The Wisdom of Tea :: Green Tea Improves Running Endurance

Matt lives in Daegu South Korea and writes a blog about tea. I don’t know a lot about him, and I don’t know why he writes about tea, but that’s what he does.

Anyway, one of my endless compulsive searches turned up his blog and a fantastic account of the Boseong Green Tea Marathon.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I have this absolute fascination with the Far East, and so Matt’s account of this marathon totally intrigued me. Evidently the course sends runners through the most famous green-tea producing province in the country where runners are treated to chanting spectators and hydration stations that offer green tea!

Matt writes (sic):

“The course points out of town and into the country where small patches of tea can be spotted on the side of the mountain. The runners take in the sweeping green mountain sides and river valleys- sweat dripping down their heads in the humid sun. One must remember to stay hydrated, a stop at the water station is needed to replenish electrolytes. To ones surprise water as well as tea is offered. One gulps back a cup of green before trudging along once again.

Soon kilometers come and go, muscles, start to tighten and burn- 42.195 kilometers is a long time to run, but the energy of the tea pushes one forth.

More kilometers slip away, more tea is sipped away. Soon one hits the wall as the rolling hills take a toll on aching, burning muscles. Wavering on the brink, barely able to push on, ones body begins to shut down, then almost in that instant, distant chanting can be heard...

“Nok Cha, Nok Cha, Nok Cha…”

Oooh – this is so fantastic!

Matt goes on to talk about the “Green Tea Spa” that he attends after the event in which you soak yourself in hot green tea baths and feast on green tea fed pork!

“One gives thanks for the best pork one will probably ever try and for the life that was sacrificed for this pleasure.”

I don't know about the pork thing, but don't dismiss the green tea hydtration stations as simply a beautiful and exotic custom of a province in South Korea.

Turns out, green tea may actually improve endurance when running distance!

In a study of the effects of green tea extract on running endurance and energy metabolism in animals, mice were given either a standard diet or a standard diet plus green tea extract for 8-10 weeks. Then they were put on treadmills to see how long they could run until becoming exhausted.

The mice that received the largest amount of green tea extract (.5%) ran a full 30% longer than those that received no green tea extract. They were also found to have higher levels of glycogen in their muscles and more free fatty acids in their blood. Another benefit of green tea was a significant decrease in lactic acid in the animals’ blood, which translates to less post-workout muscle soreness.*

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My heart is lifted reading this account of a marathon half-way round the world. Our sport is so universal, as are it’s pleasures and pains.  Our bodies are miracles and the planet is filled with miraculous plants that heal. There is wisdom in all things.

Matt, wherever you are – I lift my cup to you!

*(Murase T, Haramizu S, Shimotoyodome A, et al. Green tea extract improves running endurance in mice by stimulating lipid utilization during exercise. Am J Physiol Regul Injavascript:void(0);/*1212254770551*/tegr Comp Physiol 2006;290(6):R1550-6.)

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