Caffeine is probably the most widely used ergogenic aid of all times. It has made many fortunes. Imagine the World without caffeine? A U.S. based prohibition on caffeine like they did on alcohol in the thirties? Organized crime would even get stronger, for sure! Here is what you should know about the latest findings on caffeine:

1. Its positive effects on sports performance mainly come from enhanced mood, reduced perception of pain, and adenosine antagonism.

2. For best results, capsules work better than tablets, and the optimal time is 45 to 60 minutes before exercise. Using a mixture of 2 ounces of club soda with two ounces of grapefruit juice to swallow them will increase the speed and the magnitude of coffee concentration in the blood stream.

3. For endurance improvement, only 1.3 to 2 mg/kg seems to be enough to increase performance, probably due to increased fatty acid metabolism and glycogen sparing.

4. For strength training, best results are seen once the 7 mg/kg threshold is reached, with 10 mg/kg being the upper limit where no further additional gains are seen. Elite athletes tend to respond better to caffeine than weekend warriors. Using coffee as your sole source of caffeine pre-workout would require an enormous amount of coffee. As in 6-9 cups for a 90 kg lifter. Capsules remain the best option.

5. Caffeine eliciting dehydration is a myth. Research studies show no greater change in urine loss or fluid when compared to a placebo.

6. Even though caffeine raises blood pressure short term, caffeine and hypertension are not related in long term studies.

7. The polyphenols in coffee improve insulin sensitivity, but caffeine in large amounts may negatively alter insulin sensitivity, but the jury is not out yet on whether caffeine use in athletes increases diabetes risk.

Charles Poliquin

Alex wrote:I think in a similar way to NO2 products but certainly meant to increase oxygen transportation. Athletes are tested for it so must be something in it.

Dtlv74 wrote:

Alex wrote:I think in a similar way to NO2 products but certainly meant to increase oxygen transportation. Athletes are tested for it so must be something in it.

There's a massive thread on one of the american bodybuilding forums about using medicinal marijana/cannabis extracts as a stim... apparently synthesised cannaboid extracts are one of the most potent vasodilators out there!

Not suggesting you get stoned before the race though coop, just thought I'd mention it

Max wrote:Caffeine / ephedrine / and rillas coupbord contents..

Rilla wrote:Tyrosine is a nice stim that isn't too powerful. I don't do huge stims anymore really, But I take a good 3-4g of tyrosine more or less every time I train.

ash fletcher wrote:

Rilla wrote:Tyrosine is a nice stim that isn't too powerful. I don't do huge stims anymore really, But I take a good 3-4g of tyrosine more or less every time I train.

I'm planning on using tyrosine, Will be training roughly 2 times a day in oct, would 3 grams on each session be fine? Or is 2 enough?

Rilla wrote:

ash fletcher wrote:

Rilla wrote:Tyrosine is a nice stim that isn't too powerful. I don't do huge stims anymore really, But I take a good 3-4g of tyrosine more or less every time I train.

I'm planning on using tyrosine, Will be training roughly 2 times a day in oct, would 3 grams on each session be fine? Or is 2 enough?

Factoring in BW and general tolerance towards stims, I'd say 2g should be good for you. Not sure I'd stim up twice daily for a prolonged period though. If you're gonna do it though, tyrosine is much easier on the body in my experience.
What kind of split will you be doing? Weights in the morning/afternoon and sprinting in the afternoon/morning?