Nutrition For Runners
As part of our comprehensive running clinic in Atlanta, registered dietitian Rachel West Jones, RN, MS, RD, LD, offers expert sports nutrition services to help runners fuel effectively, improve performance, and support long-term health. Operating independently within the clinic, Rachel provides individualized nutrition support for endurance athletes dealing with low energy availability, REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), disordered eating, GI issues, PCOS, and more. Whether you're a competitive runner or just getting started, she can help you build sustainable fueling strategies tailored to your training and lifestyle. Located in Atlanta, Rachel offers both in-person and virtual consultations to support runners across Georgia and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Proper nutrition helps runners fuel to train hard, recover quickly, and reduce injury risk. With personalized guidance, runners can balance energy needs with performance goals, all while maintaining long-term health.
What are signs a runner may be under-fueling?
Underfueling can lead to fatigue, poor performance, frequent illness or injury, disrupted sleep, and hormonal changes like missing periods. Mood swings, GI issues, and a constant focus on food are also common. Even if you're eating "healthy," you may not be eating enough to support your training. A registered dietitian can help you fuel smarter and feel better.
Why Do I Need to Work on My Nutrition as a Runner?
Proper nutrition helps runners train stronger, recover faster, and stay healthy. Without enough fuel, you risk fatigue, injuries, hormonal issues, and underperformance. A dietitian can help you create sustainable fueling strategies that support your body and your goalswithout restriction. It’s not about eating perfectly; it’s about eating enough to feel and run your best.
What is Low Energy Availability (LEA)?
Low energy availability happens when your body doesn’t get enough fuel (calories) to support both your training and essential functions like hormone balance, recovery, and metabolism. It can lead to fatigue, injuries, missed periods, and long-term health issues. This can happen unintentionally especially in runners with high training loads.
What is Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDS)?
REDS (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) is a condition that occurs when athletes don’t eat enough to support both their training and basic body functions. It can affect performance, recovery, hormones, bone health, and overall well-being. REDs can impact athletes of all genders and often develops without intentional dieting. Early support from a dietitian can help restore balance and protect long-term health.
What nutrition services do you offer?
We offer personalized nutrition support for runners and active individuals, including guidance on proper fueling, performance nutrition, and managing low energy availability or REDs. We also provide care for disordered eating and eating disorders, including meal support and family-based treatment. Additional services include support for GI concerns, PCOS, and building a sustainable, non-diet approach to nutrition. All services are inclusive and tailored to your unique needs, goals, and relationship with food.
Rachel West Jones RN, MS, RD, LD
Rachel grew up loving movement and is thankful for the foundation she had as a child that supported her into being a physically active adult. As a former multi-sport athlete and a student of classical ballet for 10 years, she has a passion for working with athletes of all stages and levels of competition. She feels strongly that the well-fueled athlete is the most successful athlete. Rachel is passionate about mental health and strives to help her clients find a balance with fuel and movement that can support their goals as a human and athlete. She is also specially trained in managing eating disorders and has additional experience in managing certain GI disorders and PCOS. Rachel's own experience receiving physical therapy has helped her become a much more successful (amature) athlete and she is proud to collaborate with her sports medicine colleagues!
Rachel holds a bachelor's degree in nursing, which was her first career. She later obtained her master's degree in health science to become a registered dietitian, with a specialty focus in sports nutrition. She values an evidence-based approach to nutrition that also honors her clients' lived experiences.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, trying new restaurants, going on long walks, reading, yoga, playing with her cats, and drinking coffee. She is constantly trying to improve her tennis game.
Rachel owns and operates her own nutrition practice, located in Precision Performance, Running Medicine Clinic.