There is a great interview with vegan ultrarunner Scott Jurek posted on The Green Life. Scott is possibly the top US runner at the moment setting a new 24 hour record of 165.7 miles at the World 24 hour championships last year. Ahead of the upcoming Western States 100 mile race, Scott talks about his vegan approach to his nutrition.
How Vegan Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek Do It? We Ask Him. He Tells Us.
An ultramarathoner is someone who regularly runs races that make the standard 26.2-mile contest look like a morning jog. Scott Jurek, 37, is an ultra ultramarathoner. He’s the U.S. record holder for the 24-hour run, fitting 165.7 miles into a single day. Twice he’s won the brutal Badwater race — that’s 153 miles through Death Valley — and he’s won the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run seven times. He does it all on a diet devoid of animal products. In his free time, he helps restore the mountain trails so central to his sport. We had a few questions for him.
Q: How long have you been vegan?
A: Since 1999. I started doing ultramarathons in ’94, but all my major victories happened after I changed my diet. I was able to train the way I did because of the diet and the way it helped me recover. It was a gradual journey, learning what I could do as a vegan. It wasn’t like I transitioned in one day, it was gradual. But it was one of those things that really impacted my health and recovery and training, and it’s been a big reason for why I’ve been so consistent with races and pumping out serious results. I’m 37 and my knees feel great, my body isn’t destroyed. A lot of people think ultramarathoning has long-term damaging effects on your body. That’s where I feel like the diet has played a huge role. As a result of it, my body is able to withstand all the demands I put on it. It’s longevity in the sport.
Q: What made you want to go vegan?
Q: Is your veganism more connected to health, the environment, ethics, or all three?
Q: We always hear about the health benefits of a vegan diet. Can you talk a bit about the environmental benefits?
Q: Why vegan and not just vegetarian?
Plus more questions. Checkout the whole interview on The Green Life
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