Eat and Run - Does it Work?

Eat and run: My unlikely quest to achieve greatness is a new book by the world-known ultramarathoner Scott Jurek and fitness expert Steve Kubica. It was recently released by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. I've read a few of their books and enjoyed them, but I wasn't sure how I felt about this one.

It's an interesting look at what it takes to push oneself in ultra-marathons, whether they be road trail, gym, or ultramarathons. It's not as if this book is an exercise in contrasts, though. The authors present a course that is tailored towards experienced runners who are looking to improve their times. The authors don't treat it as a "HIIT" program, nor do they advocate a long-term commitment in 먹튀검증.

Rather, the book addresses nutrition and training for ultra-marathoners. In doing so, I think they do a great job of explaining some of the common mistakes made in training and nutrition. For instance, some people go into the races with a specific plan in mind, using food categories to classify food types and implementing a particular diet. They know what they want to eat and can judge which foods are "fat-worthy", or even which foods are "good for you". However, most people don't have such knowledge, and the authors explain why eating according to category can lead to poor performance and even eventual failure in ultra-marathons.

Running is a completely different experience than walking. Walking allows a runner to gradually develop his or her speed and endurance. During a marathon, on the other hand, speed and endurance are key. Hence, it's easy to see why eating right and training in appropriate intensity levels are so critical.

Another thing the Eat and Run book makes clear is that while distance running is the best way to prepare for and complete a marathon, it's not the only way. Indeed, many runners choose shorter road races over marathon events because of the recovery benefits. That being said, it's smart to be able to run both distance events and ultras as part of your training and fitness routine. So, what kinds of workouts should you do for both? The authors provide a lot of information about trail running and ultra-running, so I'll only discuss a few of the more-specific recommendations here.

I've done plenty of research on how to run ultra-distances, and the Eat and Run program offers a lot of suggestions based on my own experiences. (I'm also a coach, so I have a good idea of what's good or bad for other runners.) However, since the focus of this review is on nutrition and training specifically for ultra runs, I'll make quick notes and take things from there.

For instance, it seems that most nutrition experts advise runners to eat smaller meals throughout the day, because the body will burn fewer calories at rest when you're feeding fewer calories than you would at a larger meal. For example, you may have noticed that after finishing a marathon you feel less hungry than before you ran the race. That's because your metabolism has more to speed up at race mile markers than it does at any other time. (It's also been confirmed that some drugs used for extra energy during a marathon are also bad for you; you should avoid them if at all possible.) The Eat and Run book also recommends eating several small meals per day (such as five or six smaller meals spread out into three or four snack bars), so that you have a constant source of nutrition between workouts.

The Eat and Run program also suggests taking some sort of protein before and after your run, particularly when preparing for a race of any distance. I've done research on high-protein diets and ultramarathons and have found that there is no consensus about whether or not they're helpful in ultra-marathons. (I'm inclined to lean toward "maybe") However, eating protein before and after your run can give you a great boost of energy and make your endurance more durable. The ginger runner diet recommends a single-source protein source for each day, but the Eat and Run plan suggests that you mix two or three sources of protein to make yourself more nutritious during each individual session.