http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-0214-painkillers-backfire-20110214,0,3419327.story

interesting story, as a side note "back in the day" a bunch of athletes in the know were using ibuprofen during IM racing if they were someone that was very fast.

I haven't read the above story but have an anecdotal addition.

I ran JFK with a guy who has completed many Ultras. While we were running, I thought he was popping salt pills like I was but he was actually popping pain killers.

The next day he had to check in to the hospital for a 12-day stay with kidney failure. He was on kidney dialysis for a few months while the damage to his kidneys healed. He's doing well now but it taught me that I'm done with painkillers during competition.

I agree! As an avid runner, marathoner, and a pharmacist, I would not recommend pain killers before or during race. There are times when certain pain killers are appropriate but not the way he did it. Low dose anti-inflammatory such as motrin or aleve after a long run and food is certainly acceptable but only once or twice.