Coffee Ingestion Enhances 1-Mile Running Race Performance
in International Journal of Sports Physiology and PerformanceContext: Caffeine, often in the form of coffee, is frequently used as a supplement by athletes in an attempt to facilitate improved performance during exercise. Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of coffee ingestion as an ergogenic aid prior to a 1-mile (1609 m) race. Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, cross-over, and placebo-controlled design, 13 trained male runners completed a 1-mile race 60 minutes following the ingestion of 0.09 g·kg−1 coffee (COF), 0.09 g·kg−1 decaffeinated coffee (DEC), or a placebo (PLA). All trials were dissolved in 300 mL of hot water. Results: The race completion time was 1.3% faster following the ingestion of COF (04:35.37 [00:10.51] min:s.ms) compared with DEC (04:39.14 [00:11.21] min:s.ms; P = .018; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.11 to −0.01; d = 0.32) and 1.9% faster compared with PLA (04:41.00 [00:09.57] min:s.ms; P = .006; 95% CI, −0.15 to −0.03; d = 0.51). A large trial and time interaction for salivary caffeine concentration was observed (P < .001;
Clarke and Richardson are with the School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom. Thie is with the Cardiff School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom. Taylor is with the Sport, Exercise and Health Research Centre, Newman University, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
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