I’m not a regular caffeine user, so a “not energy drink” caffeinated soda is all I usually bother with. And I haven’t even proven that it’s necessary, I just use it as a precaution if I’m concerned.
But ultimately, sleeping beforehand is probably the best. And being healthy in general (though that’s not quick or easy to solve).
Getting enough sleep before the run is the goal. This does not always happen. So, on the road, at the first sign of deteriorating reaction time or attentiveness, I stop and grab a snooze. As I have gotten older, my willingness to try to push my limits has vanished, and yet I still do 1500-1800 mile trips with just catnaps along the way. (I hate paying for a motel room when I’m only going to be there for five or six hours.)
I think of the time a truck driver was relating how he keeps awake. He mentioned blasting loud metal music. Given the time frame, he either meant hair metal or nu metal, I guess. Then he mentioned using eye drops. Then he mentioned making the cab uncomfortably cold blasting hot air. If all this failed, he would pull over and do push ups. Thinking of him telling that story as animated as he was is usually good enough to wake me up laughing. If that fails, I slap myself to get some adrenaline going.
@hpph My most epic run of the last decade happened in early August of 2017. Less than a week earlier, the ENT surgeons at the county hospital had told me that to “treat” the squamous cell carcinoma on the skin of my ear, they wanted to take most of that ear off. Their incompetent and cavalier willingness to disfigure me instead of referring me to someone who could less damagingly treat it produced a rage factor strong enough that the adrenaline rush was immediate and strong, and the rage was focused on them. All I had to do was think about it, and I was instantly at full focus. I drove from Houston to Indianapolis (at-wheel time averages a bit under 16 hours) without needing a single snooze stop. I got gas, I hit drive-thru fast food places, and I made pit stops, but otherwise I was alert as hell all the way up. Total time in transit was a few minutes less than 17 hours. I probably could have gone twice as far, so it’s a good thing that Indy was the destination, because running that way for too long produces the most abrupt crash ever when the no-go point is reached.
OBTW, I still have the ear, right where it was, and I have different doctors now.
Me and a friend of mine back in Uni (back when it cost pennies to fill up a car) used to go on random road trips occasionally on Fridays after school.
One day left out of Greenville SC (far North West of State) started heading just randomly South along back roads… Next morning, oh cool, the keys aren’t that far… Want to go to the Florida Keys? Eventually ran out of road on Key West. Splashed in the ocean… Ready to go back now?
Drove all the way back to Greenville. 30 something hours of driving barely stopping. In hindsight we were fools and being dangerous (I wouldn’t do it now) but it was fun at the time and something I’ll never forget.
Sleep well beforehand. Definitely do not eat laxatives like you are selling today.
Coffee and heavy metal music.
Cocaine. Wait… did I say that outloud?
I’m not a regular caffeine user, so a “not energy drink” caffeinated soda is all I usually bother with. And I haven’t even proven that it’s necessary, I just use it as a precaution if I’m concerned.
But ultimately, sleeping beforehand is probably the best. And being healthy in general (though that’s not quick or easy to solve).
Getting enough sleep before the run is the goal. This does not always happen. So, on the road, at the first sign of deteriorating reaction time or attentiveness, I stop and grab a snooze. As I have gotten older, my willingness to try to push my limits has vanished, and yet I still do 1500-1800 mile trips with just catnaps along the way. (I hate paying for a motel room when I’m only going to be there for five or six hours.)
Classic rock, hard rock, progressive rock, alternative, any tunes that get me keep my foot tappi… well, maybe my head bobbing instead.
@hchavers that is good stuff!!!
a six pack and a joint. Good music.
Iced tea and a “mix tape” usb drive
Water, a full bladder, beef jerky, and not nearly enough sleep.
I have no idea why it works for me.
Music I can sing along with
The drive itself is energizing! And I nap as needed during the trip.
Peppermint and B12
Put on a Broadway album and belt out show tunes.
The combination of the story mixed with singing along keeps me awake.
I think of the time a truck driver was relating how he keeps awake. He mentioned blasting loud metal music. Given the time frame, he either meant hair metal or nu metal, I guess. Then he mentioned using eye drops. Then he mentioned making the cab uncomfortably cold blasting hot air. If all this failed, he would pull over and do push ups. Thinking of him telling that story as animated as he was is usually good enough to wake me up laughing. If that fails, I slap myself to get some adrenaline going.
@hpph My most epic run of the last decade happened in early August of 2017. Less than a week earlier, the ENT surgeons at the county hospital had told me that to “treat” the squamous cell carcinoma on the skin of my ear, they wanted to take most of that ear off. Their incompetent and cavalier willingness to disfigure me instead of referring me to someone who could less damagingly treat it produced a rage factor strong enough that the adrenaline rush was immediate and strong, and the rage was focused on them. All I had to do was think about it, and I was instantly at full focus. I drove from Houston to Indianapolis (at-wheel time averages a bit under 16 hours) without needing a single snooze stop. I got gas, I hit drive-thru fast food places, and I made pit stops, but otherwise I was alert as hell all the way up. Total time in transit was a few minutes less than 17 hours. I probably could have gone twice as far, so it’s a good thing that Indy was the destination, because running that way for too long produces the most abrupt crash ever when the no-go point is reached.
OBTW, I still have the ear, right where it was, and I have different doctors now.
@hpph @werehatrack So … get someone to infuriate you right before the trip.
@Kyeh The level required for success is a pretty high bar. I’d rather not do it intentionally; the incident with the ear was not fun.
@werehatrack I’m glad you got new doctors, and kept your ear.
Coffee and Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets. Or better yet, talk someone into going with me and driving the whole way.
A passenger to talk to. Or one on the phone.
If no people are available I have a vessel necklace with cinnamon essential oil. Give it a sniff when I’m feeling drowsy. I prefer it to peppermint.
@katbyter Cinnamon essential oil sounds like a good trick. never thought of that.
/youtube airplane looks like I picked the wrong week
Me and a friend of mine back in Uni (back when it cost pennies to fill up a car) used to go on random road trips occasionally on Fridays after school.
One day left out of Greenville SC (far North West of State) started heading just randomly South along back roads… Next morning, oh cool, the keys aren’t that far… Want to go to the Florida Keys? Eventually ran out of road on Key West. Splashed in the ocean… Ready to go back now?
Drove all the way back to Greenville. 30 something hours of driving barely stopping. In hindsight we were fools and being dangerous (I wouldn’t do it now) but it was fun at the time and something I’ll never forget.
@OnionSoup And was it long enough ago that you went across the old Seven Mile Bridge, or was it on the new one?
@werehatrack this would have been 1996. I don’t know if that was the new bridge or old one.
It was really impressive bridge to drive on regardless.
@OnionSoup That was the new bridge. The old one was off to the right as you drove towards Key West.