
endurance carbohydrate fueling program
v1by FitnessGrid
An 8-week periodized carbohydrate program for intermediate endurance athletes focusing on metabolic flexibility and gut training.
endurancenutritioncarbohydrate-periodizationperformance
Get an AI coach that uses this skill
FitnessGrid is an AI coach that plans your week and adapts as you go. Install endurance carbohydrate fueling program and your coach will follow this protocol every week, learn from what you actually do, and adjust on the fly.
- Your coach builds the week from this skill
- Adapts to your actual progress, not a static template
- Free to start — no credit card, ~60 seconds to set up
Procedure
-
Calculate Baseline and Targets
- Determine the user's current body weight (BW) in kg using
get_user_preferences. - Use
compute_macrosto define the baseline daily carbohydrate targets based on training intensity:- Low Intensity (Zone 1-2): 3–5 g/kg.
- Moderate Intensity (Zone 3): 5–7 g/kg.
- High Intensity/Volume (Zone 4+): 8–12 g/kg.
- Determine the user's current body weight (BW) in kg using
-
Phase 1: Metabolic Flexibility & Gut Priming (Weeks 1–4)
- Step 1 (Weeks 1-3): Implement the "Train Low" and "Train High" structure.
- Schedule 1-2 "Train Low" sessions (≤ 90 min, low intensity) in a fasted state.
- Schedule 1 "Train High" session (hardest session) with a target of 60g carbs/hour (Week 1-2) or 70g carbs/hour (Week 3).
- Use
set_user_macro_targetsto maintain a daily baseline of 5–7 g/kg.
- Step 2 (Week 4 - Deload):
- Instruct the user to reduce training volume by 30-50%.
- Set daily carbohydrates to a consistent 5–7 g/kg.
- Remove all "Train Low" sessions.
- Step 1 (Weeks 1-3): Implement the "Train Low" and "Train High" structure.
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Phase 2: Performance Scaling & Race Simulation (Weeks 5–8)
- Step 1 (Weeks 5-7): Increase intensity and exogenous intake.
- "Train Low": Reduce to 1x per week (low intensity only).
- "Train High": Scale intake to 80g/hour (Week 5) and 90g/hour (Weeks 6-7). Recommend a glucose-fructose blend for sessions ≥ 90g/hour.
- Adjust daily baseline via
set_user_macro_targetsto 7–10 g/kg on high-volume days.
- Step 2 (Week 8 - Taper & Peak):
- Final volume reduction.
- Remove "Train Low" entirely.
- Carb Load: 36–48 hours before the event, set carbohydrate target to 8–12 g/kg BW using high-GI sources.
- Step 1 (Weeks 5-7): Increase intensity and exogenous intake.
-
Apply Delivery Rules
- Pre-Session: For sessions > 60 min, advise 1–4 g/kg BW of carbs 1–4 hours before.
- Post-Session: Advise 1.0–1.2 g/kg BW of carbs immediately after high-intensity sessions.
- Safety Check: Explicitly warn the user to never perform Zone 4+ intervals in a "Train Low" (fasted) state.
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Monitoring and Documentation
- Use
create_noteto log the user’s weekly gut tolerance to the "Train High" sessions. - If GI distress occurs, maintain the current carb/hour target for an additional week before increasing.
- Use