Better Workout? Drink Caffeine

By Kat Ahn on April 7th, 2009

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I always have a cup of coffee before I run because I’ve always believed that it gives me that extra boost of energy so I can go for a longer distance without tiring out.  As a runner, I’m always looking for ways to become faster and just a moderate amount of coffee has always been helpful.

And it looks like I’m amongst the majority as this New York Times article reports that caffeine may be the only legal performance drug booster.  Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky of McMaster University in Canada says, “There is so much data on this that it’s unbelievable.  It’s just unequivocal that caffeine improves performance. It’s been shown in well-respected labs in multiple places around the world.”

You may have reached that point where your morning pre-workout snack has run its course and you may be needing an extra boost to get you through that last lap.  Well, this study by Dr. Tarnopolsky and others show that Caffeine keeps athletes going longer or faster by releasing calcium in the muscles and affecting the brain’s hold on exhaustion.

But, Caffeine is still a stimulant and can raise blood pressure and heart rate in non-regular drinkers, so if you find yourself shaking after having a cup, maybe this isn’t for you.  For athletes who enjoy the brew however, they can rest assured that having a quick cup of joe before a long run will not detract from their performance.  And I’ll definitely not be giving up my pre-run cup of java.  No matter what.

(Photos By: Lusi)