Health products have always felt a little bit like a double-edged sword to me. On one hand, I’m constantly looking for ways to stay active, recover better, and keep myself moving. On the other, there’s so much out there with big promises that may or may not deliver.
Now that I’m a year past 40, I’ve started paying closer attention to what actually helps me. I may have been lighter, faster, or had more raw energy in the past, but right now I feel the most balanced and well-rounded in my fitness that I’ve ever been—and I really like that.
That’s why I’ve decided to spend some time highlighting a handful of health companies and products. We don’t cover these kinds of items too often at Run Oregon, and I’m not here to break down the science—that’s up to you to explore. What I can do is share some options that I’ve tried and found worth noting.
At its core, Fatty15 is built around C15:0, a fatty acid naturally found in small amounts in foods like dairy. The version used here is produced in a lab rather than sourced from animals, making it a vegan option—which is worth noting for runners who avoid fish oil or animal-based supplements.
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It’s also a straightforward formula. There’s just one active ingredient: pure C15:0, delivered in the brand’s powder form (called FA15) inside a capsule. No blends or added extras—just the single fatty acid.
Fatty15 is often talked about as an alternative—or at least a complement—to omega-3 supplements like fish oil. Instead of focusing on EPA and DHA (the fatty acids typically found in omega-3s), it centers on a different type of fat entirely. The intended end goal overlaps in some areas—supporting overall health—but it approaches that from a different angle.
How It Relates to Running
From a running perspective, this isn’t something that’s designed to directly impact a single run or workout in an obvious way, like fueling or hydration.
Instead, it sits more in the background.
The potential areas of relevance for runners include:
- Supporting overall recovery
- Helping the body manage training stress
- Contributing to general health and durability
These are all part of the broader picture of maintaining consistency over time.
Where It Fits In
For most runners, Fatty15 would be something added alongside an existing routine rather than replacing anything.
It doesn’t take the place of:
- Eating enough to support training
- Prioritizing recovery
- Hydration and fueling strategies
Those remain foundational.
If you already take omega-3s, this isn’t necessarily a direct substitute. And if you don’t, it doesn’t fully overlap with what omega-3s provide either. It’s better viewed as adjacent—similar general goals, but a different type of fatty acid and approach.
This is a supplement that’s taken consistently as part of a broader routine, without requiring much day-to-day adjustment.
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30-Day Check-In
After 30 days, I had to take a step back and actually think about how things went.
Over the course of the month, I logged about 125 miles. That included some back-to-back-to-back efforts (think 30 miles across three days), plus racing on consecutive days—starting with the Mudslinger Trail Half (with a couple thousand feet of gain) on Saturday and following it up with Bridge to Brews (a 5th place finish in the 8k!) the next day. All of that alongside a continued strength training routine.
In the moment, nothing really stood out—and that might be part of the point. But looking back on it, my body feels pretty good coming out of a fairly full stretch of training and racing.
Energy-wise, things have felt steady. Not a noticeable spike or anything dramatic, but more of a consistent, even level day to day.
It’s still early, and this is something I’m interested in continuing to track over time. But at least through this first month, it feels like there may be some small, positive movement in the right direction.
A Quick Note on Research
There is emerging research around C15:0 and its role in the body, particularly related to metabolic health and inflammation. At the same time, it remains an area that is still developing, and there isn’t yet a large body of long-term, independent studies—especially in endurance athletes.
Bottom Line
It’s still early, and this is something I’m interested in continuing to track over time. But looking back on the month as a whole, I find myself thinking about it a bit more than I expected.
There’s enough there—between how my body handled the mileage, back-to-back efforts, and overall consistency—that it leaves a positive impression. Not in a way that points to any single moment, but more in how everything added up across the month.
It’s the kind of thing that makes me curious to keep it in the routine and pay closer attention moving forward.
