Athletics nutrition

Running

Middle and long distance running events cover distances from 800m to the marathon, which are typically of shorter duration than cycle races. As a consequence the average exercise intensity in running events is higher than other most other sports, placing big demands on the body to absorb, transport and use oxygen. Footstrike (the forces applied to the body as the foot hits the ground) can reach 6 times body weight. This means that a 75kg runner exposes each leg to forces of close to 500kg! Coping with such forces without serious injury is a major challenge for runners and damage to muscle tendons, ligaments, joints and bone is commonplace.Frequently this is manifest as sore and knotted muscles, stiff joints, tendonitis and fatigue fractures to the tibia, fibia and femur.

middle distance running nutrition

The completion of regular training un-interupted by injury or illness provides the foundation of attaining top level performances. The Elite Sport Group (ESG) have developed an integrated nutrition and sports medicine approach to attenuate some of the problems caused by running training. These help reduce muscle breakdown and help muscle repair, so that the muscles can fulfill their shockabsorbing and locomotory roles more effectively. When necessary they also increase flexibility so that an optimal running gait can be achieved. Our physiotherapy services allow injuries to be managed effectively so that they do not disrupt training, or worse still become debilitating that they compromise race performance. When injuries arise that require surgical intervention the ESG can provide science based nutrition programs that reduce the loss of muscle function and accelerate recovery processes. This has the advantage of minimising the time off training and the associated loss of fitness.

Elite Sport Group - Cycling Sports Medicine

Mineral deficiencies are common in runners, particularly females who compete in long distance running events. ESG have a range of nutrition strategies that help counter the detrimental effects of endurance training such as muscle damage, severe dehydration, mineral deficiencies and infections. We also have science based nutrition interventions that increase sprint power, anaerobic capacity, and aerobic power and energy delivery that can improve performance in events ranging from the 100m to the marathon.

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