You've trained for months for an In-race beetroot top-up. You've loaded Stamox before race day. But if your race lasts longer than three hours, you're missing one critical piece: the mid-race top-up.
Here's the short version: the nitric oxide boost from your pre-race beetroot dose doesn't last forever. Around the 2-3 hour mark, levels start to drop. A small, well-timed top-up can bring them back up and help you hold your pace to the finish line.
Quick Summary: The In-Race Beetroot Top-Up at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
| Why top up? | Plasma nitrite levels decline during prolonged exercise, reducing oxygen efficiency |
| When? | Every 2-3 hours during your race |
| How much? | 1 tablespoon (~10g) of Stamox per top-up |
| How to carry it? | Pre-mixed in a small bottle or soft flask, clearly labeled |
| Test it when? | During your long training sessions, never first time on race day |
The Problem: Your Pre-Race Dose Wears Off
Think of your pre-race Stamox dose like fuel in a tank. It gets you off the start line with peak nitric oxide levels, wide-open blood vessels, efficient oxygen delivery, and low perceived effort.
But as the hours tick by, your body uses up those nitrates. Research confirms that plasma nitrite — the direct precursor to nitric oxide — naturally drops during prolonged, intense exercise. When this happens, your oxygen efficiency fades and holding pace feels harder. This isn't bonking from low glycogen. It's a gradual loss of the vasodilation benefit you started with.
The Solution: A Simple Mid-Race Maintenance Dose
The fix is straightforward. An in-race Stamox top-up isn't about reloading from scratch. It's about maintaining what you already built.
When to Top Up
Every 2-3 hours during your race.
For a 6-hour event, that's two top-ups. For a 10-hour ultra, three to four. The timing lines up with the proven 2-3 hour peak window of dietary nitrate .
How Much to Take
1-3 tablespoon (~10-30 grams)Â of Stamox beetroot powder.
This is smaller than your pre-race loading dose. It's enough to replenish nitrite levels without overloading your stomach mid-exertion.
How to Carry It
Practicality wins races. Pre-mix your top-up so you don't fumble mid-race.
- In a small bottle:Â Mix 1 tablespoon Stamox into a small water or electrolyte bottle. Label it.
- In a soft flask:Â Ideal for runners. Minimal weight, easy access.
- With your fuel:Â If you use a liquid carbohydrate drink, combine both in one flask. Test this in training first.
Why This Matters for Your Finish
Without a top-up, you risk fading in the final third of your race — not from lack of fitness, but from declining oxygen efficiency. By topping up every 2-3 hours, you:
- Sustain the blood vessel dilation that delivers oxygen to muscles
- Keep perceived effort lower for the same pace
- Delay the onset of that "heavy leg" feeling
- Give yourself the best chance to finish as strong as you started
Research backs this up. The 2025 umbrella review of 15 meta-analyses confirmed that nitrate's performance benefits are tied to sustained availability, while Salem et al. (2025) showed that ongoing nitrate intake supports muscle oxygenation and reduces fatigue markers .
A Simple Race-Day Plan
- Pre-race:Â Take your full Stamox dose 2-3 hours before the start
- During the race:Â Take 1 tablespoon of Stamox every 2-3 hours
- After the race: Focus on recovery — research shows beetroot supplementation can reduce DOMS at 24-48 hoursÂ
Don't Just Start Strong — Stay Strong
Your Stamox beetroot powder is more than a pre-race ritual. It's a tool you can use throughout your event to fight the natural physiological decline that slows so many athletes in the final miles. Pre-mix your top-up. Set a timer. Take it on schedule. And cross the finish line at the pace you trained for.
Shop Stamox — Your Race-Long Performance Partner
"The purest beetroot powder on the market. Stamox provided a significant boost to my power and VO2 max that helped me become U23 European Champion. I’m using Stamox now already for over a year and actually can’t describe how much it has changed my cycling performance. From increasing my power and VO2 it has just has changed my overal health as it’s just the purest beetroot powder there is on the market. I use it almost every day from rest-days to crazy trainings. When i’m peaking towards an really important race i also load it a bit by taking 2 servings a day for almost 10 days. This help me to really perform on my highest level. I took it for 1 month and became European Champion U23 in the cyclocross so it does help."
Scientific Sources
- Salem A, Ammar A, Kerkeni M, et al. Short-Term Beetroot Juice Supplementation Enhances Strength, Reduces Fatigue, and Promotes Recovery in Physically Active Individuals: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Trial. Nutrients. 2025;17(10):1720. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40431460/Â
- Tian C, Jiang Q, Han M, et al. Effects of Beetroot Juice on Physical Performance in Professional Athletes and Healthy Individuals: An Umbrella Review. Nutrients. 2025;17(12):1958. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40573069/Â
- Wylie LJ, Kelly J, Bailey SJ, et al. Beetroot juice and exercise: pharmacodynamic and dose-response relationships. Journal of Applied Physiology. 2013;115(3):325-336. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00372.2013Â
- Mrakic-Sposta S, et al. Effect of Beetroot Nitrate Supplementation on Nitric Oxide Pathways and Oxy-Inflammatory Biomarkers in Amateur Triathletes: A Randomized Cross-Over Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2026;18(8):1215. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/8/1215Â
