Fueling for Taper Week: Your Path to a Strong Race
Alex Larson is a sports dietitian for endurance athletes. She’ll be speaking at this year’s Ski de She Camp, but in the meantime, she’s providing us some nutritional insight for the upcoming Birkie Trail Run:
With race day just around the corner, it’s time to fine-tune your nutrition strategy for taper week! This is the perfect opportunity to set yourself up for a strong performance by giving your body the fuel it needs to recover, recharge, and be race-ready.
Taper Week Fueling Tips:
- Stay Consistent with Meals: Even with a lower training volume, continue eating balanced meals with carbs, protein, and healthy fats. This is not the time to significantly reduce your calories. Your body needs this fuel to fully recover so you have a fresh, energized body for race day.
- Hydration is Key: Keep sipping on fluids throughout the day and consider adding electrolytes. Staying hydrated will keep you feeling fresh and ready to go!
Carb Loading Done Right: The classic “carb load” isn’t about cramming in all the pasta the night before—it’s more extensive than that. Check out these carb-loading articles to help you properly prep for your race.
By focusing on smart fueling during taper week, you’ll arrive at the start line feeling rested, energized, and ready to crush it. You’ve done the hard work—now it’s time to trust your body and enjoy the race!
About Alex:
Located near Duluth, Minnesota, Alex is a registered dietitian, Ironman finisher and mom of 3. She started Alex Larson Nutrition with the mission of supporting endurance athletes with practical and simple nutrition advice for lifelong health and performance. You can find Alex on social channels @alexlarsonnutrition
Posted September 13, 2024 at 10:45 am
