Best Supplements for Runners

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
SaltStick Electrolyte Replacement Capsules
Test Winner: SaltStick Electrolyte Replacement Capsules
Amazon Link
No one enjoys being stuck in a rut. This can happen in many aspects of our lives, including exercise. As a runner, you know that in order to push yourself further than you have ever gone before, you need to tap into your inner motivation. If you can reach deep inside and find your sense of unstoppable drive, you can blow past all of your previous times and distances. Your body, however, may need a little bit more help, and that’s where supplements can benefit you.

When shopping for supplements, the market is flooded with a plethora of brands, but it doesn’t mean that they will serve your specific running needs. Below, we have compiled a list of some of the best running supplements on the market. You already have the determination inside of you, now you just need to equip your body.

Standout Picks

SaltStick Electrolyte Replacement Capsules
Most runners are familiar with the addition of salt supplements to replenish lost salt levels. People have been taking them for years because they are proven to help. If you like to go on long runs and find that you are becoming overly tired and dehydrated quickly, these supplements will help you persevere without the need to stop for a drink.
Amazon Link
$23.95
Sportlegs Supplement
This supplement is a great fit for runners that often have trouble with sore muscles or muscle fatigue early on in their workout. It is a blend of ingredients that sends nutrients straight to the muscles so that you will perform at your best. In 2005, Bicycling Magazine called this stuff ‘a good day in a bottle’.
Amazon Link
$34.95
EPO-BOOST Powerful Endurance Enhancer
While Sportlegs is a great supplement to take for tired legs, EPO-BOOST is a great supplement to take if you struggle to maintain the same levels of endurance throughout your runs. Over time, runners build up their VO2 Max, which is the level of oxygen you can utilize while running. If you often feel like you just cannot suck in enough air while running, this supplement may give you a little added help in building up your VO2 max.
Amazon Link
$59.95
Vitalyte Electrolyte Powder
For runners that just want something simple to help them smash through their personal running goals, this is an excellent solution. It provides the added benefit of replenishing lost levels of electrolytes in an easy powder that doesn’t have any additional artificial flavors or sweeteners.
Amazon Link
$24.99
Raw Nutrition Labs NutriBeet
It’s an old tale that beets can actually help you run faster. Of course, we all know that there is no magic food that can actually help you run faster, but beets should still receive much of the runner's attention. Beets are great for naturally producing nitric oxide which helps expand blood vessels making the travel of oxygen throughout your system easier.
Amazon Link
Animal Pak Multivitamin Supplement
Animal Pak has been providing athletes with the nutrition that they need in order to perform at their very best since 1977. This supplement provides runners with an overall feeling of wellness that they can take out with them on runs.
Amazon Link
Old School Labs Vintage Blast
This is a great way to fuel your run and feel the effects almost immediately. It comes as a powder and is mixed with water and taken right before you head out of the trails. This formulas has all of the ingredients that your body needs to ensure that you crush past all of your previous times and distances.
Amazon Link
$39.99
Cellucor C4 Pre Workout
If you have trouble generating the enthusiasm to get out there on the trails after a long day at the office, take one glass of this pre-workout drink, and you’ll be heading back out before your dogs can sufficiently welcome you home. This drink packs a punch with ingredients that will make you feel alert and send your muscles tingling.
Amazon Link
$34.99
Endurance360 Supplement
If you are in the market for a new supplement that will satisfy all of your running needs, improve your Vo2 Max, prevent leg cramps, bolster energy levels, and protect muscles, this supplement does it all. It’s perfect for runners, cyclists, and swimmers.
Amazon Link
$34.95
Enduroblast Supplements Glyco Booster
This is a great supplement for runners that are looking for something to do it all. This product will increase your Vo2Max, increase endurance and performance, and it is easy to take. What it does best, however, is help maintain the body’s glycogen levels (stored carbohydrates). It’s packed with a lot of vitamins and minerals that will also help promote a sense of overall wellness.
Amazon Link

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Materials

If you are a runner, then there is no doubt that you care a great deal about what you put into your body. That’s why we made sure to look at the ingredients that these supplements are made from. When selecting supplements, we made sure to select the products that used substances that were natural and already found in your body (such as creatine and sodium). For runners, staying hydrated and having a proper runner's diet are one of the most important things, especially on scorching summer days. With this in mind, the supplements on our list ensure optimal hydration, promote blood flow, and aid in recovery time.

Effectiveness

Above all else, the most important thing that we took into consideration in a supplement was just how effective it was at enhancing your runs. Creatine is something that a lot of runners gravitate towards because it promotes strong muscles, and strong muscles mean you can run longer and harder. Beta-alanine is also something that runners tend to love because it gives you a tingle sensation and makes your muscles feel stronger. We didn’t shy away from natural ingredients, such as beetroot, because it has been proven to boost blood flow that can help you run for longer distances.

Advanced Features

Everyone loves a product that offers more than one benefit. When selecting a great supplement, we selected options that offer more than one benefit. Products that offer a boost without a crash is a huge bonus. Not to mention, you will want the addition of added vitamins and minerals thrown in the mix. The addition of calcium was always a plus because strong bones will keep you out of the trails for many additional years. Caffeine was something that we looked out for because sometimes, runners have a hard time mustering the energy to get out there (especially after an exhausting day at work) so a little energy boost might help.

Value

You don’t want to put off buying a new pair of running shoes because you have already sunk too much of your hard earned cash into your supplements. When selecting the best supplements, it was important to keep the costs down, while still maintaining high-quality ingredients. Many of the supplements out don’t run up a price tag that is too unreasonable. One thing to look out for is serving size. If a supplement is offered at a low price but only contains a month’s worth of capsules, it’s not really that great of a deal. We tried to avoid supplements that had to be reordered every 30 days to keep more money in your pocket.

Top Ten Running Supplements

1. SaltStick Electrolyte Replacement Capsules

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$23.95
SaltStick Electrolyte Replacement Capsules
Amazon Link

Most runners are familiar with the addition of salt supplements to replenish lost salt levels. People have been taking them for years because they are proven to help. If you like to go on long runs and find that you are becoming overly tired and dehydrated quickly, these supplements will help you persevere without the need to stop for a drink.

Read more

Ingredients:

The ingredients in this blend are simple. Each pill contains calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin D. All of these ingredients are substances that are already found in your body, and they are the very ones that become depleted as you run.

How to take:

Just take one capsule before you lace up your sneakers and you are ready to go. Due to the high sodium levels found in this supplement, you have to be sure that you take it with plenty of water.

Effectiveness:

This supplement isn’t going to give you a boost of energy or put any substances into your body that weren't already there. These supplements simply act as an aid to ensure that you feel just as good at the end of your run as you did at the beginning. If you are a runner that sometimes suffers from leg cramps. These pills serve to ward off painful cramping.

Allergens:

All of the ingredients found in this formula are plant-based, so you can rest easy knowing that they are gluten-free, and safe for vegetarians.

Summary:

If you are a runner that just wants a tried and true classic supplement to take on your runs to keep up your endurance and to prevent dehydration and leg cramps, SaltStick is an excellent choice that has been utilized by runners for years.

Amazon Link
$23.95

2. Sportlegs Supplement

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$34.95
Sportlegs Supplement
Amazon Link

This supplement is a great fit for runners that often have trouble with sore muscles or muscle fatigue early on in their workout. It is a blend of ingredients that sends nutrients straight to the muscles so that you will perform at your best. In 2005, Bicycling Magazine called this stuff ‘a good day in a bottle’.

Read more

Ingredients:

The ingredients in this blend are composed primarily of their
Lactaid Acid Transfer Formula, which is fortified with calcium. This formula sends nutrients to the muscles, while calcium promotes strong bones.

How to take:

Unlike powders, users simply have to take one capsule with plenty of water about one hour before they get out there on the trails. Each bottle comes with 120 capsules, so assuming you run once a day, that is about 4 months worth per bottle.

Effectiveness:

The focus of these capsules is to send aid to muscles under tension. You know that burning that you feel in your legs when you are really fatigued? That feeling is the lactic acid being released from your muscles. This supplement is designed to reduce that feeling and keep muscles feeling great while out on your run and even for days afterward.

Allergens:

These supplements are gluten free and are considered to be vegetarian, meaning that no animal byproducts can be found in this supplement.

Summary:

For runners that struggle with muscles that howl like crazy on long runs and then continue to be sore for the next few days, this supplement is designed to help fight off muscle fatigue and soreness so that you can continue to crush your running goals.

Amazon Link
$34.95

3. EPO-BOOST Powerful Endurance Enhancer

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$59.95
EPO-BOOST Powerful Endurance Enhancer
Amazon Link

While Sportlegs is a great supplement to take for tired legs, EPO-BOOST is a great supplement to take if you struggle to maintain the same levels of endurance throughout your runs. Over time, runners build up their VO2 Max, which is the level of oxygen you can utilize while running. If you often feel like you just cannot suck in enough air while running, this supplement may give you a little added help in building up your VO2 max.

Read more

Ingredients:

The ingredients found in this product tend to focus primarily on natural remedies. The BodyEndurance Complex contains natural ingredients that include echinacea. It also provides a myriad of vitamins, such as B-3, B-12, vitamin C, and vitamin A.

How to take:

This isn’t a supplement you can take right before lacing up your sneakers, because it helps build up your EPO levels gradually over time. This will become more of a daily routine, not just something to use right before you head out the door. Some users found that they really began noticing the effects of this product approximately 2 weeks into using it.

Effectiveness:

To naturally build up your Vo2 Max is a slow process that happens gradually over months of training. If you feel like you have hit a wall on your runs, the addition of this supplement may help you push past it.

Allergens:

This product is made from all natural ingredients and is not shown to have any known allergens.

Summary:

If you are a runner that gets winded easily, you more likely need to just stick with it to build up your Vo2 Max. Time to process can be incredibly slow and frustrating, so the addition of this supplement may make the process just a little bit easier.

Amazon Link
$59.95

4. Vitalyte Electrolyte Powder

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$24.99
Vitalyte Electrolyte Powder
Amazon Link

For runners that just want something simple to help them smash through their personal running goals, this is an excellent solution. It provides the added benefit of replenishing lost levels of electrolytes in an easy powder that doesn’t have any additional artificial flavors or sweeteners.

Read more

Ingredients:

The stuff found inside this product is simple: each scoop contains glucose, fructose, and citric acid (along with a few others), to help maintain natural energy levels. One scoop also contains 100 percent of your daily dose of vitamin C.

How to take:

Simply use the scoop that is provided and mix this product with at least 8 ounces of water. While the mix itself does not have to be refrigerated once it is mixed with water, it should be refrigerated until consumed.

Effectiveness:

Replenishing electrolytes is one of the most important things to maintain when running, especially if you are traveling long distances. This product is great because it provides a heavy dose of electrolytes to your body to ensure that you are consistently hydrated.

Allergens:

The glucose that is used in this product comes from corn. It is also important to note that Vitalyte is made with non-GMO ingredients.

Summary:

If you are looking for a supplement that comes from all natural ingredients and that ensures that you stay hydrated and your energy levels stay elevated on those long runs on hot days, this is an excellent addition.

Amazon Link
$24.99

5. Raw Nutrition Labs NutriBeet

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Raw Nutrition Labs NutriBeet
Amazon Link

It’s an old tale that beets can actually help you run faster. Of course, we all know that there is no magic food that can actually help you run faster, but beets should still receive much of the runner's attention. Beets are great for naturally producing nitric oxide which helps expand blood vessels making the travel of oxygen throughout your system easier.

Read more

Ingredients:

The standout ingredient in this supplement is, unsurprisingly, beets. Well, beetroot extract anyway. Each serving is packed with at least 6 high nitrate beets. It also contains ingredients such as vitamin B-12, an Amino Optimizer Blend, and a BCAA blend. It boasts that it doesn’t have any added sugars, artificial flavors, or artificial colors.

How to take:

This is a supplement that you can mix up right before you lace up your sneakers. Simply measure one scoop with the spoon that is included and shake it up with at least 8 ounces of water.

Effectiveness:

This is a great supplement to take right before your workout if you want to get a little bit of an energy burst as well as stay out there on the trails longer without becoming overly exhausted. What makes this product different it that it is able to do this without making the user feel overly jittery the way that some pre-workout supplements can.

Allergens:

NutriBeet is processed in a facility that doesn’t process any allergens. It is GMO-free as well as gluten-free.

Summary:

If you want a supplement that is derived from natural sources that won't make you feel jittery like some of the more potent blends can, this is an excellent addition to your runs.

Amazon Link

6. Animal Pak Multivitamin Supplement

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Animal Pak Multivitamin Supplement
Amazon Link

Animal Pak has been providing athletes with the nutrition that they need in order to perform at their very best since 1977. This supplement provides runners with an overall feeling of wellness that they can take out with them on runs.

Read more

Ingredients:

All of the ingredients found in this supplement are used to help various trouble areas when training. It contains amino acids, which are great at repairing muscles. It also has a good-sized list of vitamins and minerals, as well as digestive enzymes, like bromelain and inulin.

How to take:

This is a supplement that you feel the effects of immediately. These capsules are meant to be taken once a day, like a multivitamin. to ensure that not only is your body functioning at its peak, but it also has the necessary tools to tackle all of your lofty running goals.

Effectiveness:

The benefits of taking this supplement are too many to mention. The amino acids are great for repairing damaged and tired muscles, while the digestive blend ensures that nothing is going to weigh you down. All of the added vitamins boost your immune system, so you hopefully will be able to run past all of your goals with ease.

Allergens:

All of Animal Paks products are manufactured in the United States. It is processed in a facility that also manufactures milk, egg, fish, peanuts, shellfish, and wheat.

Summary:

If you are looking for a supplement that is designed to improve your general wellness, while also providing tailored ingredients that are designed to improve your performance, this is an excellent solution.

Amazon Link

7. Old School Labs Vintage Blast

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$39.99
Old School Labs Vintage Blast
Amazon Link

This is a great way to fuel your run and feel the effects almost immediately. It comes as a powder and is mixed with water and taken right before you head out of the trails. This formulas has all of the ingredients that your body needs to ensure that you crush past all of your previous times and distances.

Read more

Ingredients:

The most important ingredient in this supplement is the nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is important because it is something that increases blood flow and oxygen to tired muscles. This product also contains 250 mg of caffeine that is derived from two separate sources to ensure that you are alert and ready to reach your goals.

How to take:

About 15 minutes before your run, mix one spoonful of this product into a glass with at least 8 ounces of water, and voila! Due to the high caffeine count, it is important that you drink it with plenty of water.

Effectiveness:

After taking this supplement, you will feel the benefits almost immediately. It gives you a rush of energy to get your run started on the right step, and maintains energy levels throughout the entire run. It also helps to keep runners from becoming dehydrated by delivering electrolytes throughout the run.

Allergens:

This powder is gluten-free and non-gmo and doesn’t use proprietary blends to make up their product. It is also vegetarian friendly, and has been CGMP Quality certified- so you know that you are not ingesting anything that will be detrimental to your health.

Summary:

If you are looking for a supplement that will really help you dig into each run every time you lace up your running shoes, but doesn’t linger in your system too long afterwards and doesn’t make you crash- this blend is loved and used by a wide variety of runners.

Amazon Link
$39.99

8. Cellucor C4 Pre Workout

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$34.99
Cellucor C4 Pre Workout
Amazon Link

If you have trouble generating the enthusiasm to get out there on the trails after a long day at the office, take one glass of this pre-workout drink, and you’ll be heading back out before your dogs can sufficiently welcome you home. This drink packs a punch with ingredients that will make you feel alert and send your muscles tingling.

Read more

Ingredients:

The active ingredient that is responsible for making your muscles feel tingly is the beta-alanine. It is a non-essential amino acid that is responsible for building lean muscle mass for runners and athletes. It helps keep your muscles alert and pumped for whatever you are about to put them through on your run. It also contains creatine, nitric acid, and caffeine.

How to take:

This is available in a variety of flavors, such as fruit punch, watermelon, and blue raspberry. Simply mix one cap-full into a glass of water about 15 to 30 minutes before you run. The taste can be a little bit sour, but you will be able to feel the benefits almost immediately.

Effectiveness:

You will begin to really feel the drink working when you begin to feel tiny tingles in your muscles. It may feel a little bit weird at first, but as you really begin to dig into your run, the tingles will go away as your muscles begin to warm up. It is a great supplement to give you an immediate kick of energy and keep muscles from becoming tired and sore.

Allergens:

There is no allergen information listed on the label, or on the product descriptions. It would be wise to look over the ingredients with a physician and contact the company to see what kind of plant it is manufactured in.

Summary:

If you are looking for a supplement to add to your runs that will deliver a lightning bolt of energy throughout your entire body, this is a great product to try to really push through your goals with ease.

Amazon Link
$34.99

9. Endurance360 Supplement

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$34.95
Endurance360 Supplement
Amazon Link

If you are in the market for a new supplement that will satisfy all of your running needs, improve your Vo2 Max, prevent leg cramps, bolster energy levels, and protect muscles, this supplement does it all. It’s perfect for runners, cyclists, and swimmers.

Read more

Ingredients:

The ingredients in this supplement that really stand out is the beta-alanine and the creatine. These two substances are great for providing aid to tired muscles and are the keystones to any serious running supplement. Additionally, cordyceps and rhodiola are excellent for boosting your Vo2 Max.

How to take:

It may seem a little crazy, but the recommended dosage for this product is to take 5 capsules daily. It isn’t the type of supplement that you can feel immediately, it takes some time for your body to become accustomed to the new elevated levels.

Effectiveness:

The benefits of this supplement are great and cover all of the bases for what runners need to help them reach their goals. The creatine and beta-alanine send oxygen to the muscles and prevents them from becoming sore. This blend also helps to build up your EPO levels so that you will be able to run longer without becoming as winded as fast as you normally would.

Allergens:

Unfortunately, there is no indication of any allergens on the package or on the manufacturer’s site. It is always better to err on the side of caution and contact the manufacturer as well as talk to your doctor about the ingredients.

Summary:

If you are a runner that is looking for a supplement that will not only improve your Vo2Max but will also provide energy to tired muscles, this supplement can do just that.

Amazon Link
$34.95

10. Enduroblast Supplements Glyco Booster

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Enduroblast Supplements Glyco Booster
Amazon Link

This is a great supplement for runners that are looking for something to do it all. This product will increase your Vo2Max, increase endurance and performance, and it is easy to take. What it does best, however, is help maintain the body’s glycogen levels (stored carbohydrates). It’s packed with a lot of vitamins and minerals that will also help promote a sense of overall wellness.

Read more

Ingredients:

The proprietary NovoBlend is what is great at maintaining glycogen levels- it contains Omega 3’s from flaxseed and alpha lipoic acid. It also contains ingredients such as magnesium, manganese, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-9, calcium, and sodium.

How to take:

These are offered in capsule form, you will feel the effects of them approximately 30 minutes after taking them. Simply take 2 capsules with a full glass of water right before you throw on your running shoes to head out of the door. By the end of your warm up, they should kick in and you’ll be ready to go

Effectiveness:

After about 30 minutes of taking this product, you will notice that you have a lot more energy on your runs and will be able to crush all your previous limits. It provides great energy without making you feel jittery or tingly, so lacing up your running shoes will never feel like a chore.

Allergens:

There are absolutely no animal by-products when making these capsules, and they are considered to be vegetarian-friendly.

Summary:

If you are a runner that feels like you are lacking the sufficient energy to really push past previous goals, this supplement may be the thing that you need to generate natural energy on those long runs on hot days.

Amazon Link

Sources