Should marathon runners use Neuro Gum? Performance evaluation

Around mile 18, your legs start to feel heavier than they should. Your brain tells you to slow down before your body actually needs it. Caffeine has long been a tool runners use to combat that mental drag, and how you take it matters more than most people think. Neuro Gum offers a delivery method that works differently from gels and drinks already placed in your running belt, and for marathon runners in particular, the timing and combination of ingredients may be worth considering.

How Caffeine Gum Works During a Run

The caffeine in gum is absorbed into the tissues of your mouth rather than your stomach and digestive system. This oral absorption allows the compound to enter your bloodstream more quickly. Research shows that caffeinated gum reaches its peak concentration in the body between 44 and 80 minutes, while capsules take between 84 and 120 minutes.

Neuro Eraser Claims to work within 5-10 minutes after starting to chew. This speed comes in handy when you need a boost during a run and can’t wait half an hour for a gel to take effect. Other sources of caffeine like coffee or pills need 15 to 30 minutes before you feel anything, about 45 minutes to be fully absorbed, and about 60 minutes before the caffeine peaks in your blood.

For a marathon, which can last 3 to 6 hours depending on your pace, this absorption rate changes the way you plan your nutritional strategy.

What makes Neuro Gum different from regular caffeine?

Each piece of standard Neuro Gum contains 40 mg of natural caffeine from green coffee beans. The Extra Strength version increases this figure to 100 mg per piece. But caffeine alone doesn’t tell the whole story.

Neuro Eraser also includes L-theanine, as well as vitamins B6 and B12. The L-theanine component is what separates this product from a basic caffeine gummy or pill. Research on athletes has shown that the combination of caffeine and L-theanine produces better results on physical performance measures than either ingredient taken alone. One study found improvements in isometric strength, explosive power, and sport-specific endurance, as well as faster reaction times when fatigued.

The combination also had the lowest rate of anxiety and fewest side effects in this study, while caffeine alone increased anxiety and caused elevated heart rates in some participants. L-theanine appears to counteract some of the overstimulation that caffeine can produce without causing drowsiness.

Why it matters for endurance running

Caffeine helps runners by blocking brain signals that make you tired. It also supports muscle contractions and improves the efficiency of energy production. Together, these effects reduce the difficulty of a given pace, allowing you to maintain your target speed for longer.

A 2024 study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that a 300 mg dose of caffeine delivered in gummy form improved 5km parkrun times by an average of 17 seconds in recreational runners. The researchers noted reasonably strong evidence that caffeine gum had a beneficial effect on performance in this context.

For marathons in particular, a pre-race dose may not keep you going through the full effort. Caffeine has a half-life of approximately 4 to 5 hours, so its effects begin to wear off as the race progresses. Many runners add 50 to 100 mg during running to maintain this anti-fatigue effect.

Dosage for marathon day

According to available reports, safe caffeine intake for most healthy adults exceeds approximately 400 mg per day. This is equivalent to about 10 pieces of standard Neuro Gum. The brand recommends taking 1-2 pieces at a time as needed.

Research suggests that athletes consider doses between 3 and 6 mg per kilogram of body weight, which is a range of about 150 to 400 mg for most adults before and during exercise. A 150-pound runner, for example, would need a total of between 200 and 400 mg.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that caffeine reduces the perception of fatigue and allows athletes to maintain exercise at optimal intensity for longer periods of time. The International Society of Sports Nutrition suggests ultramarathoners take caffeine in the latter stages of their event to maintain energy.

Practical benefits on race day

The eraser fits in a pocket or in the waistband of shorts without any problem. It doesn’t circulate through your stomach like liquids do. For runners who feel nauseous or have a sensitive stomach during prolonged exercise, this delivery method avoids adding stress to the gut.

Neuro Gum contains no calories and is sweetened with monk fruit rather than sugar or artificial sweeteners. The Extra Strong version is aspartame-free. For runners who closely follow their running diet, this allows them to add caffeine without worrying about extra carb intake or stomach upset from sweeteners.

The precise dosage also helps with planning. Each piece gives you a known amount of caffeine, taking the guesswork out of coffee or caffeinated drinks that vary in concentration.

What to watch out for

Some runners experience stomach upset, diarrhea, or nausea when they take caffeine before or during a run. Others notice stage fright, heart palpitations, anxiety disorderor headaches. These reactions vary from person to person and often depend on the amount of caffeine you regularly consume outside of training.

The best approach is to test during your training runs rather than waiting until race day to see how your body reacts. Try different amounts and timings during long runs to find what works for you. If you generally avoid caffeine, start with smaller doses and gradually increase.

Caffeine can increase fat oxidation, which is helpful during longer events where your body relies more on fat for fuel. This effect adds another layer to its usefulness for marathons, although individual responses differ.

A solid option with the right preparation

Neuro Gum offers marathon runners a convenient and portable way to consume caffeine in precise doses. Faster absorption than gels and pills makes it convenient for mid-ride use when you need effects as soon as possible. Adding L-theanine can help blunt the stimulating effects of caffeine, reducing nervousness and anxiety while still maintaining the performance benefits.

The International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand on Caffeine and Physical Performance notes that caffeinated chewing gum is an effective ergogenic aid, particularly for endurance efforts. It works particularly well when taken just before exercise due to its rapid administration.

If you want to try Neuro Gum during your marathon training or on race day, The Feed is the best place to buy it. TheFeed.com offers Neuro Gum along with other endurance nutrition products, making it easy to put together your complete race day plan in one place.

The bottom line is that Neuro Gum can be a useful tool for marathon runners, but like any supplement, it works best when you’ve practiced it beforehand. Find the dose and timing that works for your body and you’ll have one more element of your run under your control.