Nutrition for the Distance Runner

"It is not the coaches job to be a registered dietitian or nutritionist but just as a coach updates their training philosophy and periodization calendar, they should also keep their finger on the pulse of athlete nutrition and diet."

In the world of exercise and sport science few areas of discourse are more likely to stir animated debate than that found in regard to diet and nutrition. This area is one where a coach must do more than function on antiquated information or the way athletes have done nutrition in the past. In today's world of endless information playing itself off as fact or law, a coach must have more than his or her generalized opinions on many topics. This might include hydration, nutritional timing sequences, protein or iron supplementation and of course simple day to day diets that seem to preach the evil of any and every type of micro or macronutrient under the sun.

I am not one of the above mentioned dietary professionals but as I have been privileged to study at the University of Minnesota, work among gifted coaches and partner with talented athletes there are many areas that have worked their way into my thinking on nutrition and diet. Below you will find links to several key areas related to nutrition for the distance runner.

In no way is this an exhaustive list of areas that deserve deep consideration. However, one of my personal beliefs is that moderation, common sense and discpiline are the best tools we have at our disposal and the approach listed here represents that value system.