Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek Before the 2010 Mardi Gras Marathon

The ultrarunning great steps down in distance to mix it up with road specialists in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Mardi Gras Half Marathon.

Matt: Hello runners this is Matt Fitzgerald for competitor.com I’m here at the expo of the Rock N Roll Mardi Gras Marathon and half Marathon standing next to me is legendary Ultra Marathon runner Scott Jurek. Scott thanks for joining us. Scott: Thank you for having me. Matt: So you are going to run a half marathon tomorrow on streets that’s an exotic adventure for you is it not? Scott: I guess as far as running all over half marathon a little sprint work out I guess a little speed workout. Matt: Is it something that you’re doing sort of as a workout for something else or do you or are you interested in testing yourself in that type of format and seeing what you can do? Scott: I’m definitely interested in getting out. I get on the roads and run you know half marathons and decent 10 ks here and there and you know hop in a marathon. I was actually going to focus on a spring marathon but then I get selected to the 24 hour world championship team so I’m head to France in May so I’m trying to really focus on the long stuff right now but doing a little I guess tempo run tomorrow. Matt: I believe you had I think soft for your long standing marathon PR is a little under 240. I think you could run faster than that how fast do you think you can run half of this point? Scott: You know I haven’t I have been filling up my mileage. I take my normal off season or down time in the winter so November and December we’re you know really pretty much off for me for most particular 5 to 6 weeks off so last couple of months have just been building back things and getting on the track a little bit building up the tempo runs so for right now I’m saying we’ll see I know it’s a pedestrian 6 minute pace but its going to ware them out right now but definitely I would like to get down in the below 230 or even break 230 sometime for the marathon. I know that’s going to happen right now at 24 hour. Matt: Now aside from your exploits in Ultra Marathons you’re best known for your diet. Your VEN, you’re kind enough to contribute a one day food journal to my book racing rate and it was the healthiest eating plan of any of the athletes as world class athletes. Is that something you would sort of force yourself to do or is it really just come naturally to eat that healthily? Scott: Well it’s been a big transition for me. I’m a meet and potatoes guy from Northern Minnesota I grew up hunting and fishing so I didn’t grow up in a hippy household like a lot of people assume and I eat fast food 3 or 4 times a week so for me you know I definitely cleaned up my diet and it’s been a good transition. It does take some effort but I have really enjoyed it. I enjoy cooking and spending time in the kitchen for me its been a fun challenge and just embrace it and that’s what I try to recommend other people I have fun with it. Matt: Now as a sport nutritionist myself I’m always telling runners you diet doesn’t have to be perfect it needs to be good but it doesn’t have to be perfect but you tell me if I’m wrong is there a different your diet is almost perfect do you notice a difference at that level of refinement in your diet? Scott: I look at it more as long term health you know I have raced against guys who you know eat twinkies and drink soda pop and you know you can be vegan and eat a lot of junk food and I don’t think it necessarily helps me on race day but it helps me with the higher hard training and the recovery so for me I think you can eat like quote bad diet or maybe a diet that isn’t as healthy and still perform well but as far as year after year and turning up results and for me I look at it you know long term a lot of runners aren’t necessarily the healthiest individuals and for me I want to be a healthy long term. Matt: Now does that mean no hurricanes on Bourbon street to celebrate your performance tomorrow? Scott: You know again anything in moderation and you know a lot of people look at me and I’m like this a strict hardcore vegan he doesn’t know how to have fun and you know again its all in moderation and I think its great to get out and have fun and celebrate and who knows we’ll see what happens tomorrow. Matt: Alright the first hurricane will be on my treat. Thanks a lot Scott good luck tomorrow. Scott: I’ll get you up on that. Matt: Okay.