When to use this
When hills, terrain, mileage, and a long fall calendar begin stacking fatigue.
- The course looks short but feels harder than the distance suggests.
- Late-season fatigue is being treated as a motivation problem.
- Injury, illness, appetite, mood, or menstrual changes are appearing together.
Evidence sources
These references support the handout’s general education. Individual medical, supplement, laboratory, or injury questions should be handled by the appropriate qualified clinician.
- Burke LM, Jeukendrup AE, Jones AM, Mooses M.(2019) Contemporary nutrition strategies to optimize performance in distance runners and race walkers.
- Burke LM, van Loon LJ, Hawley JA. (2017) Postexercise muscle glycogen resynthesis in humans. Journal of Applied Physiology, 122(5):1055-1067.
- Mountjoy M, Sundgot-Borgen JK, Burke LM, et al. (2023) IOC 2023 consensus statement on REDs. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57:1073-1098.
Where to go next
PrintableCheck the season systemLook for school-day gaps, missed snacks, and recovery that is too late.
PrintableReview bone-health red flagsUse the adolescent runner guide when pain or stress-injury history appears.
PrintableRoute iron questionsKeep iron support clinician-led and separate from team diagnosis.
