04/11/2026
Caffeine before training: performance tool or recovery problem? ☕
Potentially both.
Caffeine is one of the most researched performance aids in sport, and there’s good evidence that it can benefit certain types of exercise.
But that doesn’t mean every athlete needs it, or that more is always better.
A few things worth considering:
⚡ Dose: The amount that works for one athlete might leave another feeling anxious, shaky or uncomfortable.
⚡ Timing: That late-afternoon pre-workout could still be affecting your sleep hours after training.
⚡ Purpose: Are you using caffeine strategically, or relying on it to get through every session?
⚡ Recovery: A small performance benefit in one session might not be worth it if your sleep consistently suffers afterwards.
The aim isn’t to avoid caffeine altogether.
It’s to understand how to use it appropriately for your training, lifestyle and individual response.
What’s your go-to before training…coffee, pre-workout or no caffeine at all? 👀