Endurance athletes should consume adequate energy and carbohydrate (5 to 12 g/kg/d) during training to maintain a desirable training intensity and thus maximize training adaptations.
Endurance athletes who consume adequate total energy usually meet or exceed population reference values, such as the DRI for vitamins and minerals.
Drinking during endurance exercise is necessary to prevent the detrimental effects of excessive dehydration and electrolyte loss on exercise performance and health. The best start is to minimize body weight loss to < 2% and adjust from there.
Carbohydrate loading can improve performance in endurance events exceeding 90 minutes.
Consuming carbohydrate during exercise can improve performance by maintaining blood glucose levels and carbohydrate oxidation.
Endurance athletes should practice adjusting their fueling strategies based on workout intensity, duration, and environmental conditions.