Nutrition concepts for elite distance runners based on macronutrient and energy expenditure

Elite distance runners (EDR) must optimize their nutrition to maintain their demanding training schedules.

To develop a nutrition concept for EDR based on energy and macronutrient expenditures.

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.

University of Kiel.

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%).

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.

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 >or=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.

Nutrition concepts must be differentiated for EDR according to metabolic and anthropometric characteristics of the runners and their special training emphases.