It is true that some nutrition is a matter of trial and error. The time to figure this out is in the off season and definitely not before a race. As one nutritional cycle is about 24 hours it would seem that changing the carbohydrate intake would have a significant effect within the 24 hour time period. Counting carbohydrates is not an easy task but definitely a beneficial one to improve race performance. Once the carbohydrate content of regular foods is memorized it is easy to plan a strategy.
Optimum performance requires consistency.
There will be times when stores are depleted and higher glycemic foods will speed up recovery. Generally by including fruit, vegetables and small amounts of grains at each meal an athlete can reap the rewards of sustained carbohydrate ingestion and instead of 'bonking' at the next race, sprinting to the finish. Susan Sly is an elite athlete and certified lifestyle and weight management consultant. She has worked with professional and recreational athletes. If you get my voice mail please leave a message.