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Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes

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In this new edition of her bestselling guide, internationally recognized sports nutritionist Monique Ryan explains the latest cutting-edge research on essential topics for endurance athletes such as how to fuel workouts, savvy race preparation, effective recovery, smart weight loss, and safe supplements.

Unlock your athletic potential with Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes, the ultimate guide to fueling your performance in running, cycling, triathlon, and swimming. In this newly updated fourth edition, Monique Ryan, a renowned nutritionist with more than 30 years of experience advising elite athletes and pro sports teams, demystifies high-performance nutrition, offering clear and practical advice based on the latest research and real-world expertise.

Ryan addresses the fundamental questions of endurance sports nutrition for everyone, from accomplished competitors to total what to eat and drink, how much, and when. From training to racing, recovery to weight management, she provides tailored strategies to optimize your performance and achieve your goals. Drawing on rigorous scientific studies, Ryan dispels common myths surrounding supplements and ergogenic aids while providing a balanced perspective on practices like fat loading and glycogen-depleted workouts.

Recognizing that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition, Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes delves into the specific dietary needs of runners, cyclists, triathletes, and swimmers, highlighting the nuances that can give you a competitive edge. Whether you're tackling a sprint or a marathon, a criterium or a mountain bike race, Ryan offers tailored nutrition plans to suit your event's demands.

In addition to practical advice, this comprehensive guide includes valuable reference material such as a glycemic index, a glossary of essential vitamins and minerals, and a comparison of sports nutrition products. With Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes, you'll discover how smart nutrition can elevate your performance, whether you're aiming for a personal best or embarking on your first endurance challenge.

504 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

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About the author

Monique Ryan

7 books

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Matthew Liberio.
77 reviews3 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.
1,151 reviews671 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.
61 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!
29 reviews
June 12, 2026
Really comprehensive and well researched book. It covered every single area.

I would say it’s a massive book and at times it could have been avoided by more succinct writing and less repetition.

Did exactly what I needed it to do though.
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.
567 reviews11 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 6, 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
January 20, 2012
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
August 13, 2009
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 3, 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 - 17 of 17 reviews