Anthropometry and Dietary Intake before and during a Competition in Mountain Runners

Mountain running is a non-Olympic sport consisting of uphill or up- and downhill races at moderate-to-high altitude. Special nutritional requirements are anticipated, but no nutritional data of mountain runners are available. In three studies, physique of elite and recreational athletes (N = 62), maximum oxygen uptake (N = 3), and prerace and race day dietary intake (N = 6) were measured (mean ± SD). Mean oxygen uptake was 68.7 ± 5.2 mL/kg/min. Energy and carbohydrate intake before a race (29 ± 15 km, 1596 ± 556 m HD) was 3199 ± 701 kcal/d (13.4 ± 2.9 MJ/d) and 497 ± 128 g/d (8.3 ± 1.8 g/kg/d) in German national team members. Fluid intake was calculated as 2783 ± 1543 mL/d. During the race, athletes consumed 336 ± 364 kcal and 927 ± 705 mL of fluids. Substrate intake per hour was calculated as 23 ± 22 g of carbohydrates and 4.0 ± 3.2 g of proteins. In conclusion, anthropometric and oxygen uptake characteristics of mountain runners were similar to those reported for elite distance runners. Carbohydrate intake before and during the race was below recommendations for endurance athletes. This is of concern when considering the increased reliance on carbohydrates at altitude.