Raptor Advantage
Track athletes typically train for 1-2 hours per day, 5-6 days/week. They need to have excellent anaerobic capacity, muscular endurance, and stamina to withstand intense training. They also have to have a good aerobic capacity to quickly recover from sprint intervals. Although most track athletes compete in events lasting 10-seconds to less than four minutes, training for competitive track athletes often involves performing multiple sets of 100 – 800 meter sprints with limited rest recovery between sets over 1.5 to 2 hour training sessions. Sprinters also lift weights to increase strength, power, and muscle mass. Track meets typically involve competing in a number of heats and events throughout the day so planning meals and snacks is critical to performing well. The Raptor bar can help track athletes gain a competitive edge by helping them meet their nutritional needs to optimize performance and recovery.

The first nutritional goal to optimize performance of track athletes is to provide nutrients that can enhance exercise performance. Research has shown that sodium and calcium phosphates and β-alanine can help buffer muscle acidity and increase anaerobic threshold. In addition, sodium phosphate supplementation has been reported to increase maximal aerobic capacity. The Raptor bar contains high levels of sodium and calcium phosphate and β-alanine content that can help track athletes optimize aerobic performance and get the most out of their interval training sessions. Ingesting a Raptor bar 30-60 minutes prior to training and competition can provide nutrients to support sprint performance and recovery.

The second goal of optimizing performance of track athletes is to minimize the catabolic and immune-suppressive effects of intense exercise. The Raptor bar contains the right amount and type of protein and amino acids that can help minimize catabolism during exercise and promote protein synthesis after exercise. The Raptor bar also contains a rich source of antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, selenium, Coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, and taurine) that have been reported to minimize the effects of intense exercise on muscle damage. The Raptor bar also contains high levels of nutrients that support the immune system (i.e., L-glutamine, Vitamin C, zinc). Ingesting a Raptor bar 30-60 minutes prior to training and performance can help track athletes minimize the catabolic and immune-suppressive effects of intense exercise.

Track athletes typically have to compete in a number of heats in several events throughout a 1-2 day meet. It is often challenging to plan meals and snacks around heats. Therefore, the third nutritional goal for track athletes is to provide carbohydrate to sustain blood glucose levels throughout the duration of a track meet. The Raptor bar contains a mixture of fast, intermediate, and slow releasing carbohydrates that can provide a sustained release of carbohydrate over time. Ingesting a Raptor bar 30-60 minutes prior to training and as snacks throughout the track meet can help track athletes maintain exercise performance.

The final nutritional goal for track athletes is to provide nutrients after practices and meets to promote recovery. Ingesting carbohydrate, protein/amino acids, electrolytes, antioxidants, and nutrients that support the immune system can help track athletes recover from intense exercise and tolerate training to a better degree.

Exercise

• 1.5-2 hours per day of interval sprint training (5-6 days per week)s
  
  
• 2-3 hours per week of resistance training

Nutrition

• Nutrients that support anaerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold
  
  
• Protein/amino acids and antioxidants to reduce muscle breakdown, oxidative stress, and muscle damage from exercise
  
  
• Carbohydrate to sustain blood glucose levels and exercise capacity throughout the meet
  
  
• Nutrients to promote recovery and support the immune system following exercise

Refueling

• Consume a moderate to high carbohydrate/low fat meal 3-4 hours prior to training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar 30-60 minutes prior to training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume 1-2 cups of water and/or sports drinks every 15-20 minutes during training in hot and humid environments
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar within 30 minutes following training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume a high carbohydrate/low fat meal within 2 hours following training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume Raptor bars as a nutrient dense snack between meals and training sessions>