When you wake up in the morning you can feel a little sluggish and then you remember you now have to go running! Do you have the energy for it? Nope, you’re all tired and still half asleep.
So what can get you out of your bed and give you a boost good enough to have a powerful run? The answer is Coffee!
Coffee has been the morning drink for over 64% of the population of America since who knows when. The thing is coffee gives a person the absolute boost for their metabolism to start functioning so that can get through the day.
My best top picks for coffees to go with running are Bulletproof coffee, Tim Hortons Coffee, Shock Coffee, Death wish coffee, and Immune support blend coffee.
Let’s dive right into the details, shall we?
Is Coffee Good For Runners?
Caffeinated coffee is beneficial to runners because caffeine improves performance, and it is one of the legal drugs used to improve sports performance around the world.
Several studies have found that athletes who consume caffeine most likely before an event or race run faster, longer, and recover faster afterward. Their performance improves by 20% compared to athletes who do not consume caffeine before the race.
The caffeine in coffee has many benefits, while the jury is still out on if those with hypertension can safely consume caffeine, the polyphenols and other compounds found in coffee may provide some benefits for cancer prevention and memory.
Here are some benefits that caffeine can give you:
- Caffeine is a central nervous stimulant that increases alertness and decreases fatigue while running.
- Caffeine gets things moving in the digestive system in the morning, so you don’t have to worry about using the restroom during a big race or run-up.
- Caffeine reduces perceived exertion, making a difficult workout feel easier and allowing you to maintain your pace for longer.
- Caffeine helps to raise the blood level of free fatty acids, which helps to preserve glycogen stores during a long race.
- Caffeine improves brain function and lowers your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Can Coffee Make You Run Faster?
Yes! Coffee can make you run faster because of the caffeine in it.
A 2016 review of multiple studies concluded that two to three cups of a robust brew can reduce levels of perceived effort in athletes and increase persistence performance by an average of 24%, giving you an extra push when you need it.
According to research published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, consuming 5 mg of caffeine can give your run a little boost. Runners who consumed caffeine before running a 5K improved their time by about 1% when compared to those who did not.
That means that if you run a 20-minute 5K, caffeine could help you cut 12 seconds off your time.
According to the American Physiological Society, if consumed with carbs, post-workout caffeine can aid in muscle recovery. This is because it helps bring glucose from your blood into your muscles, replenishing your stores in as little as four hours.
Is It Okay To Drink Coffee Before A Run?
Yes, it’s okay to drink coffee before a run!
Caffeine before a workout or run helped people concentrate better during their sweat session, even if they didn’t sleep well the night before, according to a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
As a result, they were able to devote more mental focus to the task at hand, which can also help them reap physical benefits.
Caffeine is used by more than two-thirds of Olympic athletes to improve their running performance, according to studies.
In my opinion, you can take your caffeine fix approximately 45 minutes before the start of your race.
For practical ergogenic assistance, the USDA recommends consuming 200mg of caffeine 30 minutes ahead of time.
You must wait a few minutes for caffeine to reach its peak concentration and enter your bloodstream. If caffeine is taken more than an hour before the run it’s ineffective, as the caffeine effects begin to wear off after 5 hours.
Should you drink coffee before running? Find it out in the video below:
Nutritional Content Of Coffee
Now, let’s take a look into the nutritional content that coffee has besides caffeine that can be beneficial to you:
Note: The table below consists of the nutritional values of 100mg of brewed coffee, regular brewed coffee, and regular coffee.
| Content | Brewed coffee | Regular Brewed Coffee | Regular coffee |
| Protein | 100 mg | 120 mg | 120 mg |
| Calcium | 4 mg | 2 mg | 2 mg |
| Potassium | 30 mg | 49 mg | 49 mg |
| Magnesium | 4 mg | 3 mg | 3 mg |
| Phosphorous | 3 mg | 3 mg | 3 mg |
| Sodium | 4 mg | 2 mg | 2 mg |
You can see a little difference between brewed coffee and regular brewed coffee’s nutritional content.
Best Coffees For Running
Here are some of my top picks for best coffees for running that I’d like to recommend to you:
Death Wish Coffee
Many people are satisfied with a standard cup of coffee. Some athletes, particularly runners, require a strong cup to keep their stamina up for the race.
Instead of downing five cups of coffee in a row, which can cause stomach aches, why not try the Death Wish Strong Coffee? Yes, you read that correctly: the world’s most robust cup of coffee—all coffee, no subtlety.
This coffee is very strong and smooth, with no burnt aftertaste. One cup will provide you with long-lasting energy throughout the day. It also makes a great espresso. Oh, and it certainly lives up to its moniker. On this juice, you should run an ultramarathon rather than a marathon.
Don’t be concerned. Death Wish Coffee, contrary to its name, is safe to consume, and only those who are caffeine sensitive should avoid it. Individual pods (K-cups) known as Death Cups are available in whole bean and ground coffee so you can choose what works best for you.
One cup will give you a 472 mg caffeine jolt, the perfect amount to gulp in before a race.
Tim Hortons Coffee
Tim Hortons, Canada’s most popular coffee shop, has left its mark on coffee lovers.
This Medium Roast is well-balanced and has a smooth finish. This coffee is made from 100 premium Arabica beans and is ideal for use in automatic filter coffee makers. It has a much smoother, bolder, richer, and distinct flavor than Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks.
It contains about 140mg of caffeine per serving, this is indeed a great amount of caffeine to give you a perfect boost before that race.
This coffee tastes smooth and flavorful! Just what you need to get a jump start before a long run. Plus, it’s a great drink to enjoy in the afternoon after a long day at work.
Shock Coffee
Shock coffee has a stronger flavor than regular coffee, but it’s not overpowering.
It’s one of the most potent coffees in terms of caffeine per cup. It contains about 250mg of caffeine per serving.
It has a flavorful roast with no bitterness and a lot of go-juice. The company is also fantastic, albeit a little eccentric. Shock Coffee provides a quick jolt to runners before a race without causing jitters or heart palpitations.
Immune Support Blend Organic Coffee
This coffee is made from shade-grown arabica beans and is infused with organic mushroom extract to aid in immune function. It tastes smooth and sharpens your focus for hours, and it’s so delicious that you can drink it black.
BulletProof Coffee
Bulletproof Coffee is ideal for marathon runners. It will provide you with plenty of physical and mental energy. It has about 175mg of caffeine.
Because it is high in antioxidants, Bulletproof Whole Bean Coffee is an excellent way to alleviate tiredness and brain fog. It truly assists you in shifting gears without leaving you anxious and jittery. It’s a nice clean smooth arabica coffee with added pastured butter that aids in weight loss. It will provide you with plenty of physical and mental energy, and it tastes very smooth and mellow.
It tastes like a delicious combination of butter and chocolate, has no sour aftertaste, no jitters, and is an excellent way to supplement the healthy fat required for a runner’s diet.
What Are The Benefits Of Coffee?
Coffee has many benefits in perspective to health such as:
- It boosts energy levels due to caffeine in it.
- It’s linked to lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes
- It could support brain health
- Coffee can also promote weight management
- It helps in case of depression
- It could protect against liver condition
- It supports heart health
- It can improve longevity
Summary
Coffees can be a great pick if you are feeling sluggish in the morning.
The caffeine in it can boost your mechanism and help you perform better physically, mentally, and help you run faster.
My top picks of coffees for running are Bulletproof coffee, Tim Hortons Coffee, Shock Coffee, Death wish coffee, and Immune support blend coffee.
All the other supplements found in coffee can regulate your bodily functions at a good rate.