Nutrition's No Joke
Nutrition For Athletes - No Joke In These Extreme Races
Challenge yourself in the New Year with these three endurance races. Photo Source: 4desert.com
It is a New Year and you may be looking for a resolution that will increase your fitness and test your endurance while also being over-the-top fun. These three ultra-endurance races will take you to the corners of the world and test your ability to perform in extreme conditions. Participants not only conquer the environment and distances, but the nutrition for athletes in these extreme conditions is just as important as physical training.
Four Desert Race
This race will take you to some of the most remote areas on earth to test your endurance and determination. Each race is 7-days long and covers 155 miles. The four deserts negotiated in the race are Gobi in China, the Atacama in Chile, the Sahara in Egypt, and Antarctica. Some of the stages are unsupported requiring participants to carry light-weight high-energy food with them as they run. This race is only for the fittest, stage times range between 25 and 70 hours and you will have to provide proof of medical health upon registration.
Light-weight high-energy nutrition is the key to fueling the miles on endurance races in harsh environments. Photo Source: 4desert.com
Everest Ultra
This 40-mile thigh and lung buster reaches the altitude of over 17,000 feet and boasts the dubious honor of being the highest marathon in the world. It is no wonder that the top 14 finishers listed on the race’s website are from Nepal. The fastest reported time is just over five hours by Sudip Kulung Rai. Running 40 miles is hard enough without having to worry about mountain sickness; this race is only for the strong…or crazy! The race occurs between March and April and just 50 participants are allowed to enter.
The Everest Ultra will take your breath away – literally. Photo Source: everestultra.com
Antarctic Ice Marathon and 100k
This may be the most remote and expensive of the endurance monsters. The opportunity to test yourself against the frozen continent will cost you over $14,000 and will require a variety of air planes and boat rides to get you to the starting line. The race offers distances of half-marathon, marathon, and a grueling 100k (62 miles). Be prepared to run in temperatures below of 10F (-12C) and have the proper gear. You will need to book this race well in advance, there are only 100 places available and the 2016 race is already full (maybe make this next year’s resolution). So you know your competition, the winner of last year’s 100K was Keith Whyte (IRL) at 09:26:02.