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The key to riding long distances is food and drink.

Sure, training is important—but nutrition and hydration are even more vital. According to ultramarathon rider and coach John Hughes of Boulder, Colorado, “Nutrition, not necessarily training, is the limiting factor in endurance cycling.”

There are several foods all athletes should eat in the days before an event to ensure peak performance.

Tired of the same old do’s and don’t when it comes to dieting and weight loss? If you’re one of the many women trekking the hard path to weight loss, you’ve probably come across programs that tell you to avoid certain kinds of food. There are those that recommend vigorous exercises to rev up your metabolism but only allows you to eat a third of your usual intake. Chances are, you feel deprived.

Many people, both men and women, long for the day when their body was toned and they could proudly show off their midsections and slim, visible abs. Frequently they will start an exercise program with the goal of losing their belly and getting back their flat, sexy abs they once had when they were young.

What is sports nutrition? Do athletes have different dietary needs than everyday people, or do they simply need to eat more?

To answer that question, you first have to look at how the general population eats. According to recent research, the number one source of calories in the American diet is sodas, with white bread in second place.

Many people are so preoccupied with their fat gut, chubby thighs or flabby arms, they don’t even think about fat in the back as being a problem. The one exception I often encounter is women who are aware that they have unsightly rolls of fat spilling from under their bra straps, and want to do something about it.

I am sure that you find some of the things I write about to be a little debatable, like grains being bad, and saturated fat being good – all I asked is that you read it with an open mind.

So let’s say that you already know that carbohydrate loading might give you an added advantage, perhaps a little more “oomph” on race day, and maybe even a good excuse to eat more Italian

Desiree Ficker gave us this recipe for a hearty and healthy turkey chili stuffed with meat, beans and spices.

Learn the important aspects of a successful pre-race nutrition plan including carbo-loading and eating the morning of the race.