You’re deep in a training cycle. Mileage is climbing. Something’s tight, something else is sore, and your IT band is throwing side-eye again.
So you reach for ibuprofen—just a couple—to help you stay on track.
You wouldn’t be the first. Plenty of runners treat Advil like part of the warm-up. It’s so common it has a nickname: “vitamin I.” But using NSAIDs like ibuprofen as part of your training routine? That’s a shortcut with consequences.
Why it matters—even if you’re not racing
Training may not come with a finish line, but your body doesn’t know the difference. It still responds to stress, mileage, heat, and hydration demands the same way it does on race day.
And when you throw NSAIDs into the mix, things can go sideways:
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Kidney stress
NSAIDs reduce blood flow to the kidneys. During long or intense runs—especially in warmer temps—that makes it harder for your body to regulate fluids and electrolytes. -
Impaired adaptation
Inflammation is part of how your body builds back stronger after training. NSAIDs can interfere with that process and blunt the training effect. -
Muted warning signs
Pain isn’t always a problem, but it’s always feedback. NSAIDs make it easier to ignore early warning signs that could be the difference between a few easy days or a few months off.
One study of ultramarathon runners showed that those who took ibuprofen were twice as likely to develop acute kidney injury, and that was under controlled hydration and pacing conditions [Lipman et al., Emergency Medicine Journal, 2017].
Another found that NSAIDs contributed to greater drops in sodium, raising the risk for hyponatremia—an electrolyte imbalance that can be dangerous, even during a training run [Whatmough et al., BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2018].
“But I’m not injured—I’m just trying to stay consistent.”
That’s the trap.
The mileage adds up. You’re managing tightness or something that almost feels like the old injury. And you think, If I can just get through today…
But training is where consistency starts—not where you gamble with it. When Advil becomes the glue holding your training together, it’s time to step back and reassess.
NSAIDs don’t make you more consistent. They make it easier to train through something your body’s trying to tell you not to.
Better ways to manage pain during training
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Modify, don’t mask. If something hurts, scale your run or swap in cross-training. Don’t override your body’s early warnings.
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Use mobility and strength to manage underlying imbalances before they become full-blown issues.
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If you truly need pain relief, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a safer option—it doesn’t impact hydration or kidney function the same way NSAIDs do.
The RunSmart Bottom Line
If ibuprofen is creeping into your routine just to help you “get through training,” it’s not a plan—it’s a patch.
Training should build toward something—stronger tissue, better pacing, more confidence. It shouldn’t be about limping past your signals with a bottle of “vitamin I” in your pocket.
