new Datchet Dashers FV35 age record. Joanne Griffiths came 3rd in her age category and I managed 2nd place in mine. Mandy came third in her age category but it did not qualify for a prize as it was part of the senior women age category.

The conditions were near perfect, and some very good times were run. The variety of start times and poor signage of race parking led to a little confusion at the start, but once underway things seemed to go smoothly.

In the 8.2 mile race, Rhian had a good run, overcoming a few problems to record an excellent 61:32, well inside her target time. Mel Elliot and Zoe Smart also finished with solid times.

While in the 16 miler it was a good sub-2 performance for Brent which led the way.

Ian Spencer continues his improvement since coming back from injury with an excellent 80.29% age graded time at Bushy Park.

Good conditions brought out the PBs for nearly half the field, including new bests for David, Jocelyn and Bella.

Just Billy Bhamra this week, maintaining her lead in the points table with a steady run to 103rd place in 34:02.

A nice morning for running (or, if you were me, for having a lie-in and then eating cake – sorry!).

An new MV70 club record for Jim Butcher, and an MV40 Berkshire Championship bronze medal for David Priddy.