The Caloric Intake Of An Ultra-Endurance Athlete Will Blow Your Mind

We bet you didn't expect ramen and Cheetos to make the list.

Let’s say you’ve completed a marathon or two, and you’ve decided that you want to take your running to the next level. You decide to try an ultramarathon, such as a 50-mile race or 100-mile one. Or perhaps you’ve enjoyed long bicycle rides and are now considering ultra-distance cycling, races of 125 miles or longer that last six hours or more.

Now you’ve got to start training your body to handle those kinds of races. But it’s not just about training your muscles. Training for an ultra-endurance sport, which includes ultramarathons and ultra-cycling, means training your stomach, as well. That means training yourself to eat — and to eat frequently.

And it’s not just a matter of eating some food during the races (while staying hydrated), it’s also about finding the right food for you while training, during the race and afterward.

The Science Of Fueling Your Body

There’s a common refrain from ultra-endurance competitors: Food is fuel. “If you want to be able to perform during a training run or race, [food is] your body’s fuel. So think of your body like a car. You’re not going to go on this long-distance journey with your gas tank on E. You’re going to start the road trip off with the fuel tank full,” explained Amy Goblirsch, a registered dietitian at the Running Dietitian and an ultramarathon runner.