How I Fuel For Ultras

[Listen to an audio version of this blog here.]

I’m not a dietitian or a doctor. I have an outdated NASM personal training certification and about 2 years experience working with a dietitian. I’m more right-brained than left, so what I’m saying is, I’m no nutrition expert. But I have learned a lot about sports and nutrition over the years so I’m here to impart a small parcel of knowledge to you. Take it or leave it, peace hope and love.

When I started running ultra marathons, I was a devout vegan who had no idea how to fuel or hydrate during long runs. I had a hydration pack, but rarely drank enough water. I never used salt pills, and consistently under-fueled. This resulted in a few things: I started disliking and dreading long runs, I was weak and fatigued, and my performance suffered in a big way.

When I started seeing my dietitian, she helped me untangle food myths and broke down the science of nutrition. Eventually, we started talking about food and running, and here are some things I learned.

1. Athletes, especially endurance athletes, need more protein than the average person. And the best source of protein comes from animal sources like chicken, wild caught salmon, organic, free-range eggs, and organic, lean red meat. Animal proteins are complete proteins, providing all the essential amino acids our bodies need. To aid…