Fuelling the Ultrarunning Life with Adaptogens
Ultrarunning is more than just a sport – it’s a battle of the mind, body, and endurance. The relentless pounding of the pavement, the early morning training grinding out the miles and the mental grit required to push past exhaustion demand more than just conventional nutrition. I thought I had it all figured out – until I discovered AstroFuel’s adaptogenic supplements! My diet is pretty much on point, minimal carbs on keto means I am meticulous in what I eat and when I eat it. Equally important is when I eat. I have a structured training plan and I pretty much eat the same stuff at the same times on the same days. It might be uninteresting, but I know I need it and everything goes to sh*t if I don’t, as I get hungry, tired and therefore unproductive.
After incorporating Shilajit, Jiaogulan Tea, Cordyceps and Performance Plus into my training, my endurance skyrocketed, my recovery time improved, and fatigue became a thing of the past. Here’s how these game-changing adaptogens hopefully going to help me unlock a new level of personal ultra-performance. I’m pretty new to this stuff, but I’ve given myself time to see what works and what doesn’t, so I thought I’d put together this blog to to help paint a picture of what things do (and how through my research) and maybe they might help you and your ultrarunning too!
Shilajit: The Ultimate Cellular Fuel
Every ultrarunning athlete should know that cellular energy is the foundation of endurance. Without sustained ATP production, your body crashes before the finish line. That’s where Shilajit became my secret weapon.
How It Works:
Packed with fulvic acid, trace minerals, and bioactive compounds, Shilajit supercharges mitochondrial function, allowing for enhanced ATP production and energy efficiency. Unlike caffeine, which provides a short-lived boost, Shilajit fuels the body at a cellular level, ensuring long-lasting endurance without crashes.
The Results:
Sustained energy throughout longer runs
Faster recovery between back-to-back training sessions
Reduced muscle fatigue and inflammation
Jiaogulan Tea: The Tea of Immortality for Endurance Runners
Hydration is critical in ultrarunning, however electrolyte balance and circulatory health matter just as much. Jiaogulan Tea, often called the ‘Tea of Immortality,’ became my go-to beverage for endurance and cardiovascular support.
How It Works:
This powerhouse adaptogen optimises nitric oxide production, allowing for better oxygen delivery to muscles. The result? Improved circulation, reduced lactic acid buildup and sustained endurance.
The Results:
Better stamina and oxygen efficiency
Reduced cramping and fatigue
Enhanced cardiovascular performance
I swapped my usual pre-run caffeine for Jiaogulan Tea, and the difference was night and day. No jitters, no energy dips – just smooth, sustained performance. I have 3 cups a day, one in the morning, one after work and one before bed. That fact it’s caffeine free is great as it doesn’t affect my sleep – and it tastes great too! Having drank cups and cups of green tea and flavoured green tea, this is on another level of flavour! I actually like drinking it rather than forcing myself to because of the benefits!
Cordyceps: The Endurance Mushroom That Changed Everything
Most runners rely on VO2 max training to improve performance, but what if there was a supplement that could naturally enhance oxygen utilisation? Enter Cordyceps, the mushroom of endurance. I’m not saying I’m being lazy and supplementing instead of training, but anything to up my all-round game is a win for me.
How It Works:
Cordyceps increases the body’s ability to transport and use oxygen more efficiently, improving lung function and ATP production. It’s been used by elite endurance athletes for decades – and now, it’s a staple in my running nutrition.
The Results:
Improved lung capacity and endurance
Delayed onset of fatigue on long runs
Boosted post-run recovery
Since adding Cordyceps capsules to my daily routine, I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my breathing efficiency – allowing me to maintain a strong pace without gasping for air.
Performance Plus: My Pre-Run Powerhouse
While my Shilajit, Jiaogulan, and Cordyceps focus on endurance and recovery, Performance Plus is my go-to pre-run booster.
How It Works:
Loaded with Siberian Rhodiola, Ginseng, and Ashwagandha, Performance Plus enhances stamina, mental resilience and testosterone production – helping me push through mental and physical fatigue.
The Results:
Greater mental clarity and focus
Improved strength and endurance
Faster post-run recovery
Unlike traditional pre-workout formulas which I used to swear by, Performance Plus provides sustained energy without jitters or crashes. It’s the perfect fuel for ultra-athletes who demand long-lasting performance.
I started writing this blog feeling pretty good after introducing the new supplements. However, after talking to the guys at the Cosmic Wellness Company, they said that I had to try their Fortitude supplements if I thought what I was already taking were good – this would blow them out of the water. Apart from feeling less tired and full of energy, I admit, I didn’t see any improvements statistics-wise on my runs and workouts. Feeling good and recovering faster were good enough, but they guys insisted I try their ‘gym crack’ – Fortitude!
I finished the month long course of Performance Plus – I wanted to see what the Fortitude could do for me, knowing what the Performance Plus had done. I continued with the shilajit, cordyceps and jiaogulan tea but switched up the main supplement – just to see. But Fortitude – wow! Here’s some information on it…
Fortitude: The Ultimate Fuel for Strength, Recovery & Stamina
When pushing my body to the limit, muscle fatigue, recovery time and endurance are constant battles. That’s where Fortitude has been a game-changer for me. This powerful supplement is a synergistic blend of adaptogens and superfoods designed to support muscle growth, repair connective tissue and sustain peak performance – exactly what I need to keep going mile after mile.
Since adding Fortitude to my routine, I’ve noticed:
Faster recovery – less soreness after brutal training sessions
Sustained endurance – powering through long runs with consistent energy as well as improved running times
Improved muscle strength & resilience – allowing me to push further without breakdown
Reduced inflammation & oxidative stress – aiding long-term performance and recovery
What’s in it?
Fortitude is packed with organic Irish Sea Moss, Spirulina and Shilajit, a powerhouse trio loaded with 92 essential minerals, amino acids and vitamins crucial for muscle function, cellular repair and optimal ATP production (cellular energy). It’s like feeding my body exactly what it needs to perform at its best – without the crashes or inflammation that synthetic supplements can bring.
Why it works for endurance athletes?
Ultra-running isn’t just about raw strength – it’s about resilience, endurance, and recovery. Fortitude has helped me go longer, train harder and bounce back faster – all without compromising my long-term health.
If you’re serious about taking your performance to the next level, this is a must-have in your ultrarunning arsenal.
The Verdict: AstroFuel Gave Me a New Found Edge in my Ultrarunning
Since integrating AstroFuel’s adaptogenic stack into my training, my endurance has soared. My body recovers faster than ever, and my mental resilience has improved dramatically.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior like me or an elite ultrarunning enthusiast, AstroFuel’s adaptogens will help you:
Run longer without hitting the wall
Recover faster between grueling training sessions
Increase lung capacity and oxygen efficiency
Boost stamina, focus, and endurance naturally
I recommend giving any or all of these products a try and experience next-level performance, powered by nature. Not an ad or paid partnership BTW, just something interesting I thought would make a good read on here since I haven’t done much trig bagging because of the volume of training and events ahead! Plus, if it does me some good, it’s bound to have some positive effects on you guys too!
Here’s some screenshots from my Strava to back everything up. Not meant as a product plug or sales blog – just something I wanted to share with you guys – because it’s worth f*cking sharing!
My current ultrarunning training statistics
My Coros stats during February
These are a couple of runs, sprints and commutes at the beginning of the week commencing 10/03/2025. I didn’t intentionally bust a nut to get these to add to the blog – I went out, usual routines, usual times doing what I usually do, however there were notable improvements across the board. I was impressed with myself!
My Coros stats to date from 10/03/2025
And finally, here’s my annual mileage cumulation statistics from Runkeeper (I track everything on my Coros watch ((which posts to Strava)) AND RunKeeper – just in case one fails) – but I can’t find the cumulative statistics on Coros or Strava – in case you thought there was something weird about the usage of the various apps!
Year to date (11/03/2025) on RunKeeper
I felt it was worth showing how much work I’ve been putting in this year and 2024’s statistics. Big number to beat but beat them I intend on doing!
Did You Know?
Cordyceps mushrooms were used by Tibetan monks and elite Chinese runners to enhance endurance, oxygen uptake and overall performance – centuries before modern sports science caught up.
In Conclusion
Ultrarunning is a battle of resilience, endurance and recovery. Furthermore, by fueling my body with AstroFuel’s adaptogens, I’ve taken my training to a level I never thought possible. I highly recommend giving these alternative products a try to run stronger, recover faster and push past your limits, this is the ultimate fuel for your ultra-journey. Works pretty well for me and I’m just a weekend warrior battling the onset of old-age! I’m not an ambassador or anything, there’s no lame discount code with my name in it for commission, just an informed blog about the immense benefits I’ve seen from switching to these since the start of 2025!
Check out their stuff here: www.astro-fuel.co.uk
For anyone interested, at the time of publishing this blog, here are my current 2025 stats:
I’ll keep adding these monthly snapshots from RunKeeper here as I continue with these new supplements. January was the introduction of cordyceps. February was cordyceps and Performance Plus (also, February was only a shorter month so stats were always gonna be a little lower than Jaunary!). March is Fortitude. In April, when I have my first ultrarunning event, I’ll be combining Performance Plus and Fortitude – knowing how each help me individually – looking forward to seeing what they do together!
