The Myth of Diet

Anything diet-related seems to kick up a fuss. People want the 'perfect' diet to fuel their performance; they want to show up at the start line fully prepared and consuming the correct nutrition is part of this.

The Variations in Ultra-runners’ Diets

Yet, what is the perfect diet for an ultra-runner? Is it a typical high-carb diet? Is it Keto or Paleo? Heck, is it beans on toast? The answer? You guessed it......There isn't one.

In 2015, Scott Jurek achieved the Fasted Known Time on the Appalachian Trail on a strict vegan diet. Karl Meltzer beat Scott’s record on a diet that resembled a child’s birthday party the following year.

The 100-mile fastest time was broken on a low-carb diet (Zach Bitter) and Michael McKnight won the Cocodona 250 in 2023 on a nutrition plan that included raw milk. Simultaneously, course records on the Western States, Hardrock 100, and UTMB are held by nacho-eating fanatic Courtney Dauwalter whilst Camille Herron broke the 24-hour US record on tacos and beer….yes, BEER!

But, should ultrarunners know better? ‘It surely cannot be healthy to consume that much ‘junk’ food’, you might hear. Well… the old axiom ‘the proof is in the pudding’ comes to light. Karel Sabbe in his films about conquering the Pacific Crest Trail and the Barkley Marathons is seen drinking litres of fizzy drinks and consuming copious amounts of sweets; the guy is a dentist. I think that says it all.

Should Athletes Give Advice?

As described, nutrition plans are unique. Yet, some athletes think that they can dictate the diets of others—as if they know them better than themselves. When reading Damian Hall’s fantastic book, In it For the Long Run, he spoke about how in his early ultrarunning career, he took advice from a pseudo-coach who advised him to quit pretty much all carbs and reduce his weight. 

Damian spoke about how people looked at him worryingly due to his dramatic weight loss and how it could have developed into something much worse had he not stopped following his advice. This is a prime example of self-entitled people enticing new ultrarunners to follow the nutrition plan that works for them with little consideration of the dietary needs of the person that they are dictating.

Therefore, if you are an ultrarunner whom people admire—please understand that you, like everyone else, are unique and what may work for you, may not work for someone else.

We are unique

See the pattern? When it comes to nutrition, no standard will guarantee results. For some, a high-carb diet might be essential to sustain the prolonged energy levels required for endurance, whilst others rely on a high-fat, low-carb program that enhances their fat-burning metabolism. The diversity in dietary success stories among elite ultra-runners underscores the tailored nature of nutrition. 

Yet, diet remains such a controversial topic. People think that if they follow the diet plan of one athlete, they will turn into that athlete overnight (kind of like thinking that if you follow Elon Musk’s morning routine, you will turn into him).

Diet is like morning routines: it is very specific. What will work for one person, may not work for another person; it all depends on multiple variables. The biggest variable is training methods. Runners test various foods and timing strategies to find out what works best for them. 

This experimentation is essential in establishing a diet that aligns with individual digestive systems, energy requirements, and even taste preferences. Some athletes can stomach 100g of carbs per hour and perform well, whilst others—like Zach Bitter—consume only 40g per hour and still break records.

Thus, like ultrarunning itself, diet is very diverse, and the best nutrition plan is one that keeps you energised, meets your specific needs, and allows you to enjoy the amazing sport of ultra-running.

Therefore, next time someone says "Oh, you should not eat that, you should eat this instead", just nod and remember that your ultra-running journey is YOURS and yours alone and no one has the authority to critique what you are doing.