Creatine is often associated with weightlifting, and for a good reason - you'd be hard-pressed to find a strength athlete who doesn't swear by it. Known for amplifying strength, endurance, and lean muscle mass when consumed daily and paired with a consistent workout routine, creatine truly is a powerhouse supplement. (1,2,3) But here's the thing - creatine isn't just for bodybuilders. It can be a game-changer for endurance athletes too.
Let's explore how creatine supports all your fitness pursuits, including endurance activities.
The Science Behind Endurance and Creatine
First, what exactly is creatine? Creatine is a compound naturally synthesized in the body and found in small amounts in foods like meat and fish. However, the amount obtained through diet alone is often insufficient to maximize its benefits. Supplementing with high-quality creatine monohydrate is key to effectively boosting muscle energy, supporting strength, and enhancing performance during exercise. While the benefits of creatine are typically associated with short bursts of power - think weightlifting or sprinting - creatine supplementation also delivers notable benefits for endurance athletes.
Research shows that creatine enhances energy production in the later stages of prolonged exercise by improving the efficiency of the phosphocreatine energy system. This system helps replenish ATP, the body's primary energy source. The result? Increased energy reserves to sustain intensity during long-distance running, cycling, or swimming, delaying fatigue and improving overall performance.(1,2)
Picture this: you're sprinting to the finish line or powering up a steep hill - this is when creatine shines, helping you dig deeper and push harder when it matters most.
Creatine for Endurance Recovery
Recovery is everything when you're training hard to hit your goals. You're likely familiar with the benefits of consuming leucine-rich whey protein post-workout, but did you know creatine can also support muscle recovery? This is especially critical for endurance athletes managing high training loads. For those combining endurance with strength or interval training, creatine supplementation has been shown to enhance high-intensity performance and recovery, making it an excellent addition to a well-rounded endurance program.(1,2,4)
How to Use Creatine For Endurance
Just like with your training, you'll struggle to go faster or further if you aren't consistent. The same is true for supplementing with creatine. To maximize the benefits, make creatine part of your daily routine. A dosage of 3-5g per day can effectively boost intramuscular creatine stores, supporting muscle accretion, performance, and recovery.(1)
Endurance athletes should also prioritize hydration, especially when sweating through long runs or rides. We recommend mixing your creatine with an electrolyte drink for a hydration and energy boost. Ascent's Clean Creatine is flavorless, so it seamlessly blends with our Clean Hydration + Energy electrolyte powder, giving you the best of both worlds without altering taste.
Fuel Your Finish Line with Ascent's Clean Creatine
Ready to level up your endurance training with creatine? We've got you covered. Ascent's Clean Creatine formula features creatine monohydrate, the most researched and trusted form of creatine supplementation. Creatine monohydrate has been scientifically shown to enhance muscle mass, strength, and endurance - and it's been a go-to for athletes since the 1990s. (1,2,3)
At Ascent, we take it a step further by sourcing our creatine only from Creapure®, which is widely considered the purest & highest quality creatine monohydrate available on the market. Athletes trust our Clean Creatine because it's backed by science and designed for peak performance.
Whether you're chasing new personal records or powering through intense training cycles, Ascent's Clean Creatine has your back. Boost your endurance, speed up your recovery, (1,5) and conquer every mile, every rep, and every goal with confidence.
Everyone's "day in the life" with Ascent looks a little different, but we hope ours inspires your to fuel your body with the best to recover faster, train harder, and perform stronger every day.
Resources:
- Antonio, J., Candow, D. G., Forbes, S. C., Gualano, B., Jagim, A. R., Kreider, R. B., Rawson, E. S., Smith-Ryan, A. E., VanDusseldorp, T. A., Willoughby, D. S., & Ziegenfuss, T. N. (2021). Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show? Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-021-00412-w
- Kreider, R. B., Kalman, D. S., Antonio, J., Ziegenfuss, T. N., Wildman, R., Collins, R., Candow, D. G., Kleiner, S. M., Almada, A. L., & Lopez, H. L. (2017). International society of sports nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z
- Wu, S.-H., Chen, K.-L., Hsu, C., Chen, H.-C., Chen, J.-Y., Yu, S.-Y., & Shiu, Y.-J. (2022). Creatine supplementation for muscle growth: a scoping review of randomized clinical trials from 2012 to 2021. Nutrients, 14(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14061255
- Ramírez-Campillo, R., González-Jurado, J. A., Martínez, C., Nakamura, F. Y., Peñailillo, L., Meylan, C. M. P., Caniuqueo, A., Cañas-Jamet, R., Moran, J., Alonso-Martínez, A. M., & Izquierdo, M. (2016). Effects of plyometric training and creatine supplementation on maximal-intensity exercise and endurance in female soccer players. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 19(8), 682–687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2015.10.005
- Doma, K., Ramachandran, A.K., Boullosa, D. et al. The Paradoxical Effect of Creatine Monohydrate on Muscle Damage Markers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med 52, 1623–1645 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01640-z