People who are into running know that you need to be fitter and stronger to beat the distance. The human body is not equipped with enough stamina or strength to run long distances. There is a point where your body will feel exhausted, even if you have just started running. Improving your performance as a runner is challenging and requires a lot of practice and dedication. Apart from training consistently, one way to improve the benefits of your running routine is by taking supplements like creatine. This article will explain what creatine is, why it’s important for runners, its benefits for your performance as a runner, how to take it safely and what are the best sources for this supplement.

What Is Creatine?

Creatine is an amino acid that naturally occurs in people’s muscles. It’s also referred to as the “ultimate sports nutrition” because it is commonly used by athletes and other athletes to improve their performance. This supplement is known for increasing the rate at which the muscles store energy. The energy is then used to help you perform better when you lift weights or when you run. Creatine for running is definitely something to consider!

Why Is Creatine Important For Runners?

Runners are always looking for ways to improve their pace and distance as well as reduce the risk of injury. And many supplements, like Creatine, help you achieve that. Creatine, as we have mentioned earlier, helps your body store energy and, therefore, enhances your performance. It boosts your strength and power, especially when lifting weights or performing other strenuous exercises. In addition, creatine is also proven to reduce the risk of muscle cramps, particularly when running. Cramps occur when your muscles cannot get the oxygen they need to function properly. Cramps commonly happen at the end of a long run, when the muscles are already tired. There are several other benefits of this supplement, including improving your mental focus, increasing the rate at which you recover and improving your stamina.

The Benefits Of Taking Creatine

Creatine Improves strength and power. When you weight train or do exercises with high intensity, you break down your muscles. One of the ways your body repairs the damage is by synthesizing new proteins. These proteins are responsible for building new and stronger muscles. During this process, creatine plays a vital role. It’s present in your muscles and helps in quickening the protein synthesis process. When you take creatine supplements, your body has more of this compound, which increases the rate at which your muscles grow stronger and develop.

Creatine Reduces the risk of muscle cramps. As you run, your muscles work overtime to pump blood and oxygen to your body. When you reach a certain level of exertion, your muscles begin to cramp. The level at which this happens varies from person to person. While some runners may cramp after a few miles, others may cramp even after a few minutes.

Creatine improves your mental focus. Taking creatine also helps you focus better on your run and remain more alert as well. When you exercise, your body releases certain chemicals like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. These are known as neurotransmitters and are responsible for regulating your mood, keeping you relaxed and improving your focus.

Creatine Increases the rate at which you recover. Your muscles have the ability to repair themselves only when they are relaxed. The faster they recover, the better your performance will be. Taking creatine supplements helps your muscles recover faster so you can get back to training sooner, especially when taking creating for running.

Creatine improves your stamina. To run long distances, you need a certain level of energy to keep going of course. The more stamina you have, the less you will tire out and the longer you can run. Taking creatine supplements helps your body produce more energy and, therefore, improves your stamina.

How To Safely Take Creatine As A Runner

For the best results from this supplement, you need to take it before your workouts and competitions. If you’re taking creatine before the workout, you need to take it about an hour before. This is because it takes about an hour for your body to digest and break down this supplement. If you’re taking creatine before and during a competition, you should take 5 grams of this supplement every day before 5-10 days before your competition for the maximum benefit.

Best Sources of Creatine for Runners

There are many different types of creatine supplements available in the market. Most of them are easy to find and cost-effective too.  Creatine monohydrate is the most widely used and researched form of creatine. It’s also the cheapest and most easily available form of this supplement. Other forms of creatine supplements include creatine ethyl ester, micronized creatine, creatine citrate, Kre-Alkalyn, creatine phosphate and more. If you are a beginner to taking creatine supplements, it is recommended that you start with creatine monohydrate. This is because it is the safest and most effective form of creatine supplements. If you are already taking creatine supplements, you can also try taking creatine with caffeine or creatine with another amino acid like L-glutamine or beta-alanine which help absorption. If you are taking any other medications, it’s important to consult a doctor before starting on any new supplements.

Conclusion

Creatine is an amino acid that naturally occurs in people’s muscles. It’s also referred to as the “ultimate sports nutrition” because it is commonly used by athletes and other athletes to improve their performance. This supplement is known for increasing the rate at which the muscles store energy. The energy is then used to help you perform better when you lift weights or when you run. Moreover, creatine is proven to reduce the risk of muscle cramps, particularly when running. Cramps occur when your muscles cannot get the oxygen they need to function properly. There are several other benefits of this supplement, including improving your mental focus, increasing the rate at which you recover and improving your stamina. With the above-mentioned information, it is clear that creatine is an important supplement for runners. It helps boost their strength and power, as well as their mental focus and focus during training.