Nutritional implications for ultra-endurance walking and running events

Abstract

This paper examines the various nutritional challenges which athletes encounter in preparing for and participating in ultra-endurance walking and running events. Special attention is paid to energy level, performance, and recovery within the context of athletes’ intake of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and various vitamins and minerals. It outlines, by way of a review of literature, those factors which promote optimal performance for the ultra-endurance athlete and provides recommendations from multiple researchers concerned with the nutrition and performance of ultra-endurance athletes. Despite the availability of some research about the subject, there is a paucity of longitudinal material which examines athletes by nature and type of ultra-endurance event, gender, age, race, and unique physiological characteristics. Optimal nutrition results in a decreased risk of energy depletion, better performance, and quicker full-recovery.

Analysis of food and fluid intake in elite ultra-endurance runners during a 24-h world championship

“…Ultramarathon races (> 42.195 km) have gained popularity in the last two decades [ 1 – 3 ] and are now used as experimental models to assess the effects of sleep deprivation [ 4 , 5 ] and muscular [ 6 , 7 ] and cardiac [ 8 , 9 ] damage. Most of the focus has been on the analysis of nutritional and fluid intake [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Nutrition for Ultramarathon Running: Trail, Track, and Road

“…Information on the metabolic needs of ultramarathon runners is obtained largely from either extrapolations or indirect estimates using a variety of methods (e.g., equations, heart rate responses, and/or accelerometry), predominantly from either single-case or case-series research designs (Williamson, 2016). Nevertheless, total caloric expenditure rates, using validated accelerometry and/ or breath-by-breath indirect calorimetry methodologies, appear to be positively associated with overall exertional stress (Vernillo et al, 2017;Williamson, 2016 (Alcock et al, 2018), and up to 18,000 kcal•day −1 for a 24-hr single-stage trail ultramarathon (coverage range: 122-208 km) event (Costa et al, 2014b). These data suggest that single-stage ultramarathon events may result in a vast energy expenditure; however, at a relatively low continuous hourly rate (e.g., ∼550 kcal•hr −1 over a 24-hr period), with the total energy cost dependent on the specific race distance/time (Costa et al, 2014b;Williamson, 2016).…”

“…Nevertheless, total caloric expenditure rates, using validated accelerometry and/ or breath-by-breath indirect calorimetry methodologies, appear to be positively associated with overall exertional stress (Vernillo et al, 2017;Williamson, 2016 (Alcock et al, 2018), and up to 18,000 kcal•day −1 for a 24-hr single-stage trail ultramarathon (coverage range: 122-208 km) event (Costa et al, 2014b). These data suggest that single-stage ultramarathon events may result in a vast energy expenditure; however, at a relatively low continuous hourly rate (e.g., ∼550 kcal•hr −1 over a 24-hr period), with the total energy cost dependent on the specific race distance/time (Costa et al, 2014b;Williamson, 2016). Considering the typically longer nonstop distance of singlestage ultramarathon events, compared with each individual stage of multistage ultramarathon events and subsequent nonexercising rest periods between stages, it is likely to be more difficult for ultramarathon runners to match energy expenditure with energy intake during single-stage ultramarathon competitions, resulting in a substantial acute energy deficit (Costa et al, 2014b;Enqvist et al, 2010, Martinez et al, 2018.…”

Nutritional behavior while ski-mountaineering: An analysis from the Swiss Alps

“…To keep in mind, salt intake increases blood pressure and therefore headache or even high altitude cerebral edema or high altitude pulmonic edema can pe provoked. To sum up, optimal nutrition while ultra-exercising results in a decreased risk of energy depletion, better performance, and quicker full-recovery while increasing security for further tours in the next days (Williamson 2016, Munter, 2017Winkler et al 2008).…”