ABSTRACT
The nutritional requirements of runners preparing for, and participating in, events of different duration can vary enormously. Running is an energetically demanding activity, and several important bioenergetic processes are likely causes of fatigue in middle- and long-distance events. As endurance running events increase in distance, caloric requirements increase, and therefore energy typically needs to be replaced during the event. Whilst mouth rinsing may be effective during shorter-distance events, sustained endurance running will likely require additional carbohydrate ingestion. Runners often cite gastrointestinal issues as a common reason for reduced race effort or non-completion. One of the primary causes of fatigue, especially during high-intensity exercise, is a decrease in the intra-cellular pH caused by an accumulation of hydration ions, a by-product of anaerobic glycolysis. Carnosine is a naturally occurring protein in the muscle known to support high-intensity exercise performance by regulating intracellular pH, increasing calcium ion sensitivity, and acting as an antioxidant.
