If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best clean pre workout for running is, then we recommend Pre Lab Pro® as the best one.
In order to get the optimal running performance you need, you must find the best clean pre workout supplement to help maximize your potential.
The best clean pre workout options are ones that give you a great energy boost, help you focus, and improve your endurance.
Here are the top clean pre workouts we’ll be reviewing:
- FitFarm USA Clean+Lean Natural Performance “Plus”
- EVERTRAIN PRE
- Proven 4 Sport Pre-Workout
- Smart Muscle 3-in-1 Natural Performance AMP
- Pre Lab Pro®
What Are Pre-Workout Supplements?
So, what are pre-workout supplements? The answer to that is right there in the name.
They’re supplements you take before your workouts or runs that help you maximize the time you spend training.
They usually come in powdered form, but you can also find them in capsules.
Advantages of Using Them
More Energy
One of the most common ingredients in pre-energy supplements is caffeine. Caffeine’s a pick-me-up.
Anyone who has to start the morning with a cup of coffee already knows that.
That nice energy boost you get from the caffeine in pre-workout supplements is one of their most appealing features.
The more energy you have, the longer you can last on the track.
Better Focus
Another commonly found ingredient in pre-workout supplements is taurine, and one of its biggest benefits is to help improve mental acuity and focus.
Taurine is often recommended to people who suffer from poor mental health or frequent mood swings.
It does a lot of good stuff for the brain, including increasing its levels of glycine and GABA, which helps you calm down and remain focused.
Increases Blood Flow
Citrulline, also found in these supplements, can help widen your veins and arteries, which helps increase blood flow throughout the body.
Not only can this lower your blood pressure, it can also help improve your physical performance.
Boosts Your Endurance
There are tons of ingredients in pre-workout supplements that can help increase your overall performance and endurance levels.
In fact, that’s a large part of what most of the ingredients do.
They work together to provide you with a sustained source of energy and a feeling of well-being that’ll keep your endurance at peak levels.
What Are “Clean” Pre-Workout Supplements?
Although there’s no single definition as to what clean pre-workout supplements are, most people agree that clean supplements are those made of all-natural (or as close to all-natural) ingredients as possible.
There’s little processing done to the ingredients and no GMOs or preservatives are added.
They also tend to be hypoallergenic, containing no soy, gluten or other ingredients that could cause allergic reactions.
Things to Consider Before Buying
Can I Take Them?
Most pre-work supplements are fairly safe because they’re largely made of all-natural ingredients.
The caffeine content in them can be quite high, however, and that can negatively affect some people. If you’re sensitive to caffeine or if your doctor has warned you away from it, avoid pre-workout supplements with caffeine.
(Note: There are some that don’t have caffeine, as you’ll soon see.)
Caffeine Content
If caffeine isn’t a problem for you, you still need to check the caffeine content of a supplement.
It’s important to find the right balance of caffeine – enough to give you an energy boost but not so much that you get the jitters or crash afterwards.
Other Ingredients
In addition to caffeine, there are a few other ingredients you’ll want to look for in your pre-workout supplements.
These include:
- Creatine
- Tyrosine
- Beta-Alanine
- Taurine
- Citrulline
- Betaine Anhydrous
We’ve already discussed some of these, but I’ll briefly touch on the others. Creatine provides you with energy and helps alleviate feelings of fatigue.
Additionally, it encourages your muscles to draw more water into them, which helps build larger muscles and aids in muscle recovery.
Tyrosine helps improve your focus and elevates your mood so that you’ll feel more excited and ready to hit the track.
It can also stimulate the body’s production of adrenaline, which is always a good thing when you’re running.
Beta-Alanine is an amino acid that can help improve your overall running performance and spur the production of lean muscle.
Betaine anhydrous can improve your metabolism and improve overall performance.
When you’re looking for the best clean pre workout supplement for your needs, take into account how much of each of these ingredients a product contains.
Furthermore, make sure there are no unpronounceable ingredients and that the company is transparent about the included amount of each ingredient.
This will ensure you’re truly getting a “clean” product.
Value
Finally, make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. Any fitness supplement can be expensive, but they don’t always have to be.
Look closely at how much the product costs and compare that to the size and the ingredients in it.
Are There Side Effects?
Certain people have been known to experience side effects from taking pre-workout supplements, usually because of adverse reactions to the caffeine.
The most common side effects are:
- Rapid heartbeat and/or feeling jumpy/jittery.
- Headaches.
- Upset stomach and other digestive issues.
- Increased water retention.
- “Pins and needles” in the extremities.
If you experience any of these, you may be taking too much of the supplement, or you may have to stop taking it altogether.
If you’re concerned about potential side effects, talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement.
The 5 Best Clean Pre Workout Options for Runners
FitFarm USA Clean+Lean Natural Performance “Plus”
There are two flavor options with FitFarm USA Clean+Lean Natural Performance “Plus”, and I personally dislike them both equally.
It’s also very expensive, with the pomegranate flavor being even more expensive than the blueberry.
It works well, though. It’s packed with BCAAs, vitamins and antioxidants, and in addition to providing extra energy and helping with muscle gains, this product is also surprisingly effective in aiding with weight loss.
It’s a very clean product with little sugar and enough caffeine to provide a surge of initial energy but not enough that you crash when “coming down.”
Pros:
- Good initial burst of energy & long-lasting energy.
- Full of vitamins, antioxidants and BCAAs.
- Causes few jitters or negative caffeine effects.
- Mixes well.
- Helps with weight loss.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- Chalky texture.
- Tastes bad.
- No serious negative effects, but does cause profuse perspiration.
EVERTRAIN PRE
EVERTRAIN PRE is very reasonably priced and comes in two different flavors. I found the orange flavor to be absolutely awful, but the raspberry was at least tolerable.
The product is very clean and natural, and the company is very transparent about what it puts in it.
The energy and quick recovery times were evident with this product, but I found it to be most beneficial in the mental aspects of training.
I felt good when taking this product, and I don’t just mean physically. I was pumped, excited and couldn’t wait to run.
I also noticed a sharpness in my thinking and reaction times that was noticeably improved over my normal day-to-day runs. It did make me a little jittery and on-edge though.
Pros:
- Superb benefits to mental acuity.
- 280 mg of caffeine per serving provides tons of energy.
- Raspberry tastes decent.
- No sugar rush.
- Affordable.
Cons:
- Made me jittery.
- Can cause stomach upset, especially in those sensitive to caffeine.
- Doesn’t always mix well.
Proven 4 Sport Pre-Workout
In terms of price, Proven 4 Sport Pre-Workout is somewhat ‘middle-of-the-road.’
It’s low-carb and low-sugar, and it’s heavy on the creatine and beta-alanine, which are two of the most important ingredients if you’re looking to improve your overall running performance and build muscle in the process.
I definitely noticed improvements in both of these areas.
It mixes really well, but I didn’t like the flavor at all. I found that I could stomach it better on ice.
I felt like I moved faster and with more power while using this product than with some of the others, and the sustained energy levels were very impressive.
I paid for it later, though, because this one came with a crash for me. However, my two friends who used it with me never suffered a crash.
Pros:
- Packed with creatine and beta-alanine.
- Helped me move faster and with more power.
- Noticeable muscle gains.
- No noticeable jitters or increased heart rate.
Cons:
- A little pricey.
- Tastes bad.
- Led to an after-crash for me.
Smart Muscle 3-in-1 Natural Performance AMP
Smart Muscle 3-in-1 Natural Performance AMP was priced on par with most clean pre-workout supplements, although it might tend slightly towards the higher end.
I didn’t like the taste, and sadly, it gave me both jitters and tingling fingers.
That’s a shame because it really did provide me with a ton of energy. I felt great before, during and after my run while testing this product.
Of the three of us who used it, I was the only one affected negatively, but I’m also caffeine-sensitive.
We all noticed positive results in the way we felt during our runs or workouts, and we all noticed impressive muscle toning in a relatively short amount of time.
Two of us even shed a few pounds while using it. In terms of performance, none of us had any complaints, but I had to stop taking it because of the jittery feelings and the tingling hands.
Pros:
- Best all-around in terms of energy boost, sustained energy, recovery and muscle gains.
- Aids in weight loss.
- Mixes easily.
- Heightened senses; better focus.
Cons:
- Gave me jitters and tingling fingers.
- Doesn’t taste great.
Pre Lab Pro®
Because Pre Lab Pro® is in capsule form, it’s hard to compare it in price to other options, but compared by serving size, this brand isn’t significantly higher than the others.
It’s very reasonably priced to be such a well-known brand. The convenience of taking the supplement in capsule form is unbeatable, and you don’t have to worry about the taste.
Additionally, it doesn’t contain caffeine!
It worked just as well, if not better, than the other products we tried, but there were none of the negative effects associated with too much caffeine, making it a great choice for people with caffeine-sensitivity.
It doesn’t provide the most noticeable initial burst of energy, but in terms of sustained energy, it’s a rock star. In fact, the effects are so long-lasting, I still felt fine after my run.
Pros:
- Extremely long-lasting energy.
- Contains no caffeine!
- Capsule form – convenient; no bad taste.
- 100% clean.
- Quickly and noticeably impacts muscle growth.
Cons:
- More expensive if not bought in bulk.
- Unimpressive initial energy boost.
The Best Clean Pre Workout for Running
Although there are some pre-workout powders whose tastes are tolerable, as a general rule, I don’t like them.
For that reason alone, Pre Lab Pro® could’ve been my number one choice, but that’s not my only reason.
I love the convenience and tastelessness of popping a capsule, but mostly, I’m still amazed by how well it works despite not containing any caffeine!
I’m sensitive to caffeine; I don’t even drink caffeinated drinks.
For that reason, it’s always been hard for me to find a pre-workout supplement that works for me.
Although I do feel more energized and focused while taking them, I also get jittery and flushed, and my heart starts racing.
These capsules give me all the great benefits of a caffeinated pre-workout supplement, but I don’t suffer any of the negative side effects from caffeine.
That’s why Pre Lab Pro® is my number one pick.
