Endurance
28 articles
HydrationJuly 8, 2026 · 7 MIN
Sodium Loading Before Endurance Races: Protocol, Evidence, and Who Benefits
Sodium loading 24 hours before a race can expand plasma volume by 300–500mL, delay hyponatremia risk, and improve thermoregulatory capacity. But the protocol matters — and it's not right for every athlete or event.
NutritionJuly 7, 2026 · 8 MIN
Periodized Nutrition for Endurance Athletes: Fueling Different Training Phases
The same diet that builds aerobic base in winter sabotages race-specific speed work in spring. Periodized nutrition aligns carbohydrate, fat, and protein intake with training phase demands — here's the framework.
NutritionJuly 4, 2026 · 7 MIN
Omega-3 and Fish Oil for Endurance Athletes: A Complete Evidence Review
Omega-3 fatty acids reduce post-exercise inflammation, improve heart function, and may directly enhance VO2max. Here's what the evidence shows, the optimal dose, and what most athletes miss about sourcing.
NutritionJune 29, 2026 · 9 MIN
Low-Carb and Keto for Endurance Athletes: What the Research Actually Shows
Fat adaptation promises improved endurance, reduced bonking, and metabolic flexibility. The evidence is more nuanced — and more critical — than advocates acknowledge. Here's the honest analysis.
NutritionJune 26, 2026 · 7 MIN
Protein Timing for Endurance Athletes: When You Eat Protein Matters as Much as How Much
Endurance athletes consistently underestimate their protein requirements — and those who meet daily targets often distribute them poorly. The timing, distribution, and source of protein across the day significantly impacts muscle repair, training adaptation, and recovery speed.
NutritionJune 26, 2026 · 7 MIN
Fueling for Back-to-Back Training Days: Nutrition Strategy for High-Volume Blocks
When training days stack consecutively — long run followed by quality session, or stage-race style training camps — recovery nutrition becomes a performance variable, not an afterthought. This guide covers the evidence-based fueling strategy for maintaining quality through back-to-back training days.
NutritionJune 25, 2026 · 7 MIN
Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition for Endurance Athletes: Foods That Speed Recovery
Chronic low-grade inflammation is a silent performance limiter for many endurance athletes. Strategic dietary choices — specific fats, polyphenols, and phytonutrients — can reduce systemic inflammation, accelerate recovery, and lower long-term injury risk without compromising training adaptations.
TrainingJune 25, 2026 · 6 MIN
Breathing Techniques for Endurance Athletes: Optimising Respiratory Efficiency at Every Intensity
How you breathe during endurance exercise significantly affects respiratory efficiency, carbon dioxide tolerance, and perceived effort. Evidence-based breathing techniques can reduce the oxygen cost of breathing and improve performance — particularly during hard racing efforts.
TrainingJune 24, 2026 · 8 MIN
Mental Toughness in Endurance Sport: Evidence-Based Techniques for Racing Through Suffering
The ability to sustain effort during discomfort separates good athletes from great ones. Sports psychology research has identified specific, trainable mental skills that predict endurance performance — and you can practise every one of them in training before race day.
RecoveryJune 24, 2026 · 6 MIN
Compression Socks for Endurance Athletes: What the Science Actually Says
Compression garments are among the most widely used — and most widely misunderstood — recovery tools in endurance sport. The evidence base is more nuanced than the marketing suggests, but there are specific contexts where compression delivers meaningful, measurable benefits.
HydrationJune 22, 2026 · 7 MIN
Cycling Hydration Strategy: How to Drink Smarter on the Bike
Studies of recreational cyclists in sportive events show that 60–80% finish with a measurable fluid deficit. The cooling effect of airflow masks sweat rate — making dehydration on the bike uniquely easy to underestimate.
NutritionJune 20, 2026 · 7 MIN
Protein for Endurance Athletes: How Much, When, and Why It Matters
Endurance athletes are chronically under-informed about protein requirements. New research shows runners and cyclists need significantly more than standard RDA guidelines — and timing it correctly doubles its effectiveness.
NutritionJune 19, 2026 · 7 MIN
Beetroot Juice and Nitrate Supplementation: What the Research Shows for Endurance Athletes
Dietary nitrate — found in beetroot juice and leafy greens — reduces the oxygen cost of exercise. Here's a comprehensive look at the evidence, optimal dosing, and who benefits most.
TrainingJune 18, 2026 · 7 MIN
HIIT for Endurance Athletes: High-Intensity Interval Training That Actually Works
High-intensity interval training dramatically improves VO2max and lactate threshold in less time than traditional volume. Here's the evidence-based approach — protocols, scheduling, and when not to use it.
HydrationJune 16, 2026 · 7 MIN
Are You a Salty Sweater? How to Test Your Sweat Sodium and Fix Your Electrolyte Strategy
Sweat sodium concentration varies 5× between individuals. The generic electrolyte advice that works for your training partner may leave you cramping or hyponatraemic. Here's how to find out which you are.
TrainingJune 13, 2026 · 8 MIN
Genetic Potential in Endurance Sport: What the Science Says
How much of your endurance performance is determined by genetics — and how much can training change? The answer is more nuanced than either fatalists or optimists suggest.
NutritionJune 12, 2026 · 9 MIN
Ultramarathon Nutrition: How to Fuel 50K to 100-Mile Races
Ultra nutrition is fundamentally different from marathon nutrition. Gels become intolerable. Real food becomes essential. And the longer you go, the more your strategy must evolve with you.
TrainingJune 10, 2026 · 8 MIN
Training Stress Score (TSS) Explained: How to Use It to Train Smarter
TSS is the most precise way to quantify training load across different sessions and sports. Here's what it measures, how it's calculated, and how to use it to peak for your race.
TrainingJune 4, 2026 · 9 MIN
How Does VO2max Decline With Age — and Can Training Actually Slow It?
Conventional wisdom says VO2max drops 10% per decade after 30. But for consistently training athletes, the picture is very different — and more encouraging.
NutritionMay 12, 2026 · 8 MIN
How to Fuel a 100km Bike Ride: A Gram-by-Gram Breakdown
A 100km ride burns 2,000–3,000 kcal. Most cyclists replace less than half. Here's a precise fueling framework based on power output, duration, and gut capacity.
NutritionApril 21, 2026 · 8 MIN
Caffeine for Athletic Performance: Timing, Dosage & What the Science Says
Caffeine is the world's most widely used performance enhancer — and one of the few that actually works. Here's the evidence-based protocol for athletes.
HydrationApril 21, 2026 · 8 MIN
Electrolytes for Athletes: What They Are and Why They Matter
Sodium, potassium, magnesium — what do electrolytes actually do during exercise? Here's the science behind the minerals that keep athletes performing.
TrainingApril 21, 2026 · 9 MIN
VO2 Max Explained: What It Is, How to Test It, and How to Improve It
VO2 max is the single best predictor of endurance performance. Here's what it measures, how to find yours — and the training methods proven to raise it.
NutritionApril 14, 2026 · 7 MIN
Energy Gel vs Energy Bar: Which Is Better for Endurance Athletes?
Gels or bars? Both deliver carbohydrates, but they behave very differently in your body during exercise. Here's how to choose the right fuel for your event.
HydrationApril 14, 2026 · 7 MIN
Signs You're Dehydrated During Exercise (And How to Fix It)
Dehydration starts affecting your performance before you feel thirsty. Learn to recognise the early warning signs — and the recovery strategy that actually works.
TrainingApril 14, 2026 · 9 MIN
Zone 2 Training: The Complete Guide for Endurance Athletes
Zone 2 is the foundation of elite endurance training — but most amateur athletes spend too little time here. Here's how to train it correctly and why it works.
HydrationMarch 18, 2026 · 7 MIN
Hydration Strategy for Endurance Athletes
Dehydration of just 2% body weight impairs performance by up to 20%. Here's a evidence-based framework for staying ahead of your fluid needs.
NutritionMarch 10, 2026 · 6 MIN
The Science Behind Energy Gels
Understanding how energy gels work at a cellular level — and how to time them for peak performance during your race or training session.