Diets of Endurance Runners Competing in a 20-Day Road Race

Abstract

In brief: The diets of 15 experienced male distance runners were evaluated during eight consecutive days in the middle portion of the 1982 Great Hawaiian Footrace, a 500-km, 20-day road race. The runners were free to eat and drink at will; each subject kept daily records of food and beverage intake (excluding water). The data showed that the runners' intake of specific nutrients usually met or exceeded the 1980 recommended dietary allowances. This suggests that supplementing a male endurance athlete's diet is not necessary.