Ok. Dangit I was hoping to use it for some more energy. What can I safely take before hand?
In my humble opinion - nothing.
Spend 1 week getting off caffeine completely.
Then, use 1/4 to 1/2 of a yellow caffeine tablet - ONLY on days you run, 45 minutes before you hit the treadmill. Your sensitivity to caff will be thru the roof. You'll sweat buckets and have insane energy. Crazy retard strength as well.
Then you don't use any caffeine (and go very easy on tea/coffee) until 48 ot 72 hours have passed and you're ready to run once again.
ECA will give you plenty of energy. it'll bump your metabolism up 2 to 3 percent. it'll also put you in that stringy catabolic state. IMO, if you're over 25, and just trying to get lean, it's not worth it. But opinions are like getbiggers...