Topic: Ultramarathon

Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek Says Veganism Made Him Run Better—Physically and Mentally

Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek Says Veganism Made Him Run Better—Physically and Mentally

Like a lot of people, internationally-acclaimed ultramarathoner Scott Jurek used to assume that athletes who push their bodies to the extreme need to eat meat. But after educating himself about nutrition, he made a change that so profoundly changed the way he performed in grueling, 100+ mile races, he never looked back. And he’s not alone–recently, more and more vegan athletes (like Rich Roll, who we spoke to last week) have begun to come forward and change the discourse, proving that a plant-based diet isn’t for wimps. More »

Finding Ultra: From Overweight And Unhappy To Being An Elite (Vegan) Athlete

Finding Ultra: From Overweight And Unhappy To Being An Elite (Vegan) Athlete

If Rich Roll‘s before and after photos don’t capture your attention, his story of going from overweight and unhhealthy to becoming an elite (and much happier) athlete will. Laid out in his new book, Finding Ultra, Roll’s transformation isn’t just impressive on a physical level (although his completion of five Ironman-distance triathlons within one week is astonishing); it’s also inspiring to anyone who feels stuck in a rut, as he did just six years ago. More »

‘Running Ultramarathons Gave Me Hemorrhoids. I Can’t Wait For The Next One.’

'Running Ultramarathons Gave Me Hemorrhoids. I Can't Wait For The Next One.'

When a friend put me in touch with ultramarathon-runner Zandy Mangold, I thought we’d talk about life lessons, shin splints, and maybe some bloody toenails. I didn’t think we’d end up talking about hemorrhoids. But Zandy, a New York City-based photographer who moonlights as a serious runner with three ultras under his belt (and several marathons, or “sprints” as he calls them), wants more people to know about the painful condition that he says he could have avoided had he been told about the risks prior to his last, 150-mile race in Chile. But even more surprising than hearing about his hemorrhoids was hearing that, despite the crippling pain he’s endured, he has no plans to stop traveling the world for races most people consider crazy. More »

Hardrock: Why Would Anyone Want to Run 100 Miles?

Hardrock: Why Would Anyone Want to Run 100 Miles?

It’s been referred to as the Iditarod for humans. Mountains, river crossings, rocks, snow, heat, rain, darkness, 100.5 miles, 33,00 feet of climbing, 33,000 feet of descent, average elevation of two miles above sea level and an average finish time of over 40 hours. It’s the ultramarathon Hardrock 100 mile endurance race which was held last weekend, and with an average of 140 starters and 100 finishers, it’s been dubbed as the toughest race in the world. More »