Who Gets to Be an Athlete? Endurance Fueling Myths, Carb Periodization & Race-Day Resets

Who gets to call themselves an athlete — and how should you fuel like one? In this special crossover episode from Your Diet Sucks , Coach Zoë and registered dietitian Kylee Van Horn tackle common endurance nutrition myths, from carb loading to high-carb fueling in larger bodies, and why “earning” the athlete label is holding runners back. You’ll hear practical tips for training your gut, troubleshooting race-day nausea, and avoiding the pitfalls of constantly changing your fueling plan. Plus: the science behind carbohydrate periodization, why hydration is the foundation of fueling, and how to rethink your athlete identity to train smarter and recover faster. In this episode: High-carb fueling strategies for endurance athletes Carb loading for training vs. race day Gut training and avoiding mid-race stomach shutdowns Fueling considerations for larger-bodied runners Why everyone who trains is an athlete — and should fuel like one ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro & training updates 03:02 – Athlete identity and fueling mindset 16:07 – High-carb fueling in larger bodies 24:31 – Carb loading & carbohydrate periodization 36:22 – What to do when you can’t eat or drink mid-race 42:09 – Beam Minerals and electrolyte marketing claims 📣 Subscribe so you never miss an episode 💻 Learn more about 1:1 coaching with Microcosm: microcosm-coaching.com 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @microcosmcoaching