After two boys, a coffee before the run stopped doing much for my energy. But then I discovered the Caffeine Superboost. Below, I go through the what, why, and how behind a boost that lasts through your day.
After I became a dad, I had to reckon with a new challenge: I was tired all the damn time.
All of that free space to lounge around was replaced by a background hum of stress (mostly good stress, with some existential fear mixed in). Stress is a small price to pay, right?
Publicly, I’d say “correct.” Leo and Ollie are miracles, the universe observing itself through two amazing boys. Privately, like in a marketing email to anyone who has ever bought a gel from The Feed, I’d say WRONG. It was getting in the way of my training and coaching. Dada needs to do his hill strides, or he’s going to start ranting about how Paw Patrol is an authoritarian betrayal of the rule of law, undermining a functioning democracy.
The Caffeine Superboost
That’s where the Caffeine Superboost comes in. The trick is simple. After 15-20 minutes of training, take a caffeinated gel. My favorite option is Precision PF30 Caf Gel, which has 100 mg of caffeine and a slight jet-fuel aftertaste to tell you it’s working.
Back-up options:
Enervit Cola (100 mg caffeine)
Amacx Cola Lime (75 mg caffeine)
Gu Roctane (35 mg caffeine)
You could even go with Science in Sport Caffeine + Nootropics (200 mg caffeine). SiS Nootropics: because meth is illegal.
The Theory Behind It
The theory is that the body often hits a window of lower blood glucose around 15-20 minutes. That depletion in the small glucose pool presents two opportunities. One, the carb hit will likely enhance performance via nervous system mechanisms. Two, caffeine might hit the bloodstream and the brain more readily.
What It Does for the Rest of the Day
If I take an extra hit of caffeine pre-run, it barely seems to hit when I’m already tired. If I take a caffeinated gel 15-20 minutes into my run or bike, I’ll often start to feel like I’m on top of the world a few miles later.
And most significantly, that energy carries over the rest of the day. I’m a better coach and a better dad. I find myself thinking “Elmo’s laugh is endearing” rather than “I wish there was a Sesame Street and Mortal Kombat mash-up.”
I think there’s a strong argument that caffeine is the best performance-enhancing supplement. The Caffeine Superboost amplifies my daily dose, so I don’t have to drink 6 cups of coffee to avoid having intrusive thoughts mashing up Big Bird and Thanksgiving.
