I’ve mentioned this in my vegan transition story, but, to set the stage….
I started running in 2004. Begrudgingly. In the summer of 2003 I went on “The South Beach Diet” because it was vegetarian-friendly (unlike Atkins). Mind you, I was eating fish at the time (I was that vegetarian) but mostly only at restaurants. I lost nearly 20 pounds with no exercise. Shortly after reaching “goal” I remember going to a yoga class with my friend Lisa, it was in October. It was my first formal exercise in years. I lit up a cigarette right after the yoga class. The irony was not lost on me. I went to the drug store, bought the patch and that was my last cigarette.
I became fearful that I would regain the weight as I overcame smoking. So I started walking on a treadmill. Walking, I tell you. In November of 2003 my husband and I went to Barbados for Thanksgiving. He was running on a treadmill and I was walking on one. I decided to run. Not a total fail, but nothing fabulous. When we returned to New York I went to our local running shop for running shoes. I told them I would only be running 2 miles or so at a time. And then I didn’t run at all.
In March, after the thaw, I pulled out the new shoes. I had no idea what to do. But I love a plan and a spreadsheet so I decided I would pick a race to help motivate me. I chose the Nike Run Hit Wonder 2004 race in Central Park and followed Hal Higdon’s 10k training plan for beginners. Essentially I went from couch to 10k. And I was hooked. Three months later I ran my first half-marathon. After I finished the half I told my husband that I would never run a full marathon. One year later I ran my first full marathon. The following summer I competed in my first triathlon.
Six years later, I run / tri 100% on plants. When I started researching a vegan diet in January, I was also gearing up for a spring half-marathon so I made sure to find information on how to fuel a vegan runner. I found some terrific vegan/vegetarian athletes!
Brendan Brazier
My first research hit was Brenda Brazier. A Vegan Ironman? Yes! I promptly ordered two of his books, Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performnace in Sports and Life and Thrive: The Vegan-Based Training Program for Maximum Strength, Health, and Fitness. I read about Brazier’s company, Vega, on Twitter and in blog posts but I confess, I don’t use the stuff. I find it too expensive. But it’s a great option for folks who don’t mind the cost.Check out Brendan’s video:
Where Do I Get Protein? Here’s Where from MindBodyGreen on Vimeo.
Matt Frazier
The next hit was for the site No Meat Athlete. What drew me into this blog was Matt’s honesty. He’s trying to make it all work, the vegetarian / running thing, while, you know, competing in 50-mile races! I read his blog faithfully and proudly sport his No Meat Athlete tech shirt in races.
I found Matt’s post on The 7 Secrets of Post-Workout Recovery very helpful and he has a great list of Vegetarian Recipes for Athletes.
Lindsay S. Nixon
I started following the Happy Herbivore on Twitter. I liked her tweets and one day she sent out a tweet asking athletes to test out some of her performance recipes. I was game! The first recipe I tried was the Chocolate Recovery Pudding
which was delicious! (My omnivore, half-iron distance triathlon husband thought so too!) Lindsay launched Herbisport last week. Try the Banana Recovery Pudding recipe!
Scott Jurek
Vegan, ultra-marathoner Scott Jurek finished second at the World 24-hour Run Championships in Brive, France, setting a new American record. Non-runners probably heard of Jurek from a wildy popular (okay, maybe just in the vegan world) article in the New York Times: Diet and Exercie to the Extremes.
Check out Jurek’s blog (not super active right now, he’s probably exhausted.) I found the Protein & Fat on the Run post interesting.
T.J. Murray
I recently read that the Editorial Director of Triathlete and Inside Triathlon magazines, T.J. Murray, has started The Burning Runner project and is in the process of transitioning to a vegan diet. Read his latest post The Power of a Plant-based Diet.
I’m inspired by many other vegan / foodie bloggers who run: Food Makes Fuel Fun, OhSheGlows, Rosey Rebecca, Sweet On, The Edible Perspective, The Front Burner, to name just a few. I get great tips from them:
-In the old days, I’d grab a GU or HammerGel before heading out for a run. Now I eat a medjool date.
-I take an Endurance Drink from Herbisport on the bike
-My new post-run refreshment is this fuel/hydration drink (From The Edible Perspective): 1/2 coconut water;1/2 water; ice; juice from 1 lime
My next race is Grete’s Great Gallop (13.1 miles) in Central Park on October 3. Grete’s was my first half-marathon in 2004. Six years later I’ll be back. Fueled on plants!
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