The Human Potential Running Series Podcast · John Lacroix

HPRS Podcast - Episode 55: On Fueling

·1 hr 42 min·5 clips

John describes running 100-milers with abscessed teeth, enduring hours of nerve pain just to keep moving.

John LaCroix and his co-host Tommy open this episode by discussing their personal histories with sugary drinks and unconventional nutrition. LaCroix recounts a story from 2005 when a potential sponsor arrived at his house with a microscope and a "wheatgrass" drink that tasted like lawn clippings. Tommy shares that he grew up drinking vitamin D milk and Coca-Cola, a habit reinforced by his grandfather. LaCroix mentions a statistic his wife read: a single modern can of Coke contains as much sugar as someone might have consumed in an entire year decades ago. Both hosts describe severe dental problems in their early running careers, with LaCroix recalling how energy gels would seep into painful tooth abscesses during 100-mile races. Tommy recently completed a self-styled "Windjammer Marathon" on a cruise ship, fueling solely with baked potatoes, salted rice, and apples he stored in a bag. A key moment for Tommy was at the Silver Heels 100-mile race, where sour gummy worms and a cup of "hash brown bacon surprise" restarted his stomach after a night of relentless dry heaving. LaCroix once attempted to run the Vermont 100 entirely on PowerGels, consuming 81 of them over 20 hours, which left sores in his mouth. He now prefers real food like fruit, bacon, and even cheeseburgers with Corona Light during races. Tommy discusses experimenting with nasal breathing to improve digestion and stabilize his core while running. The hosts reference an upcoming free webinar with HPRS runner and registered dietitian Stefan Schuster, who will discuss protein for ultrarunners. The conversation is casual, humorous, and anecdotal, filled with personal stories and self-deprecating humor about their poor dietary habits. This episode will appeal to trail and ultrarunners interested in unconventional fueling stories and learning from others' mistakes. Listeners seeking structured, science-based nutrition advice might prefer to wait for the webinar with Stefan Schuster.

As heard by us

A blunt, useful fuel talk for runners who have learned the hard way.

John LaCroix and Tommy keep the focus where it belongs: on fueling, and on how fast a run can go sideways when the stomach quits cooperating. The value here is in the plain talk.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want honest, battle-scarred fuel talk from trail and ultra runners who learned the hard way.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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