If you’re a runner, whether you just like to jog around town a few times a week or you’re training for an intensive marathon, then you know that your state of mind and body can change from day to day, greatly affecting how much you’re able to run. It’s not surprising that a lot of runners need help getting out there, and doing the number of miles they want to.
And, while there are all kinds of ways to bring up your energy and endurance, some are sounder than others. Enter pre-workout gummies, which can offer a serious form of help in a natural way. These gummies are packed with plant-derived compounds including nutrients that enhance running the natural way.
What Defines Being a Runner?
Runners refer to individuals who engage in running as a form of exercise, sport, or competition. This includes everything from casual jogging to participating in marathons, sprints, or other track and field events.
To further break it down:
- Competitive Runners: In the context of professional or amateur sports, "athletic runners" often refers to those who compete in track and field events like sprints, middle-distance, or long-distance races. These athletes train rigorously and may participate in regional, national, or international competitions.
- Endurance Runners: These are athletes who specialize in long-distance events such as marathons, ultra-marathons, and trail races. Endurance running requires not just speed but also significant mental and physical stamina.
- Sprinters: These are athletes specializing in short-distance, high-speed running events, usually 100m, 200m, and 400m. Sprinters focus on explosive power and speed.
- Hobbyist Runners: Some people might use the term "athletic runners" to describe individuals who are very committed to running as a form of exercise but may not necessarily compete at a professional or amateur level. They may participate in local races or events and maintain a high level of fitness.
- Cross-Training Athletes: The term might also be applied to athletes from other sports who incorporate running as a significant component of their training regimen.
- Cross-Country Runners: These are athletes who run on natural terrains such as hills, flat ground, and sometimes even obstacle-laden courses. Cross-country running is often a seasonal sport in educational settings but also exists as a discipline in its own right.
- Triathletes: Athletes who compete in triathlons must excel in swimming, cycling, and running, making them multi-disciplinary "athletic runners”.
The commonality among all these categories is a dedication to physical fitness, technique, and often a competitive spirit, whether the competition is against others or oneself.
What are Pre-Workout Gummies?
First, let’s talk about what pre-workout gummies are, and what’s in them that can impact your running routine. Pre-workout gummies are gummies that contain natural compounds known to improve performance – such as amino acids and nitrates, along with caffeine and creatine. Together, they can increase energy levels, decrease muscle fatigue, aid in muscle repair, prevent lactic acid buildup, and more.
Naturally, anyone who’s going to be using pre-workout gummies will need to check the ingredients beforehand, as the market is unregulated, and you want to be sure you’re taking a product that’s safe. Some performance enhancers may stimulate the nervous system through less safe means than others, so being cautious and mindful of these ingredients should be a priority.
Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients in these gummies, and how they affect your running lifestyle.
- Caffeine: Some pre-workout gummies contain caffeine, and that remains a very common ingredient on the fitness market. Caffeine, as we all know, is a natural stimulant that can give the mind and body the boost it needs to push itself harder when you’re going running. Caffeine can increase energy levels by acting on the body’s central nervous system, while increasing alertness and focus, to help us “stay in the game”. In general, the body tolerates caffeine just fine, and as an added bonus, it can support the body’s anabolic process, which serves the purpose of repairing broken muscle tissue – something that occurs when we exercise.
- Creatine: An incredibly popular option for pre-workout gummies, and it’s one of the most highly rated supplements among avid fitness enthusiasts. Creatine plays a major role in the production of adenosine triphosphate, which is energy, and it boosts muscle recovery as well as muscle mass, so that your legs can recover faster from all those miles. It’s also an organic compound, and generally considered safe to take on a daily basis for prolonged periods of time.
- Beta-Alanine: A nonessential amino acid that’s naturally produced in the body – although its effects on performance explain why so many fitness enthusiasts choose to go along with it, in order to get more into the system. Beta-alanine is crucial in reducing muscle fatigue, as well as the buildup of lactic acid, which can cause a person to feel excessive discomfort while they’re running.
- Branch-Chain Amino Acids (BCCAs): BCAAs consist of valine, isoleucine, and leucine, which are critical to increase muscle growth, boost energy, and reduce muscle fatigue mid-workout. These amino acids also improve immunity. Overall, they can give you the push to keep going the extra mile.
- Nitrates: These are quite a common category of compounds in the foods that we eat, including leafy green vegetables, and consist of nitrogen and oxygen molecules. Consuming nitrates allows the body to produce nitric oxide, which improves circulation. The result of that is a lower heart rate, more muscle contractions, and improved breathing, all of which can support you while you run. The most commonly used nitrates in pre-workout gummies are L-arginine and L-citrulline. Because beets are naturally high in nitrates, you’ll also find beetroot as a common ingredient in pre-workout gummies.
Using Pre-Workout Gummies to Maximize Your Running Routine
Now that we’ve gotten into all of the specific ways in which pre-workout gummies can boost your run, let’s get practical and talk about how to use them to your fullest advantage.
Timing is Important
Most pre-workout gummies peak around 30 minutes after taking them, so make a point to take them at the proper time – that’s a half hour or so before you go for your run. Taking them too early will just be a waste, since you’re not getting the full effects of what they’re made for.
Read the Label
Make sure that you read the label of a pre-workout gummy prior to buying it. The industry is not regulated, so companies can put all kinds of unnecessary or even harmful ingredients in their products. Research what’s in the formula, and make sure that it contains enough of each ingredient by the milligram to make a positive, noticeable impact.
Watch the Dosage
Of course, you also want to make sure that you’re taking the proper amount of pre-workout gummies according to the manufacturer. Taking too much can cause unpleasant side effects, and taking too little can mean you’re just not getting real results.
Give it Some Time
Finally, certain nutrients in pre-workout gummies need time to accumulate in the body to be fully effective. This can mean that for some people, it can take a couple weeks of consistent usage to reap the full benefits. So, be patient.
Pre-Workout Gummies are Ideal for Your Running Regimen
It doesn’t matter the level of runner you are – pre-workout gummies have what it takes to fuel your ability to get more out of each run. And, best of all, you can achieve real results through natural ingredients.
Also, we need to mention that prior to consuming pre-workout gummies, you should speak to your doctor. This is especially the case if you have any underlying medical conditions or are on any medications.