Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek: "Being vegan keeps me on track"
Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek, who broke the record for the fastest run across the Appalachian Trail in July of 2015, was just featured in a Q&A for The Guardian. Jurek was asked about his upcoming participation in the Boston marathon, his toughest race to date, and what helps him during his long runs.
When asked about his plant-based diet, Jurek stated that he became a vegan in 1999 for “long-term health,” and when asked how it pairs with ultrarunning, Jurek stated:
“Being vegan keeps me on track. If I just tried to eat healthy food, but kept eating meat, I don’t think I’d be as focused. Am I faster than another guy because of my diet? Probably not, but it forced me to eat foods I had never eaten, or even heard of before. I was a meat and potatoes guy …”
When asked to elaborate on the types of foods he eats, Jurek stated:
“Simple foods, such as brown rice - I hadn’t eaten that before. Quinoa, lentils and beans, these are staples in many parts of the world. It’s not flashy, but by combining grains and legumes you have a perfect protein. Then there’s tempeh, that’s one of favourite foods. It’s like tofu but has a great nutty flavour, and it’s a dense protein. I’m a big fan of avocados, olive oil, coconut oil; they all form a big part of my diet. You don’t have to be vegan to eat all this stuff, of course.”
When asked if his ultrarunning days are behind him, Jurek stated that he is “lining up something else for later this year.” You can read the full interview here.
Photo Credit: www.4run.pl
