Strategies for Reducing GI Distress in Athletes
Every endurance athlete is intimately familiar with how their sport affects the body. Any sustained effort beyond 90 minutes requires additional fueling and rehydration. As glycogen stores are depleted, new carbohydrates must be consumed for continued performance. Ensuring proper hydration during exercise maintains blood volume for efficient circulation. Yet refueling can be a challenge for many athletes who regularly experience gastrointestinal distress during exercise. It is estimated to affect 30-50% of athletes, and up to 90% of long-distance runners specifically (Mlinaric & Mohorko, 2025). This is a highly individualized issue influenced by multiple points of sensitivity along the digestive tract. In this paper, I will be addressing the objective, “know the order of organ function and the path of food during digestion” as it relates to strategies to reduce GI upset in endurance exercise.
