Get the energy you need
to crush your
running goals
with caffeine

Yes, if you drink coffee and try it out for yourself at specific distances – you will run much faster for much longer periods of time. This applies to every type of race distance- from sprints to ultra marathons. For most people this provides a significant boost.

The first study of caffeine’s potential benefit to athletes came back in 1978. Since then, many other studies confirmed its enhancement of endurance. Caffeine has shown an increase in duration by up to four hours. The performance differs from person to person, but the average effect is an increase of 2-4%.

Surveys show that roughly 16% of marathon runners take some form of caffeine before the race starts. Other runners drink coffee or tea which has caffeine, while others abstain from anything caffeinated.

In a study done over 20,000 Olympic Athlete competitors from 2004-2008, it was found that 73.8% had tested positive for caffeine use. Caffeine has effects on the results of the Olympic games.

Caffeine stimulates our central nervous system by blocking some receptors which make us feel tired. This doesn’t mean caffeine makes us faster, it just means we can keep up with the pace or even go for longer distances.

It is recommended to use caffeine only when you’re in a tough training or race session – not all the time, as your body starts getting used to it. The scientists would never recommend taking over 3-5mg of caffeine per kilogram body weight – so for example, if you weigh 70kgs (154 pounds), then you cab take 210 mg (80 x 3mg), but no more than 350 mg) of caffeine. Above this level there are significant cardiac risks.

350 mg of caffeine is the equivalent to around three cups of coffee; however, it can be difficult to know how much you’re getting. For instance, if you try drinking caffeinated coffee then there’s a chance that depending on which batch it was made from will affect how much caffeine is contained inside. This is where these caffeine tablets come in handy – they are made with a standardized amount of caffeine and purity for accuracy.

Typically, it takes about 60 minutes for the caffeine to fully kick in. If you’re racing and want to maximize your performance, then it’s recommended taking it 1 hour beforehand.  We also need to note that the rate at which caffeine leaves the human body is very slow – even if someone consumed 200mg of coffee six hours ago, they would still have about 100mg circulating through their system. It’s not recommended to consume caffeine before an evening run; otherwise, you’ll be messing up your sleep routine.

It can cause stomach problems in some individuals. If this is happening, then they should discontinue using caffeine immediately.

Don’t try caffeine tablets on race day-try it out during training sessions first to find out how your body reacts to it.

Never exceed a higher dose than 5 mg per kilogram of body weight (!!!); if you do, you risk heart problems or even death. Bear in mind that 1 gram does not equal 1 mg! It’s 1000!!!

Caffeine is strictly prohibited for pregnant women or those who suffer from cardiovascular disease. However, it is important to consult your doctor before taking caffeine!