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Performance fueling requires tailored strategies based on the duration and your activity choice: endurance, strength, or high-intensity. I've competed in endurance sports for almost three decades and have followed nutrition science closely since the 90s. Nutrition science continuously evolves with new data, new products, and as new strategies emerge, the fundamental principles remain relatively the same. Here are some universal principles I recommend to maximize energy output, recovery, and overall performance for my athletes, my father, and myself, whether you are a beginner or an experienced athlete seeking to enhance your performance.
1. Know your numbers
- Track your carb needs per hour
- Track your hydration needs per hour
- Track your electrolytes, particularly sodium, needs per hour
- Each of the three components vary for each individual and will change for you with differing environmental conditions
- Once you know your numbers, begin to optimize your intake in training with the below points
2. Know how you’ll hit your numbers
- Practice with different fuel sources: chews, gels, bars, liquid nutrition, fruit, candy, chips, solids, etc.
- Practice with a different pack, belt, and/or handhelds to find your preferences.
- Ex. I use ultimate direction handhelds while racing on trails up to the 50 mile distance because I want to efficiently go in/out of aid stations. I use UD hydration packs for mountain races, stage races, and always for training in trails or mountains to carry extra for emergencies.
- Practice fueling/hydrating in different weather conditions and different intensities.
- Then practice increasing your carb intake and/or hydration as the intensity, duration, or weather demands more from you.
3. Be prepared to adjust
- Things can go wrong on race day. They usually do the longer the duration of the race event. Don’t stop fueling or hydrating. This can be a very easy choice to make when we have GI distress, however, it is imperative to aim to stay on top of your nutrition/hydration even when things go wrong. Learn to adjust in training so you can adjust on race day.
4. Train your gut
- Generally, caloric needs increase for anything over 90 minutes.
- The standard for carbohydrates was 60g/hr. Some age groupers are now able to consume 80-100g/hr. Some elites/professionals are pushing 120+g/hr.
- Be patient. It takes time to be able to increase your carb intake and teach the gut to process more carbs. Find the ideal number for you.
- Practice your race strategy in training.
- Heat, humidity, altitude, intensity, and race day nerves all impact how your GI tract processes nutrients. Practice and train it. ALL these factors are the common reasons athletes have GI distress during their races. It matters.
5. Prepare your crew (ultras, mountain races, stage races)
- Share your detailed plan in advance. Spreadsheets work great.
- Have a back up plan for worse case scenarios.
6. Carb load
- Race week should be healthy, balanced like your regular eating routine.
- Increase carb intake day before or morning of key long training sessions.
- Increase carb intake primarily the two days before your goal endurance event; however, there is no need to overdue it.
- There are simple, complex carbs, healthy and unhealthy carbs, soluble, insoluble fiber, etc. Get familiar with what works for you in training so you repeat what works for you before your long runs and key training sessions for race day.
7. Hydration
- Hydrate well for heath and performance daily. This doesn't change during race week.
- Increase hydration and/or electrolyte needs about 2 days before your key training sessions, long runs, and goal events.
- Create a strategy where you are hydrating regularly whether that be throughout the day, during your long training sessions, and goal events.
8. Pre-race breakfast
- Practice timing and amount during training.
- Race morning nerves will impact how you process nutrients therefore practicing is key. This is why you hear sometimes some individuals are nauseous race morning--it's race nerves impacting how they're processing nutrients already.
- Ex. What I do for a road or trail half marathon or marathon:
- 90 minutes before: 200-500 Cal of carbs
- 5 minutes before: 100-200 Cal simple carbs
9. Caffeine
- Know your tolerance.
- Recognize your caffeine sources add up.
- Practice your strategy in training.
- Adjust with the course profile, your tolerance, and with heat as needed.
- Race morning nerves impact how your GI tract processes nutrients.
10. Recovery
- Prioritize your protein intake.
- Celebrate, however, prioritize a healthy, balanced meal. The more ideal your nutrition is after your key training sessions or race day, the better equipped you are to recover and be ready for what is next.
Next up: 5 Tips How to Strategize your Fueling Strategy.
If you are interested in learning a more detailed way how to optimize your nutrition, this is included in my coaching programs for my athletes. Email or message me your goals for your goal race and let's explore if my coaching program if the right fit for you.