be achieved with the use of carbohydrate
supplements.
As proper nutrition has been shown to be
important to exercise performance, skaters could
benefit from paying special attention throughout
the preparation and competitive phases to
ensure that:
1 carbohydrates make up a large percentage
(minimally 60%) of their daily energy intake
(Costill & Miller 1980);
2 enhancement of muscle glycogen replenish-
ment occurs through consumption of 100 g of
650 sport-specific nutrition
carbohydrates within 2 h after the completion of
an exercise bout; this carbohydrate can be either
in liquid or solid form (Ivy et al. 1988a, 1988b);
and
3 body protein and thus muscle strength is
maintained, if not enhanced, by consumption of
1.6 g protein · kg–1body weight daily (Snyder &
Naik 1998).
On the day of skating competitions, a prerace
high-carbohydrate meal should be consumed
approximately 4 h prior to competition, with a
light carbohydrate snack consumed between
Fig. 50.5Long-track speed skater
performing low walking up a hill.
From Snyder and Foster (1994),
with permission.
Fig. 50.6Long-track speed skater
performing slide board exercise.
From Foster and Thompson
(1990), with permission.