This week, we hear from 2:58 marathoner, multiple BQ-er, Masters Athlete and RunnersConnect Coach, Claire Bartholic. You may recognize her voice from the “Extra Kick Podcast” from RunnersConnect, and in this episode we learn even more about how she trains and fuels.
Plant-based, different from vegan
As she explains, Claire had a typical entry into running, which then turned into a great passion for competing and coaching. She shares with us her Whole-Foods, Plant-Based Diet, how that fits into her training and life and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Claire Bartholic – The Planted Runner
Purposefully Unbalanced
She also tells us about how and why she lives a purposefully un-balanced life between work, running, training and family and how it all works for her.
Another interesting piece of information she delivers: If you’ve ever wondered why athletes take a swig of Gatorade and then spit it out, we finally find out what that’s all about.
Questions Claire is asked:
1:55 First Four:
- How old are you?
- Where were you born?
- Where do you live now?
- What is your favorite race distance or type of race?
3:20 What was your entry into running like?
4:28 Did you have a coach when you started running?
5:49 Was achieving a sub-3 hour Marathon your greatest running accomplishment to date?
7:57 How old were you when you broke 3 hours?
8:30 How did a plant-based diet fit in with training for that goal?
8:58 What does ‘plant-based’ mean for you, versus ‘Vegan?
12: 23 What did a marathon-training nutrition plan look like for you?
14:33 Do your kids follow your diet?
16:04 What about milk and dairy products?
16:55 Do you take supplements?
18:14 What works for you nutritionally during marathon taper?
20:38 What does your pre and in-race marathon nutrition look like?
24:07 How do you make your homemade gels and other fueling products?
26:07 What about caffeine?
30:11 Have you been affected by injuries?
32:20 How do you balance running, working, and family?
34:19 How important is running in your life?
35:40 Any other thoughts to share?
40:24 Final Kick Round:
- What is your favorite local training run (location, starting point, parking, distance, terrain and safety issues)?
- Favorite running book(s)?
- Words of Wisdom or Humor?
- Who or what would you like to have featured on the Run To The Top podcast?
Quotes by Claire:
“If the whole world went plant-based, I think we’d have a better place; but, it’s not my job to tell people what to eat. I don’t feel like I need to bash people over the head with, ‘You’ve gotta eat this.’.”
“I don’t think I eat any differently in training than I do when I’m not training. The only difference might be that if I am really focused and it’s close to the goal race, I will be watching my intake much more strictly to make sure that I’m fueling properly.”
“I don’t think that anybody can do anything great by doing everything.”
“I am plant-based because it’s about the food; it’s about what I DO eat, it’s not about what I DON’T eat.”
“I was plant-based before I was a runner, so it’s just second nature to me. It certainly helped me, but I couldn’t say what the difference is between plant-based or non-plant based because I’ve been running my whole running career.”
Take a Listen on Your Next Run
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Mentioned in this podcast:
Run To The Top Winners Circle Facebook Community
The Planted Runner Facebook page
Carrier Park running trails, Asheville NC
Book: Born To Run by Christopher McDougall
Book: How Bad Do You Want It? by Matt Fitzgerald
Book: Peak Performance by Steve Magness and Brad Stulberg
Follow Claire on:
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