Abstract

Context: Elite distance runners (EDR) must optimize their nutrition to maintain their demanding training schedules. Objective: To develop a nutrition concept for EDR based on energy and macronutrient expenditures. Design: This theoretical study provides calculations for macronutrient and energy expenditures of EDR. Anthropometric and metabolic characteristics of EDR were assumed based on average real EDR. Setting: University of Kiel. Patients Or Other Participants: Three prototypic types of male EDR described in the literature as type I (TI; body mass = 72 kg, respiratory quotient = 0.9 at rest, fast-twitch muscle fibers = 60% to 70%), type II (TII; body mass = 67 kg, respiratory quotient = 0.82 at rest, fast-twitch muscle fibers = 50%), and type III (TIII; body mass = 60 kg, respiratory quotient = 0.75 at rest, fast-twitch muscle fibers = 30% to 40%). Main Outcome Measure(s): We calculated the macronutrient and energy expenditures of the 3 types of EDR according to body mass, respiratory quotient, and percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibers. Results: We found that the average energy expenditure was 3750 kcal·d−1 for TI runners, 3463 kcal·d−1 for TII runners, and 3079 kcal·d−1 for TIII runners. The carbohydrate (CHO) expenditure reached an average value of 10.0 g·kg−1·d−1 for TI runners, 8.0 g·kg−1·d−1 for TII runners, and 4.7 g·kg−1·d−1 for TIII runners. When the EDR accomplished running sessions at a pace ≥100% of maximum oxygen consumption, all types of runners had a CHO demand of about 10 g·kg−1·d−1. The TI and TII runners need a CHO intake of 8 to 10 g·kg−1·d−1. For the TIII runners, a CHO intake >6 g·kg−1·d−1 is necessary during anaerobic training sessions.
Conclusions: Nutrition concepts must be differentiated for EDR according to metabolic and anthropometric characteristics of the runners and their special training emphases.
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