Some adventurous runners are foraging for legal magic mushrooms – one that improves VO2 max without turning the long run into a vision quest. To learn more about cordyceps and reishi – non-hallucinogenic fungi that may influence stress response, energy production, inflammation, and recovery – check out this new story from Outside: “I Tested 4 Adaptogenic Mushroom Supplements. Here’s What They Did for My Running.” The writer reported better energy from one cordyceps gummy and less soreness, better sleep scores, and stronger next-day energy from one reishi capsule, while two other products produced little noticeable effect. Those results are anecdotal, and changes in training, sleep, nutrition, expectations, or placebo could explain part of the difference. Research remains preliminary as well: a 2025 meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials suggests cordyceps may improve VO2 max, time to exhaustion, blood lactate, and recovery markers, but study sizes and supplement quality vary. Mushroom interest also extends into psychoactive territory. “U.S. Psychedelic Use and Microdosing in 2025” estimates that about 10 million U.S. adults microdosed psilocybin, LSD, or MDMA during the previous year. Despite the curiosity surrounding these trends – which are explored in “What Is Microdosing? Benefits, Effects, Safety, and More” – we can’t recommend experimenting with them for obvious reasons. Psychedelics remain illegal under federal law and present notable health risks, including increased anxiety, brain fog, or stomach upset. That being said, it is fascinating to see where future medicine could head once clinical trials thoroughly prove safety and efficacy.

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