What is up with some of these responses.
Anyone who likes to lift and run have a favorite supplement they recommend? Pre, recovery, or energy wise? Maybe something that would help with knee and hip pain. I take fish oil daily but curious to know if there’s anything else that you can suggest for avid runners.
I’ll preface this with it probably depends how much running you do and much like lifting what type of “philosophy” you follow with it or type of running training you tend to do will influence which things may be most beneficial for you.
Second preface is assuming you’ve got hydration and nutrition dialed in, certain aspects of these can be more important than even just for lifting. Some recommendations below will cover a bit of this though.
I’ll also go backwards, starting with things maybe helping aches and pains, joints, and recovery first.
Curcumin: I think this is a pretty good ingredient that most people should almost just be taking all the time regardless, but with especially higher "volume" times of endurance work I think it is quite helpful. As long as it is a high quality extract I think you'll be fine, various ones some people have preference for. I really like SNS Theracurmin XT and when I feel I need even more "oomph" XPG Curcugel is a great option, especially when applied to things like knees, feet, and ankles when I get back into running or higher volumes.
Tart Cherry: A bit more of a "performance" booster, but I really find this helps with decreasing DOMS and maybe overall inflammatory responses to endurance work. I'll take either NOW Tart Cherry with my final meal every day or Muscle Addiction Recovery Fix (which will have more highlighted ingredients listed later) pre training (full dose pre or half dose prior to split sessions or even double dosing during very tough times).
PEA: Another ingredient I think is pretty awesome for a ton of things, but seems to really help with the little aches and pains that creep up as volume and intensity climb. Usually get a some in a full dose of Recovery Fix and will add a second cap of SNS PEA Extreme during more strenuous times as well.
Pepti-Plex/Peptistrong: This is wayyyyyyyy more than just for joint pain and recovery, but really covers all aspects of training recovery and performance. This is a staple for me because it just seems to leave me feeling "younger" or like I recover from these harder training sessions like I did in my 20s.
Next, more general ingredients that are pretty cheap that work for most exercises and not just runners, with a slight lean towards endurance.
Creatine: Pretty much a no brainer, but opting for Creatine HCL or Magnesium Creatine Chelate if you are more prone to unwanted water weight increases. Currently I am using SNS Creatine HCL because it tastes great and works awesome, but will probably switch to SNS MCC next time I run out just to switch it up. Magnesium has way too many benefits to list so if not getting it definitely opt for MCC as an easy way to get a highly absorb-able form or make sure to pick some up individually.
Betaine: Hydration and potential power and endurance benefits. Not super strong benefits, but I always notice a difference when I make sure to get at least 2.5g per day, usually 1 scoop of SNS Betaine in my pre and I'll double up for 5g per day when splitting my training.
Taurine: Again a ton of benefits with hydration and performance being noticeable. Dosing depends on the individual, but I get a decent 1-3g most days depending on a variety of factors.
Carnitine: Recovery, decreased DOMS and depending on the form more endurance are all things I notice. 2-4g of LCLT per day or a mix of LCLT for performance and ALCAR with nootropics/stims are things I have taken for a long time, but I am really enjoying XPG Carnitine gel lately, seems to be a great boost to my endurance and recovery at 2-4 pumps per day.
Beta Alanine: Maybe not as important for just lifters or maybe not as beneficial depending on your running program, but potentially can benefit anyways. 4-6g in 2-3 split doses per day when I don't mind putting up with some tingles. Decreases fatigue sympoms, especially in more repeat style work that I tend to gravitate towards.
*Sodium Bicarbonate: I don't really recommend because it can jack people's stomachs up and dosing can be annoying, but pretty effective anyways.
More "pump" style ingredients found in lots of pre-workouts generally can have a good effect, but I find depending on training programs and personal limiters they can have some drawbacks with pumps, so keep that in mind and definitely don't just try to take all of them at max dose.
Ornithine: Really good for longer duration work, well beyond what most lifters tend to do and probably more effective for endurance enthusiasts (as far as performance, lots of health benefits for everyone). Decreases ammonia build up and with Beta Alanine I feel like I don't hit as many "walls". I like 3g of SNS LOLA pre-training and 3g twice per day when split training. Least likely to cause excessive pumps IME, but definitely helps pumps for lifting just doesn't seem to cause as much issue with endurance work.
Citrulline: Another self explantory one. 3-6g of Citrulline or 6-12g of Citrulline Malate depending on what else I am taking, but I take this pretty much non-stop.
Tea Extracts: I've played around with various "extracts", I really like the addition in Pepti-plex right now seems to help endurance, heart rate, and just overall recovery.
Epicatechin: Similar to above, I don't notice massive improvements, but it helps recovery and overall cardiovascular "health", while also seeming to give some good body comp benefits for me. I really need to try the new CEL Epi-Plex because I loved the old version and the new one has an upgraded tea extract.
Nitrates: I love nitrates, but dosing or finding it dosed how I'd like without a TON of other things can be tough. Really helps with repeat work, lowering perceived exertion/HR for me, and gives some pretty awesome pumps for training. Definitely don't overdo this ingredient. Too much crashes my blood pressure.
*Glycerol: Would love to play around with a higher dosed approach to this, but the smaller dosages I do find help with hydration during the summer and obviously pumps and some sick vascularity.
Ok this list is getting stupidly long, so I'll try to wrap it up, but adaptogens I really like and "natty anabolics" that seem to help below as well.
Ashwagandha: Amazing for stress and similar outcomes, but also really helpful for cardiovascular improvements. KSM-66 particularly has been shown to increase VO2max and Sensoril has some other studies with performance benefits. I take SNS Stress and Anxiety (Sensoril) regularly or SNS KSM-66 when I am not taking that.
Terminalia Arjuna: A great heart health ingredient, but has been shown to improve cardiovascular performance, especially when combined with Ash like above. I really enjoy SNS Cardiovascular Support XT also has other ingredients like Grape Seed Extract and Pomegranate that help as well.
Siberian Ginseng: I really enjoyed this as a great adaptogen for some performance, tougher to find so I don't use as often.
Robuvit: I really liked this, probably more than most based on other feedback I have seen. I really enjoyed 300-400mg per day, but it became cost prohibitive or hard to maintain stock so I stopped. I think it had slightly better cardiovascular benefits for me, but ingredients like Korean Mistletoe Extract in CEL Anabolic Effect and Urolithin-B in SNS Urolithin-B XT have more robust benefits to muscular strength, power and body comp benefits while they tangentially work through some similar MOA so I use them more often now.
Rhodiola: I've been using various extracts of Rosavins and Salidrosides for nearly two decades now (!!). I get this usually in SNS Stress and Anxiety, but I think the performance benefits are something people don't realize or how potent they can be for endurance.
Mushrooms: Going to keep this broad. I have been like a PeakO2 warrior for however many years since it was first released by (primaforce?). Absolutely amazing for endurance and recovery for me, allows higher training volumes. I've heard issues with supply and grumblings of better things on the horizon though so I'd keep your eyes open.
Senactiv: Been in love with this since it was Actigin. 100mg pre training is an awesome boost. 50mg up to 200mg daily are dosages I have played with and I really enjoy it. Can't wait to try SNS solo product and really push the dosages. Improves my recovery and ability to hit the same muscles again sooner (so things like constant running, biking and rowing see good benefits here).
Geez. Way too much typing.
Last thing, careful on stims and nootropics. I find them highly individual and can't really understand recommending Y-HCL. I'd probably die.
If you do want them finding the best dosages is probably ideal, Tyrosine, Choline (various sources), plus Caffeine is an awesome start. My curveball is Sabroxy. I use 300mg Sabroxy XT pre-training and it clears up my breathing, I have less trouble maintaining my breathing and stay super dialed in with no added pressure on my heart rate or blood pressure. Too much caffeine I personally don't like for how it makes me feel during regular training.
Ok way too much and I didn't even get into everything. Don't take all at once and use as a springboard to things to look into.