The 9 Best Pre-Workouts for Running in 2023

Are you looking to enhance your athletic performance or conquer long distances with ease? If so, finding the right pre-workout can make all the difference.

One exceptional option for runners is Lean Pre-Workout by Transparent Labs. But that’s not all – we’re here to guide you through the process of selecting the perfect pre-workout formula.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the 9 best pre-workout options that cater specifically to runners, helping you find the ideal match for your individual needs.

Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or just starting out on your running journey, this resource is designed to maximize your potential with a great pre-workout choice.

The 9 Top Recommended Pre-Workouts for Running

1. Lean Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
2. Pre-Kaged – Kaged
3. Nitro Surge – Jacked Factory
4. Bulk Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs
5. Pre-Workout – Pre Lab Pro
6. Wrecked Pre-Workout – Huge Supplements
7. Pre-Kaged Sport – Kaged
8. Superhuman Burn – Alpha Lion
9. Formula XII Intra Workout – Huge Supplements

1. Lean Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs

Overall Best Pre-Workout for Running

Lean Pre-workout is the ultimate go-to supplement for a well-rounded fitness experience. It’s designed to tackle many aspects of your fitness journey. This includes helping fat loss, being a reliable energy booster, and promoting healthy thyroid function.

With Lean Pre-workout, you can preserve your hard-earned lean muscle mass, making it perfect for endurance athletes. Another standout feature of Lean is its ability to deliver clean energy without unpleasant jitters or crashes.

It’s an excellent choice for those who want to stay focused and intense during their workouts without any unwanted side effects.

Key Ingredients:

• Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 6 g
• Beta-Alanine – 2 g
• BetaPure™ Betaine Anhydrous – 1.5 g

2. Pre-Kaged – Kaged

Best Higher Caffeine Option for Running

Gearing up for a killer workout? Look no further than Pre-Kaged by Kaged. Pre-Kaged is optimal for those with a higher caffeine tolerance. With its optimal caffeine content of 274 mg, it provides an exceptional boost for intense workouts and running sessions.

Caffeine, as we know, is a well-known stimulant that offers a range of benefits for athletes and runners alike. It’s not only capable of enhancing endurance but also boosting strength and mental focus.

Additionally, caffeine has been shown to improve blood flow and enhance oxygen delivery to the muscles. This is especially crucial for runners, as it means improved oxygenation and nutrient supply to the working muscles, resulting in enhanced endurance and overall performance.

Key Ingredients:

• Caffeine – 274 mg
• L-Citrulline – 6.5 g
• Beta-Alanine – 1.6 g

3. Nitro Surge – Jacked Factory

Best Value Pre-Workout for Running

When it comes to finding the best value pre-workout, Nitro Surge is the ultimate choice. Nitro Surge is a creatine-free pre-workout powder that allows runners to experience elevated nitric oxide levels, explosive energy, and optimized workouts.

Not only can Nitro Surge help you make the most of your training without breaking the bank, but it also stands out for its added benefit of L-Theanine. L-Theanine is an exceptional amino acid found in tea plants such as green tea.

L-Theanine helps the anxious runner settle into a relaxed state by reducing anxiety and increasing focus. This also explains the popularity of green tea. Nitro Surge is a top contender among pre-workout drink mixes.

Key Ingredients:

• L-Theanine – 90 mg
• Caffeine Anhydrous – 1.25 mg
• Beta-Alanine: 1.6 g
• L-Citrulline – 3 g

4. Bulk Pre-Workout – Transparent Labs

An honorable mention that helps support muscle growth

When it comes to pre-workout energy drinks, one brand that truly stands out is Transparent Labs. Their Bulk Pre-workout powder is a game-changer in the fitness world, offering a unique focus on boosting strength, improving aerobic performance, and enhancing muscle endurance.

This exceptional formula deserves an honorable mention for its remarkable muscle growth support, thanks to its optimal dose of 2.5 mg of betaine.

If you’re chasing that incredible pump sensation during your workouts, Transparent Labs Bulk pre-workout powder takes the lead over its counterpart, Lean Pre-workout. The carefully selected ingredients in Bulk Pre-workout are specifically designed to deliver impressive pumps that can take your training sessions to a whole new level.

Interested in exploring the differences between the two? You can check out our review of Transparent Labs Bulk vs Lean Pre-Workout.

Key Ingredients:

• Beta-Alanine – 4 g
• Betaine Anhydrous – 2.5 g
• L-Citrulline Malate – 6 g

5. Pre-Workout – Pre Lab Pro

Best Pre-Workout without Beta Alanine Tingling

Elevate your running routine with Pre-Workout by Pre Lab Pro, a vegan-friendly powerhouse that takes your performance to the next level. By improving blood flow to your muscles, this pre-workout enhances your strength, stamina, and focus, allowing you to push your limits and achieve new personal records.

But what sets it apart is its unique combination of ingredients. With a blend of caffeine, L-Theanine, and nootropics, this pre-workout provides a smarter stimulation. Experience heightened energy, laser-like focus, and intense workouts without the tingling sensation caused by Beta-Alanine or the risk of post-workout crashes.

Pre Lab Pro also supports your body’s homeostasis. Packed with essential nutrients, it helps maintain peak performance, aids in hydration, boosts stress resistance and promotes faster muscle recovery. You may also find that it gives you a sense of well-being after intense exercise.

Key Ingredients:

• Natural caffeine (from Coffea Robusta seeds) – 80 mg
• Ajipure® L-Tyrosine – 400 mg
• Suntheanine® L-Theanine – 160 mg
• Red Beet Powder (as RedNite® ) – 1500 mg

6. Wrecked Pre-Workout – Huge Supplements

Best High Stim Pre-Workout for Running

Experience a game-changing energy boost with Wrecked, the ultimate choice for those seeking a unique and long-lasting stimulant mix. If you’re no stranger to caffeine or other pre-workout supplements, Wrecked is a must-try option. It’s also perfect if you’re looking to indulge in an occasional high-stimulant experience.

However, it’s crucial to prioritize your sensitivity to stimulants and consult with a healthcare professional to ensure a safe pre-workout choice. Remember, excessive caffeine intake can actually hinder your workout performance.

But if it’s that ultimate “runner’s high” you’re after and you’re clued up on stims, there’s no doubt Wrecked is your choice!

Prefer a good non-stim workout? Check out the best non-stim pre-workout supplements.

Key Ingredients:

• Caffeine Anhydrous – 300 mg
• L-Citrulline Malate – 6 g
• Beta-Alanine – 2.5 g

7. Pre-Kaged Sport – Kaged

An honorable mention with fun flavors

When it comes to powerful pre-workouts, Pre-Kaged Sport deserves recognition as an effective pre-workout for runners. While its delightful flavors are a standout feature, there’s much more to love about this product.

Unlike its counterpart, Pre-Kaged, Pre-Kaged Sport takes a different approach by omitting branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) for muscle breakdown prevention. Instead, it prioritizes replenishing electrolytes that are lost through sweat during intense workouts. It also includes taurine, a potent ingredient known for its potential to boost athletic performance.

Now let’s dive into the topic of BCAAs, a group of three essential amino acids: isoleucine, valine, and leucine. They play a crucial role in muscle protein synthesis and recovery. While Pre-Kaged Sport doesn’t contain BCAAs, other variants within the Pre-Kaged product line, such as Pre-Kaged Elite and Pre-Kaged, do.

Can’t decide which is best for you? You check out our review on Pre-Kaged vs Pre-Kaged Elite.

Key Ingredients:

• PurCaf® Organic Caffeine – 188 mg
• Plant-based L-Citrulline- 3.5 g
• Carnosyn® Beta-Alanine – 1.6 g

8. Superhuman Burn – Alpha Lion

Best Pre-Workout for Fat Loss

Of course, not all runners are solely focused on building muscle and power or being the fastest on the track. You may be running primarily to shed a couple of pounds. Superhuman Burn by Alpha Lion is the perfect pre-workout to address your weight loss goals.

Unlike other pre-workouts, Superhuman Burn strategically targets weight loss. It addresses aspects like increasing metabolism, suppressing appetite, and promoting fat burning.

Superhuman Burn also features a unique energy system. This system has seven patented ingredients known to increase fat oxidation and ketone generation. In fact, it’s one of the best pre-workouts for weight loss.

Key Ingredients:

• Beta-Alanine – 3.2 g
• L-Citrulline – 4 g
• L-Taurine – 500 mg

9. Formula XII Intra Workout – Huge Supplements

Best for Fasted Running

Formula XII Intra Workout by Huge Supplements is a caffeine-free intra-workout. This makes it the best choice for fasted running. It has a good carbohydrate content and gives essential fuel. More importantly, it keeps you hydrated during your runs and ensures sustained energy levels. The creatine in it also helps to raise glycogen stored in the muscle cells.

Formula XII Intra Workout makes for a good pre-workout drink because it supports endurance and recovery. This makes it ideal for runners who prefer to train in a fasted state. It contributes to muscle building and recovery, helping to reduce muscle soreness.

Pre-workouts are meant to fit your standards of the best nutrition. Caffeine-free pre-workout options are the best pre-workout supplements for runners seeking recovery and endurance but not stim.

Key Ingredients:

• Cluster Dextrin® : 10 g
• Beta-Alanine – 3.2 g
• Creatine Monohydrate – 5 g
• Organic ModCarb®– 5 g

How to Buy a Pre-Workout for Running

Before investing in a pre-workout for running, there are several key factors to consider. Firstly, you need to find a solution that specifically targets your fitness goals.

Are you aiming to lose weight? Build more muscle mass? Improve speed or endurance, or perhaps both? If your workouts are intense, you may need essential amino acids for optimal performance. For targeting fatigue caused by glycogen depletion, you might need carbohydrate-dense pre-workout powders.

By understanding your needs, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your needs and goals. Only then can you consider the rest of the factors, such as:

Fully Disclosed Ingredient Label

A product with a clear ingredient label ensures transparency and allows you to know exactly what you’re consuming. Look for brands that provide detailed information about each ingredient and dose.

If you’re serious about pre-workout, look out for these best pre-workout supplement ingredients.

Caffeine Content

Caffeine is a common ingredient in these supplements, known for enhancing energy and focus. But, individual caffeine tolerance varies. So, choose a product with a caffeine content that aligns with your preferences and tolerance levels.

Want to learn more about this topic? Discover what experts say about the effects of caffeine.

Performance-Enhancing Ingredients

Look for ingredients that have been scientifically studied. There should also be proof that they can improve performance while running.

Here is a list of ingredients to consider:

1. Taurine
2. Beta-Alanine
3. L-Citrulline
4. Dextrose
5. Electrolytes

Taurine

Taurine has been found to improve exercise performance and reduce muscle damage. It can also aid in reducing oxidative stress during intense workouts.

Read more about Taurine in sports and exercise.

Beta-Alanine

This amino acid is commonly found in many pre-workouts. Pre-Workout by Pre Lab Pro is the only pre-workout in the list that doesn’t have Beta-Alanine. It’s been shown to enhance muscle endurance and increase exercise capacity. It can help endurance athletes push through intense training sessions and races.

Read more about the critical review of the mechanics and use of Beta-Alanine supplementation.

L-Citrulline

L-Citrulline is vital in enhancing nitric oxide production. It also helps in promoting increased healthy blood flow and oxygen delivery to tackle muscle soreness. It can improve endurance and reduce fatigue during running. Nitro Surge is known for elevating nitric oxide levels – hence, the name.

Discover the benefits of L-Citrulline.

Dextrose or ModCarb

If you can’t have a pre-training meal with carbs, look for supplements that include dextrose or ModCarb®. This is because it provides readily available energy to fuel your runs. Formula XII Intra Workout by Huge Supplements has Organic ModCarb® as one of its key ingredients. This makes it the preferred supplement for runners that train in a fasted state.

Electrolytes (magnesium, potassium, sodium)

Electrolytes are essential for maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte balance during exercise. Pre-workouts with electrolytes support optimal performance and prevent dehydration.Under certain circumstances, consuming beverages with electrolytes and carbohydrates during exercise can provide advantages compared to only drinking water. Pre-Kaged Sport is a good pre-workout for beginners. It replenishes electrolytes that are lost through sweat. Pre-Kaged Sport also doesn’t contain branched-chain amino acids, which are generally unnecessary for beginners because they don’t break down their muscle tissues enough to benefit from BCAAs.

Related: BCAAs vs Pre-Workout: Key Differences to Know

Seek Recommendations

Reach out to your running friends or fellow athletes for recommendations. Personal experiences and feedback can provide valuable insights into different pre-workout supplements and their effectiveness. Hearing about their firsthand experiences can help you narrow down your options.

Trustworthy Brands

When choosing a pre-workout supplement, you must be aware of poor qualities that may indicate an ineffective or unreliable product, such as underdosed supplements and propriety blends.

Underdosed supplements contain insufficient amounts of key ingredients, diminishing their effectiveness and potentially rendering them ineffective. Proprietary blends, on the other hand, conceal specific ingredient quantities, making it difficult to assess their potency or safety.

To ensure you make a wise choice, it’s vital to prioritize brands you trust. You can look for products with positive reviews, indicating their efficacy and reliability. You can also search for a dedicated website with clear contact information is also crucial.

Additionally, consider the availability of the pre-workout supplement at multiple reputable retailers. This availability indicates wider recognition and distribution of the product.

Remember to prioritize quality, transparency, and reliability to ensure you’re investing in a pre-workout supplement that will support your workout routine effectively.

Running Benefits of Pre-Workout

You may be wondering: “Why should I take a pre-workout to run?” Pre-workout supplements offer several key benefits that are particularly advantageous for runners. Understanding these benefits can help you evaluate whether you should incorporate a pre-workout into your running routine.

Energy Boost

One of the primary benefits of pre-workout supplements is a quick energy boost. Ingredients like caffeine and other stimulants can help you feel more alert, focused, and energized during your runs. This energy boost can enhance performance and help you maintain intensity throughout your training sessions and races.

Endurance and Stamina

Certain ingredients found in pre-workouts, such as Beta-Alanine and L-Citrulline, have been shown to enhance endurance and delay the onset of fatigue.

By reducing muscle fatigue, improving blood flow, and perceived effort. They also support oxygen delivery to the muscles, pre-workouts can help you run longer distances and maintain a higher level of performance for an extended period.

If you’re running for weight loss, consider browsing the best pre-workout supplements for weight loss to weigh up your options.

Hydration Support

Some pre-workouts include electrolytes, such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium. These electrolytes play a vital role in maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte balance which is crucial for optimal performance and recovery, especially during long-distance running or intense training sessions.

FAQs About Pre-Workout

Final Words

It’s important to note that pre-workouts should be used responsibly and in according to your needs and goals. It’s recommended to consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian before incorporating pre-workout into your routine, as they can provide personalized guidance based on your specific requirements.

Remember, pre-workouts are just one component of a well-rounded training program. Prioritizing overall health, optimum nutrition, sports nutrition, hydration sports nutrition, and recovery practices are equally essential for achieving optimal performance and reaching your running goals.

After careful evaluation, theLean Pre-Workout by Transparent Labs emerges as a clear winner for the best pre-workout for running in 2023. Its powerful formula, including ingredients like Citrulline Malate and Beta-Alanine, delivers energy production, muscular endurance, and weight loss support for optimal running performance.

However, runners with specific preferences can find suitable options among the other reviewed products. Whether you need higher caffeine to boost performance, value for money, muscle growth support, or other specialized health benefits, there is a pre-workout on this list to meet your needs.

If you’re in search of a versatile pre-workout supplement that caters to all types of workouts, not just running, here are the 13 best pre-workout supplements you can find on the market today.

About Kyle Risley

Kyle Risley founded Lift Vault in 2016 to make finding great powerlifting programs easier. Since then, the site has grown to include hundreds of programs for strength, bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, and more. He currently lives in Massachusetts and continues to compete in powerlifting.