Whether you are a recreational sportsman or an elite level athlete, diet plays an important part in your preparation, performance and recovery in endurance events like triathlon and long distance running. Busy lifestyles and long working hours can make eating well a challenge for even the most organised among us and athletes especially need to be equipped with as much knowledge as possible to help them make nutritious food choices to ensure optimal training and recovery.

Issues such as what and when to eat, how to fit food preparation into an already busy schedule, how to ensure essential nutrients like iron and calcium are adequately included, and how to safely lose body fat, whilst gaining lean body tissue are some common nutrition questions asked. Questions more specifically related to endurance events include what supplements are beneficial and safe to take?, how do you effectively carbohydrate load?, which foods are best to eat immediately before and during long events?, and what foods are best to eat in order to ensure optimal recovery after big events? These are just some issues that I plan to explore with you in these nutrition columns over the next few months. If there is anything specific you would like me to write about, please send me an email at susieburrell@bigpond.com.

Susie Burrell (B.Nutr & Diet (Hons), B.Sc (psych)(Hons)) is a sports dietitian for the Parramatta Eels Rugby League, Sydney University Rugby Club and Wollongong Hawks Basketball Teams. Susie also has private rooms at Kogarah. For more information contact Susie at susieburrell@bigpond.com or on 0414 905 239.