Should Endurance Athletes Use Pre‑Workout?

In one of your gym sessions, you’ve probably seen someone shaking a fluorescent drink right before starting, hoping for a burst of “energy”.

For years, pre‑workouts have been marketed as a lifter’s tool, built for muscle pumps or heavy squats. 

But if you’re a runner, cyclist, or hybrid athlete, you’ve likely wondered: Could pre-workouts help with endurance training too?

The short answer: yes. But, this needs to be qualified, as not all pre‑workouts are created equal. The main thing to look out for is the transparent label listing all ingredients in your pre-workout. This will tell you whether or not the product you are using fits your intended purpose. 

 

FOR MORE TIPS, CHECK OUT: Does pre-workout improve performance?

 

Why Some Pre‑Workouts Might Not Work for Endurance Athletes

Most pre‑workouts are built for quick, short‑term output. They often rely on massive caffeine doses or beta‑alanine, the ingredient that causes the familiar “tingles.” 

While that might make you feel like it’s working, the science behind pre-workout says otherwise. Those tingles (known as paresthesia) don’t enhance your performance.

For endurance athletes, overstimulation and energy crashes are the enemy. The role of caffeine in pre-workouts has been linked with your energy, alertness, and focus. But taking too much can spike your heart rate, leading to dehydration, anxiety, and poor pacing. Instead of helping you sustain your rhythm, it can derail your performance.

What your body really needs is steady, controlled energy, hydration, and focus without the crash.

So, the reason why some pre-workouts don't sit well with endurance training is because the dosing of its ingredients are not in line with your endurance needs.

 

ALSO READ: The Beginner’s Guide to Pre-Workouts

 

What Endurance Pre‑Workouts Should Have

Endurance sports test your mind and body in a different way from lifting or sprinting. When you’re pushing through long distances, your body depends on:

• Sustained energy, not short bursts
• Efficient oxygen use, to delay fatigue
• Electrolyte balance, to prevent cramps
• Mental clarity, to maintain pacing and decision‑making
• Hydration support, to replace what you lose through sweat

If you’ve ever “hit the wall” mid‑run or faded late in a long ride, that’s your body running low on glycogen, electrolytes, or focus. The right pre‑workout can help bridge that gap. It needs to be built for endurance, not intensity.

How an Endurance‑Focused Pre‑Workout Works

Performance nutritionist Tom Coughlin, co‑creator of MOVE Pre‑Workout, explains:

“Endurance training puts different demands on the body. You need steady energy and mental focus that lasts as fatigue sets in. Hydration and oxygen efficiency are key to sustaining output…not the quick buzz most pre‑workouts chase.”

MOVE Endurance pre-workout was developed around those principles, with each ingredient targeting a specific limiter for endurance performance.

All of this in our pre-workout formula without beta‑alanine because tingles don’t make you faster.

How to Use Pre‑Workout for Endurance Training

Timing is everything. Here’s how Tom recommends taking a pre‑workout for endurance sessions:

• 30–45 minutes before training: Take one scoop with 250–500 ml of water. This allows caffeine and nitric oxide boosters to peak when your session starts.
• During long sessions (over 90 minutes): Sip a second half‑serving mid‑way to sustain focus, hydration, and muscle function.
• Stack with carbs: Pair it with an energy gel, banana, or creatine booster to maintain glycogen levels.

Why Athletes Are Re-Thinking Endurance Pre-Workout

Endurance participation in the UK is booming. From marathon sign‑ups hitting record highs to the rise of hybrid events like Hyrox, athletes are demanding smarter, simpler fuelling. 

Yet many are still juggling multiple products like caffeine gels, hydration sachets, and energy drinks, without a cohesive plan.

A well‑formulated pre‑workout built for endurance helps consolidate that routine. It fuels energy, focus, and hydration in one clean solution.

 

CHECK OUT: Hyrox Nutrition Tips from MOVE’s Performance Expert

The MOVE Difference: Clean Energy That Goes the Distance

MOVE Endurance was designed to give athletes the benefits they need, without the drawbacks of traditional pre‑workouts.

MOVE is Informed‑Sport certified, beta‑alanine‑free, and made with science-backed doses. Nothing artificial, nothing unnecessary.

Whether you’re training for your next 10K, cycling sportive, or Hyrox event, MOVE Endurance helps you fuel smarter and recover cleaner.

Experience clean stamina that lasts. Shop MOVE Endurance here.