Eat Beets, Run Faster: True or False?

Learn the science of how to use BEETS to improve your training and racing.

-When to eat them
-How they work
-Juice or whole beets
-How much to eat

Post any questions in the comments below.

Studies cited:
Whole beetroot consumption acutely improves running performance:

Influence of dietary nitrate on the physiological determinants of exercise performance: A critical review:

Cardiorespiratory function associated with dietary nitrate supplementation

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[chrisowen]

After hearing about the benefits of beetroots, I've been juicing 1 raw beet with a cup of water and a cup of apple juice. 5 days into the experiment, I reckon its actually working and I'm recovering better.

[davidw.pursley]

I eat a small cooked beet each evening while I’m making dinner since the family only likes the greens. I’ll try baked next. 🙏🏻
I’ve tried 200 ml beginning 3 days before my long run but invariably 2-3 hours in to the run I’m looking for a bush. Good thing I’m on trails.

[DTOWNRW]

will try this for the broad street run. much longer than a 5k but worth a shot

[annahunt]

Great research. Good thing they're delicious too!

[brickmissing]

I’ll be testing this at my next Parkrun. I can confirm that drinking a cup of coffee has zero effect on my 5K time - so colour me skeptical about beetroot juice.

[padmabharani]

Tried it in 2019 and Every time I eat beet my next run will be a good one.

[RaphaelIgrisianu]

Another golden Video. This channel is great. Hope my competitors won't discover it 😅

[quicksilva]

Does it matter if the beets are cooked? what if you eat them raw? Is that beneficial? Also, I grow beets. Can you get the same benefits from eating the leaves?

[roustaboutfun]

We can't beet it...join it~ The beat goes on! Also good for other aerobics... I take some cherry beets from time to time.

[BenchmarkBenTracy]

75 minutes out and whole beets?! I'd be too worried about the GI distress (especially if you are recommending NOT to train with them...train gut too).

[swatisubudhi]

Could I possibly take 200 ml of raw cold pressed beet juice ....after having a bread with 2tps of peanut butter..1 hr before a run

[stevencologne]

How about performance for the marathon or an ultra marathon?

[aidenlinden]

About how much beet juice do you recommend before a race

[reesecain.fitness]

So can i just buy the juice and drink it to recieve benefits? Or is that too processed and im better by the actually beets.

[christopherpierre]

Do canned beets provide same results ?

[markking]

Can't eat then run so what do you recommend 😎😎

[kulr]

Assuming one is a healthy individual, why not just take a viagra 60-90 minutes before a race? Are there any studies, anecdotal reports regarding this?