To succeed in a long-distance race and avoid intestinal discomfort, it is essential to train your digestive system ('gut training') over several weeks or months by consuming water, carbohydrates, and solid foods during exercise.

noli's read

The concept of gut training is based on solid scientific foundations, as documented by researcher Asker Jeukendrup in an expert consensus literature review published in *Sports Medicine* (2017). This work shows that the digestive system physiologically adapts within a few weeks to increased nutrient absorption during exercise, which improves intestinal comfort and accelerates gastric emptying. Furthermore, observational studies, such as those by Stuempfle et al. on endurance races, confirm that digestive disturbances are one of the primary limiting factors of performance. While the claim that this training is 'as important as leg training' is a metaphorical comparison, digestive preparation remains an essential pillar of endurance performance. The progressive method proposed by the creator, spanning several weeks, is entirely consistent with the protocols of gradual intestinal stress validated by sports research.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.