Placebo Effect on Runners: Belief vs. Reality — image accompanying Marathon Handbook's report. Image accompanying Marathon Handbook’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Marathon Handbook reports on a study about placebo effects in runners. Runners took placebo caffeine but felt more active. They also reported caffeine side effects despite no actual caffeine.
Fourteen trained male runners completed two sessions. One session involved placebo caffeine. They felt more active but showed no performance change. Side effects included increased urination and sleep disturbance. Read more culture coverage.
The study suggests belief in caffeine can alter feelings but not race outcomes. Runners should test caffeine strategies in training, not rely on placebo effects. Expecting negative effects can also amplify those sensations. Related: Study: Stroller Running May Reduce Overuse Injuries.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
Reader questions
Questions about this report
What should runners know about Placebo Effect on Runners: Belief vs. Reality?
Study shows placebo caffeine improves feelings but not performance. Marathon Handbook reports on a study about placebo effects in runners. Runners took placebo caffeine but felt more active. They also reported caffeine side effects despite no actual caffeine.
When did Runner World publish this culture brief?
Runner World published this brief on August 20, 2026. The underlying Marathon Handbook report was dated August 20, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Marathon Handbook. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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