Purpose <p>This study aimed to examine the effects of a single dose of a betalain-rich concentrate (BRC) on determinants of running performance and recovery lactate clearance.</p> Methods <p>In this a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, 17 male recreational runners (Age: 19.0 ± 1.0&#xa0;years; Height: 176.8 ± 6.2&#xa0;cm; Weight: 70.62 ± 8.1&#xa0;kg; Body fat: 12.8 ± 0.03%; VO_2max: 58.9 ± 8.6&#xa0;ml/kg/min) consumed an acute dose of a BRC (100&#xa0;mg) or a placebo (100&#xa0;mg of dextrose; CON) and performed a running economy protocol (RE) at velocities corresponding to 60% and 80% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max) followed by a VO_2max test. Both exercise and recovery skeletal muscle oxygenation (SmO₂) were assessed via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and recovery lactate was obtained.</p> Results <p>BRC resulted in lower heart rate (HR) at velocities corresponding to 80% of VO_2max (<i>p</i> = 0.05) and maximum HR (HR_max; <i>p</i> = 0.01), and a lower rating of perceived exertion (RPE) at velocities corresponding to 60% of VO_2max (<i>p</i> = 0.02) when compared to CON. BRC also improved post-exercise SmO₂ at 3 (<i>p</i> = 0.05), 4 (<i>p</i> = 0.02), and 5&#xa0;min (<i>p</i> = 0.01) but not lactate clearance (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). BRC did not significantly improve RE or VO_2max (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05).</p> Conclusions <p>A single dose of BRC did not enhance RE or VO_2max. However, the observed improvements in exercise HR, RPE, and SmO₂ suggest that BRC may confer cardiovascular benefits for exercise and recovery.</p>