Coffee and exercise - do or don't?

I recently ran a race for the first time.  It's one thing to be at a point in my life where I need all the help I can get, including whatever bars, shakes, or magic beans will give me extra energy.  But, it's different with coffee where it's not just a pick-me-up, I'm sure my bloodstream depends on it.The conclusions on the health benefits of coffee are that there are not yet any conclusions.  In fact, I'd read from one source that once your bloodstream becomes dependent on the caffeine after years of routine drinking it, that you will no longer feel its effects, only the effects of a lack of it.  As an aside, I challenged this theory at a recent coffee tasting where I drank so much coffee and definitely felt the effects again.