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Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes

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For any endurance athlete who is committed to better performance, smart nutrition can make the difference between setting a new PR or bonking into a disastrous race result. The fastest athletes are the ones who consider their daily nutrition as carefully as their workouts. Even small improvements in nutrition can deliver better training and faster recovery. Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes is your complete reference for every question on fueling, post-workout recovery nutrition, weight loss, ergogenic aids, vitamins and minerals, and supplements. This nutritional bible for endurance athletes demystifies sports nutrition, debunking myths and misconceptions to explain the principles that fuel athletes to better performance. Certified sports nutritionist and dietician Monique Ryan examines the building blocks of an effective, high-quality diet, showing you how to balance your diet to support your training and how to hydrate for any type of workout or weather. Ryan explains optimal diets for each endurance sport: running, cycling, triathlon as well as mountain biking, cyclocross, swimming, and rowing. For each sport, Ryan explains what to eat, how much, and when during normal training and on race day. You’ll learn what to eat before and during workouts, how to balance your body’s hydration and salt levels, and what foods will help you recover fastest. Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes also provides invaluable guidance on: Improving your performance means improving your nutrition. Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes is your guide to better nutrition and your comprehensive reference for all questions on nutrition for endurance sports.

357 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

66 people are currently reading
486 people want to read

About the author

Monique Ryan

7 books

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Matthew Liberio.
68 reviews2 followers
January 13, 2024
There is probably a newer edition of this, but I think the chapter Ergogenic Aids is probably the main chapter affected by new research. I happened across this book at a Goodwill as I was training for a marathon. I learned so much. The marathon is coming soon and I'm feeling much better about it.

The first third is about general nutrition which was excellent and complete. She applied to an endurance runner's contest but it's not overt.

The 2nd third is about how to perform well though out training and competition.

The final third is about specific types of endurance training. I just read the chapter about distance running.
Profile Image for Joshua Thompson.
1,068 reviews580 followers
March 16, 2018
I've been through this one twice. It's a bible for those who want to eat properly for training for endurance events.
46 reviews
June 16, 2025
This book helped me getting my nutrition in order whilst ramping up weekly training mileage.
It teaches you what foods to prioritize in a daily healthy diet and to be conscious about what you put in your body.
Filled with an incredible amount of information!
17 reviews1 follower
December 12, 2018
Not a inviting read and too mu h volume with not enough content in my opinion. I preferred Advanced Sports Nutrition by Dan Bernadot.
Profile Image for Bud Winn.
542 reviews10 followers
May 31, 2020
Still learning about triathlon - I use the book to this day several years later - still a gem.
Profile Image for Felix Dacumos.
10 reviews
January 11, 2014
This is an excellent resource for endurance athletes wanting to learn thoroughly about nutrition. When training for an Ironman, it wasn't the swim, bike, or run that scared me - it was the nutrition aspect. Before my race I had done several half Ironman distances. In one of those races I ended up dehydrating between miles 8-9 during the run because of improper nutrition.

Using the help of this book as a resource, I was able to come up with a good nutrition plan that helped me finish my race. This book also taught me the side effects of overtaking too many carbs during races. I recommend this book if you have questions about nutrition.
Profile Image for Rachael.
142 reviews2 followers
September 14, 2010
Great resource. While I've read a good bit on sports nutrition, it was great to have it pulled together with a focus on endurance sports to make it specific to what I need. In doing so, the author gave me plenty of "lightbulb" moments that gave me tons of insight into what I've been doing wrong (and right!) and why. I wish I'd read it earlier because it would have helped me tweak things to improve my season, but I'm excited to use what I've learned in the coming months to really help me prepare for next year.
Profile Image for Lauralea.
10 reviews5 followers
July 23, 2016
A great overview for endurance athletes of many varieties. Ryan really knows her stuff and it was refreshing to finally find a nutrition book that exposed some of the larger nutrition myths. I also appreciated the section on supplements and how it showed that there is a company out there measuring the how much of the nutrients are absorbed by the body - that's also a rare find in a nutrition book.
Profile Image for Shira.
80 reviews
November 21, 2007
Ever wondered why you run to the bathroom soon after running? Well let the words "agitated colon" get you started. Really, a helpful, informative book, if it's a bit dense at times, count it as a plus.
Profile Image for Matt reed.
16 reviews2 followers
April 6, 2011
Very informative book. I learned a great deal about my body and how it functions in relation to the additional demands being placed upon it due my physical pursuits.

It will serve as a frequent reference guide for my nutritional needs as my endurance goals reach towards higher goals.
Profile Image for Erin.
5 reviews
January 17, 2008
perfect book for anyone looking to do endurance sports. Nutrition is such a big part of exercise. It really opened my eyes to what I should be doing.
17 reviews
April 11, 2008
I will read this when I become an endurance athlete (which, by the way, I am always planning to do)!
Profile Image for Lisa.
7 reviews
May 5, 2012
This book has been super helpful. I can tell a difference in my training this year based on ideas from this book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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