Running is a simple cardio exercise that does not require any equipment and is fully based on human skill. Most people prefer running over other exercises.
Moreover, it is quite effective and requires a good dose of energy. But, the question is, how can you get energy before, during, or after the run?
In short, energy drinks are the answer to your question. Energy drinks contain caffeine and sugar, which are great sources of energy.
The main reason you clicked on this article is that you are probably looking for the best energy drink powders that are a great source of energy and keep you hydrated. Then, no worries, as here I will review my top three picks for energy drink powders that are ideal for you and review some running facts.
Ghost Gamer, Celsius-On-The-Go, and Rogue energy drink powders are the best choice to consume while running.
Let’s take a look at these energy drink powders in detail.
Things to look out for when buying energy drinks
When buying energy drinks, there are certain factors that you should look for. These factors include:
- Price
- Caffeine Content
- Sugar content
Let’s take a look at these factors in-depth.
Caffeine Content
Caffeine is a crucial ingredient that is found in most energy drinks.
Caffeine is a natural stimulant that is used in almost every energy drink to boost your energy levels. Therefore consuming a caffeinated drink before running is a good source of energy that keeps you hydrated and helps complete your exercise.
Moreover, you can also use this post-workout to maintain your energy levels throughout the day. Besides, caffeine is also really beneficial for your health as it keeps you energized and reduces the risk of various health diseases like heart attacks.
However, excessive use of caffeine can lead to side effects and damage your health. These side effects can be:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Sleep deprivation
Therefore, to avoid these side effects, it is recommended that you should use caffeine in a recommended amount.
According to the FDA, the recommended amount of caffeine is 400 mg per day.
In my opinion, this amount is still too much, and I prefer only 100 mg to 200 mg of caffeine content daily as I can handle it perfectly without overdosing on it. But, everyone has a different caffeine metabolism which means it will affect you differently. So, it is better to check how much caffeine content you can handle per day before purchasing an energy drink.
Furthermore, I will advise that you check the caffeine content of an energy drink you are purchasing for your run and choose those low in caffeine content brands to prevent muscle breakdown and other side effects.
Want to know how caffeine affects your running ability? Then check this video out.
Sugar Content
Sugar is another important ingredient that can be found in energy drinks as it adds taste to them.
Sugar, a form of carbohydrate, is a great energy source and can be found in various foods and beverages. Energy drinks also have sugar in them as it not only boosts your energy levels but also adds taste to the drink to make it more favorable.
The American Health Association has recommended that men should consume only 36g of sugar. In comparison, women can only have 26 g of sugar per day as excessive sugar intake can cause various side effects.
But, some energy drinks contain sugar in excessive amounts that sometimes surpass the recommended amount. And drinking such energy drinks daily can impact your health negatively and might cause obesity, weight gain, depression, diabetes, and other health issues. Moreover, you can also experience a sugar-rush which you certainly don’t need in the middle of your run.
Thankfully, energy drink brands are innovating quite a bit and introducing low-calorie and sugar-free options so you won’t have to compromise your health to boost your energy on the run. When purchasing energy drinks, always make sure to read the nutrition information at the back of the can.
Pro Tip: Try not to consume more than one energy drink per day.
Price
Price is another great factor to consider while purchasing an energy drink.
You certainly wouldn’t want to put a large dent in your wallet merely to enhance your performance, would you?
In particular, if you’re looking for an energy drink to go with your everyday run, the cost could quickly add up. In addition, affordable choices don’t always mean they’ll meet one’s health standards.
When purchasing an energy drink, you should always consider its ingredients and nutritional value. However, having the right price tag is also important. Various energy drink brands offer healthy energy drink choices at a very reasonable price. So, choose them.
Do energy drinks help with running?
Yes, energy drinks do help with running as they boost your energy levels.
A study shows that energy drinks are quite effective for running and improve your endurance and physical performance. Moreover, they also contain essential ingredients like taurine, vitamins, and minerals that keep you hydrated during the run. Furthermore, B-vitamins also help in repairing the damaged muscles you are probably unaware of.
Moreover, they also have caffeine and sugar, the key ingredients that boost your stamina and improve your cardio performance so that you can run without feeling tired.
So, overall, energy drinks are a good option available if you want to boost your energy before or during a run. But remember, the excessive use of energy drinks can have side effects. Therefore, try consuming them in moderate amounts.
How can I boost my running energy?
There are various natural options available if you want to boost your running energy.
If you are not a big fan of energy drinks and are looking for other healthier options you can opt for to boost your energy, then here are some of the options available for you.
- Eat foods enriched with B-vitamins.
- Get good quality sleep
- Exercise regularly
- Eat foods filled with carbs
So, if you want, you can try out the options mentioned earlier to gain energy and stamina.
What should I drink before a run?
There are some beverages you can drink before a run to boost your endurance and physical performance.
Being energized before a run is highly important not to become tired or face any other running difficulties. Here are some of the options you can choose to drink before your run. They will keep you energized for quite some time.
What should I drink during a run?
There are many options of beverages available you can choose from to keep your energy levels charged up.
Running makes you feel tired, and therefore to keep your stamina intact, you need something that boosts your stamina and keeps you hydrated and fresh during the run.
Here are some of the options of beverages you can opt for during your run. They will keep your energy levels intact.
- Water
- Coconut Water
- Sports Drink
Are energy drinks important for running?
Yes, energy drinks are really important for running.
Running, such as in a marathon, provides higher levels of fluid loss than lifting weights or doing light cardio.
When you sweat a lot during running, you lose a lot of electrolytes from your body, such as sodium and potassium, leaving you feeling dehydrated and thirsty.
Believe it or not, plain water can make runners very sick, as it can cause water intoxication or hyponatremia. When you consume too much water during running, or after a significant amount of fluid loss, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Heart attack
- Death
Therefore, a good energy drink for running should contain several ingredients that prevent fluid loss and reduce cramping caused by dehydration and insufficient intake of carbohydrates.
What is the best time to drink energy drinks for running?
The best time to drink energy drinks is before, during, and after the run.
The ideal preparation for a run involves drinking a carbohydrate- and electrolyte-rich energy drink an hour before you start so that your body has the time it needs to absorb nutrients from the drink into the muscles and cells.
Furthermore, it would be best if you hydrated yourself during the run, too, so that you can prevent your body from becoming dehydrated and keep you charged up throughout the running session.
Moreover, it would help if you also drank energy beverages after the run to quickly regain all the electrolytes you have lost during your run before you experience any side effects.
What is Hyponatremia?
Hyponatremia is a health condition caused by too much water intake. If left untreated, it can become severe.
During a run, it’s always a good idea to stay hydrated, but one must be careful not to cause the water-sodium ratio in the blood to change. In this condition, there is not enough sodium in the blood. During a run, you can suffer from water intoxication or hyponatremia if you drink too much water.
The health risks of hyponatremia include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Weakness or fatigue
More severe risks may include:
- Seizure
- Coma
- Cardiac Arrest
- Even death
Drinking energy drinks containing electrolytes can help you avoid hyponatremia. Due to the sodium in these drinks, hyponatremia is reduced.
Best Energy Drink Powders for running
Now that you know how important an energy drink is for a runner let’s look at some of the best energy drink powders you can consume during your run.
Here are some of the best energy drink powders:
| Energy Drinks | Sugar Content | Calorie Content |
| Ghost Gamer | Zero | 18 |
| Rogue | Zero | 12 |
| Celsius | Zero | 10 |
Ghost Gamer
Caffeine Content: 150mg
Sugar Content: 0g
Calorie Content: 18 KJ
Price: $39.99
Ghost Gamer energy drink is the preferred choice for runners as it boosts your energy and keeps you focused throughout the day.
Ghost Gamer energy drink is completely sugar-free and contains only 150 mg of caffeine, which is a good caffeine content that bursts your energy levels. Furthermore, this energy drink also improves the mental and physical performance that you require during a run.
This energy drink powder is generally available in sachets and tubs so that you can choose according to your preferred choices. Another best part of this energy drink is that it is completely gluten-free, tastes amazing, and keeps you fit throughout the day.
Furthermore, this energy drink is quite inexpensive and costs around $39.99. You can buy this energy drink from its official website and order it from Amazon and eBay.
Want to know more about this fantastic energy drink powder? Then, check out my article Ghost Gamer energy drink review here.
Rogue Energy
Caffeine Content: 175mg
Sugar Content: 0g
Calorie Content: 12 calories
Price: $32.99
Rogue is another excellent choice of energy drink powder for running.
Rogue energy drink powder is a low-calorie and sugar-less energy drink powder that contains essential vitamins and only 175mg of caffeine that boosts your energy levels and provides brain enhancement, making this energy drink a perfect choice to drink before or after the run.
However, the caffeine amount in this energy drink is a little bit higher, so try to take this energy drink in moderate amounts.
Overall, this energy drink powder is a high-quality energy drink made to improve your physical and mental performance. Moreover, unlike other energy drink powders, you can drink them daily.
The best part of this energy drink that I like the most is that it only costs around $32.99 and can be bought from its official website.
Want to know more about this energy drink then? Check out my article Rogue energy review here.
Celsius On-The-Go
Caffeine Content: 200mg
Sugar Content: 0g
Calorie Content: 10 calories
Price: $16.63 (14 servings)
Celsius-On-The-Go is another ideal energy drink powder for running as it keeps you energized while burning your body fat.
Celsius-On-The-Go energy drink contains 200mg of caffeine, neither high nor low, but a moderate amount to boost your energy levels. According to various clinical studies, drinking Celsius before running boosts your metabolism, provides vital energy, and melts your body fat which I think is amazing.
Furthermore, this energy drink is completely sugar-free. It contains only 10 calories per serving which means you can consume this energy drink without worrying about sugar crashes or other side effects. Also, this energy drink enhances your focus and concentration, which helps you run faster.
Moreover, this energy drink powder comes in nine different flavors so that you can choose whatever flavor you like. Celsius costs you around $16.63 per 14 servings, which I think is a reasonable price.
You can buy this energy drink from Amazon, Walmart, Vitamin Shoppe, and eBay. Want to know more about this energy drink? Then check out my article Nutrition facts of Celsius-On-The-Go here.
Conclusion
To sum up, Ghost Gamer, Celsius-On-The-Go, and Rogue energy drink powders are best for running.
The ideal energy drink powder is one that not only provides you with the required energy but also keeps you healthy and does not affect you negatively. Therefore, the energy drinks mentioned earlier are the perfect choice for those who want something to boost their energy levels before, after, or during the run.
Furthermore, these energy drinks contain electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals that keep you hydrated and fresh during the run.
But, the excessive use of energy drinks can lead to various side effects. Therefore, I will advise that you consume them in moderate amounts.
Related Articles
Best Energy Drink Powders For Diabetics (Sugar Coat No More)
Best Energy Drinks For Pulling An All-Nighter (Staying Up Awake)
Best Energy Drink Powders For Flu (Facts Reviewed)
Click here to view the visual Story version of this article.