The nutritional demands of very prolonged exercise in man.

For many, the marathon is the ultimate example of endurance exercise, but for others it is merely a beginning. In the last 10 or 20 years, there has been a huge increase in much longer races, with lOOkm and 100 mile non-stop runs and very extended triathlons added to the already established ultra-distance events like the Tour de France. In addition, there has been a steady increase in mountaineering or other expeditions which also entail considerable physical effort over very protracted periods. All these activities can make huge nutritional demands which must be understood in order to maximize performance and to avoid adverse effects on health. The following areas of nutritional needs are of interest: