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Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes
Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes makes high-performance nutrition simple for running, cycling, triathlon, and swimming. Weighing in at 432 pages, this newly updated third edition is the most comprehensive resource on nutrition from the most experienced and highly qualified nutritionist in endurance sports.
Ryan offers clear answers to the most fundamental questions in endurance sports nutrition—what should I eat, how much, and when—based on the latest research and experience from her 30-year career advising elite and age-group athletes and pro sports teams. She offers fine-tuning strategies for training and racing, optimal recovery, weight loss, and boosting strength-to-weight ratio. Citing rigorous and reputable studies, Ryan busts myths about ergogenic aids and supplements and offers a dose of reality to practices like fat loading and glycogen-depleted workouts.
Since endurance sports are too different for a "one size fits all" food plan, Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes reveals how runners, cyclists, triathletes, and swimmers should fuel differently to gain real performance advantages in their sports. Even within each sport, optimal nutrition varies with the type and duration of events, so Ryan explains nutrition for short- and long-course triathlon; road, criterium, and mountain bike racing; 10K, half-marathon, and marathon; and sprint and distance swimming.
This complete guide addresses a wide variety of special nutrition considerations for younger and older athletes, diabetics, vegetarians, pregnant women, and those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes also offers six appendixes of reference material including glycemic index, a vitamin and mineral glossary, an up-to-date comparison of sports nutrition products, and sample menus.
Smart nutrition can make the difference between a personal record and a lackluster season. Committed athletes and newcomers to endurance sports will both find Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes to be a comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to better performance in running, cycling, triathlon, and swimming.
Ryan offers clear answers to the most fundamental questions in endurance sports nutrition—what should I eat, how much, and when—based on the latest research and experience from her 30-year career advising elite and age-group athletes and pro sports teams. She offers fine-tuning strategies for training and racing, optimal recovery, weight loss, and boosting strength-to-weight ratio. Citing rigorous and reputable studies, Ryan busts myths about ergogenic aids and supplements and offers a dose of reality to practices like fat loading and glycogen-depleted workouts.
Since endurance sports are too different for a "one size fits all" food plan, Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes reveals how runners, cyclists, triathletes, and swimmers should fuel differently to gain real performance advantages in their sports. Even within each sport, optimal nutrition varies with the type and duration of events, so Ryan explains nutrition for short- and long-course triathlon; road, criterium, and mountain bike racing; 10K, half-marathon, and marathon; and sprint and distance swimming.
This complete guide addresses a wide variety of special nutrition considerations for younger and older athletes, diabetics, vegetarians, pregnant women, and those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes also offers six appendixes of reference material including glycemic index, a vitamin and mineral glossary, an up-to-date comparison of sports nutrition products, and sample menus.
Smart nutrition can make the difference between a personal record and a lackluster season. Committed athletes and newcomers to endurance sports will both find Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes to be a comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to better performance in running, cycling, triathlon, and swimming.
422 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
66 people are currently reading
485 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
May 31, 2020
Still learning about triathlon - I use the book to this day several years later - still a gem.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It will serve as a frequent reference guide for my nutritional needs as my endurance goals reach towards higher goals.
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.
April 11, 2008
I will read this when I become an endurance athlete (which, by the way, I am always planning to do)!
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.
December 17, 2012
My nutrition BIBLE!!
November 25, 2013
A much used reference, highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews