Hey, that’s a cool idea. Yerba mate does contain caffeine, so it can give you a quick lift in alertness and possibly a small boost in muscular power because caffeine blocks adenosine receptors and increases adrenaline release. The real question is how big that effect is on sprint split time. In controlled studies, caffeine can improve 100‑meter sprint times by about 0.05 to 0.1 seconds, but that’s usually with a moderate dose, not just a single cup of mate. A single cup probably gives you a few milligrams of caffeine, which is likely below the threshold that consistently changes stride timing. The herb’s other compounds, like theanine or polyphenols, might help recovery but won’t shave off 0.01 seconds in a sprint. So if you’re chasing millisecond gains, you’re probably better off with a proper pre‑sprint caffeine dose or a well‑timed warm‑up. But if you enjoy the flavor and mild alertness, go for it – the herbal side is still a nice touch.

Sounds like a solid plan. A good warm‑up and a precise caffeine dose are your best bet for that tiny edge. Enjoy the mate for the taste, and let the training do the timing work.

Sounds great—keep the warm‑ups consistent, track the caffeine dose per kilogram, and repeat the routine exactly. Then the mate can stay as a tasty ritual, not a performance weapon. Good luck, and I’m curious to hear how the next race turns out.