all I know is that every time I took a caffeine pill before a race hoping to get a boost, it completely ruined everything.I never used caffeine pre-comp before last summer.Since I never liked coffee I decided to experience it in pills form either 30,60 or 90 minutes before the race.
1st time I felt unbelievable during warm-up like ”huge PB coming today!”and my nervous system instantly just completely shut down just before the race.The race felt literaly like I was running a marathon trying to sprint.At the time I found very odd and had no good explanation for it.
Next 3 occasions, I got either severe calf cramps near the end of warm-up and/or during the race and 1 hamstring tear that either ruined my indoor season and one important race, the other one was not, but still…
So each time with the same results wether it be indoors,outdoors,and several weeks or months apart, injury free for a long time before every occasion, well hydrated,well rested,wasn’t stiff or overtrained, well warmed up and etc…we looked at everything and it’s the only constant we found that was left.
I never ever got any cramps before while warming up,competing or during training.
Bottom line:caffeine before a race,never again for me.