# Sex before an athletic competition: yes or no? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 23, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587 "2005-02-23T21:21:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/1 "2005-02-23T21:21:18Z")
I’m a track runner for my college and next weekend is my first meet of the year. It is also the weekend after my girlfriend’s 21st birthday, and she’ll be staying with me in town to watch me compete and in celebration of her birthday. As we were discussing our plans for the weekend, however, the subject of sex came up. She maintains that sex before a race is bad (for whatever reasons, mostly because it supposedly makes you tired or weak). Now, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard this; in fact, this is something that I’ve heard all throughout my life as an athlete, yet I have not encountered any factual information to support or refute these claims. So I turn to the Dope for the answer to my question. But it’s not a question per-se so I’ll put it in this forum\*. Is it a bad idea to have sex (with yourself or a partner) before a race (or any sort of athletic event)? Do you think that there is a physiological reason that would make it bad, or is it purely a psychological factor? Eager minds await your opinions. \*If I’m wrong I apologize to the mods and send out many thanks for their patience. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/2 "2005-02-23T21:50:58Z")
Before, after, during… you take it where you can get it, son. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/3 "2005-02-23T21:54:40Z")
I say go for it. And if you can’t have sex, masturbate vigorously. 😛 No really. After I have sex, I feel like friggin Hercules. No shame in that 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/4 "2005-02-23T22:30:44Z")
Just an old wives’ tale. You can have sex anytime you want and be fine for the race, as long as you don’t stay up all night doing it. Same rules apply as normal, just get enough sleep before the race and eat a decent breakfast, you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/5 "2005-02-23T22:43:25Z")
You’re a runner and not a sprinter, right? It should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/6 "2005-02-23T23:07:02Z")
Sex with athletes is usually pretty good regardless of when they compete. I say yes…yyess…Yes…YES! ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/7 "2005-02-23T23:08:30Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > Sex with athletes is usually pretty good regardless of when they compete. I say yes…yyess…Yes…YES! This is why I want to get back in shape. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/8 "2005-02-23T23:21:03Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > I say go for it. And if you can’t have sex, masturbate vigorously. 😛 You mean _like a motherfuck_! ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/9 "2005-02-23T23:33:58Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > You’re a runner and not a sprinter, right? It should be fine. Actually I’m a sprinter/jumper. I was under the impression that it was nothing more than a wive’s tale as well, but for some reason, I sometimes feel really, really tired after a nice long session (or even a short one 😃 ). In any event, it usually doesn’t wear me out any more than a couple laps around the track, so I don’t see where it would have any impact on my performance (no pun intended). ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/10 "2005-02-23T23:35:12Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > Before, after, during… you take it where you can get it, son. Amen to that…especially with my gf being a few hundred miles away ☹ . ---
**Author:** ![Shirt\_Ninja\_13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@Shirt\_Ninja\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirt_Ninja_13)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/11 "2005-02-23T23:38:35Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > This is why I want to get back in shape. 😉 I second that. _bamf_ ---
**Author:** ![Shirt\_Ninja\_13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@Shirt\_Ninja\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirt_Ninja_13)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/12 "2005-02-23T23:40:09Z")
> [@flood](#): > > Amen to that…especially with my gf being a few hundred miles away ☹ . Oh, man. I’m going to put my vote down in the “go for it” column, now. Being away from one’s SO sucks mightily. _bamf_ ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/13 "2005-02-24T00:09:12Z")
> [@flood](#): > > Actually I’m a sprinter/jumper. I was under the impression that it was nothing more than a wive’s tale as well, but for some reason, I sometimes feel really, really tired after a nice long session (or even a short one 😃 ). In any event, it usually doesn’t wear me out any more than a couple laps around the track, so I don’t see where it would have any impact on my performance (no pun intended). Sprinting and jumping have a high-level of central nervous system involvement, and orgasms are not kind to your CNS. A good night’s sleep _should_ be enough to get over it, but it’s not guaranteed to bring your performance on the track up to 100%. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/14 "2005-02-24T00:19:47Z")
Don’t run and have sex with your girlfriend. Walk and have sex with lots of girlfriends… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![flood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@flood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flood)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/15 "2005-02-24T00:26:37Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Sprinting and jumping have a high-level of central nervous system involvement, and orgasms are not kind to your CNS. A good night’s sleep _should_ be enough to get over it, but it’s not guaranteed to bring your performance on the track up to 100%. Thanks for the info **ultrafilter**. So I assume a session about an hour or two before I’m supposed to compete would not be advisable? How about right after I wake up? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/16 "2005-02-24T00:27:41Z")
There’s a lot of individual variation. How lucky do you feel? ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/17 "2005-02-24T01:11:09Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Sprinting and jumping have a high-level of central nervous system involvement, and orgasms are not kind to your CNS. Oh, come on now. You need some kind of backup for this. Orgasms are mighty kind to my central nervous system. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/18 "2005-02-24T01:18:19Z")
Have sex before. Wouldn’t it be tougher to run with a raging hard on? 😃 Unless you’re going for the pole vault… ::d&r:: ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/19 "2005-02-24T01:19:19Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > Before, after, during… you take it where you can get it, son. Yeah, I was thinking, “Screw the competition. If your gf is willing to have sex with you, then go for it” You need to sort your priorities, man. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2005, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587/20 "2005-02-24T01:28:04Z")
> [@BoringDad](#): > > Oh, come on now. You need some kind of backup for this. Orgasms are mighty kind to my central nervous system. Ever tried to jump for a competition afterwards? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-before-an-athletic-competition-yes-or-no/291587.md?page=2)