What Elite Runners Really Eat
A peak inside three world-class fridges. . .
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Every runner knows proper nutrition is key to performing at your best. For professional runners who count on speedy times for job security, menu planning is paramount. But what do world champions really eat? Do they fuel up with specially-formulated smoothies or do all those miles afford the freedom to down stacks of pancakes on a daily basis?
To find out, we went straight to the source. Three of the fastest women on the planet—Deena Kastor, Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman— opened up their refrigerators to give us a glimpse inside. What we discovered was heaps of fresh produce, plenty of protein and more than a few surprises . . .
Deena Kastor
One of the greatest distance runners alive today, Kastor, 39, holds the American record in both the marathon and the half marathon, and is one of only two U.S. women ever to medal in the Olympic Marathon. The new mom trains at high altitude in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., where she lives with daughter Piper, 1, and husband Andrew.
Shopping List:
Grass-fed beef
Pink Lady apples
Farm-fresh eggs
Dates rolled in coconut
Schramsberg Brut Rosé
Luciano kale
Buffalo meat
Homemade peanut butter
Spinach
Cashews and walnuts
Capers
Fresh dill
Frozen homemade cookie dough
Frozen cherries, peaches, mangos and pineapples
Smoked salmon
Organic whole-milk yogurt
Butter from grassfed cows
Deena explains…
FARM-FRESH EGGS
“We go through a lot of eggs since they are such a great protein source. We get them from our friend’s ranch weekly and I have never tasted such delicious eggs! Support your local farms by getting foods directly from the farmers!”
SPINACH
“We originally snuck organic spinach into my daughter’s smoothies, hamburger meat and pasta sauce. But we realized, if its good for her, its good for us, so now we add spinach to all our food for an extra burst of nutrients.”
PINK LADY APPLES
“These are my favorite kind of apples and are great to put in smoothies, smear with peanut butter or eat plain. Apples have a good variety of vitamins and minerals. I was raised on the saying: ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away.’”
GRASS-FED BEEF
“We get all our beef and buffalo from a grassfed cattle ranch in Missouri called U.S. Wellness Meats. My husband and I have taste-tasted meats from a variety of ranches across the country and these fillets are spectacular. Red meat is great for iron, especially as a female runner.”
SCHRAMSBER BRUT ROSÉ
“You never know when you’ll have a last minute celebration!”
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Kara Goucher
Track star-turned marathon runner, Goucher, 34, is a two-time Olympian. In 2007, she won the bronze medal in 10,000 meters at the IAFF World Championships, and last year she raced the Olympic Marathon, finishing in 2:26. Goucher lives in Portland, Ore., with son Colt, 2, and husband Adam.
Shopping List:
Laughing Cow Cheese
Wedges
Blueberries
Greek yogurt
Marinating chicken
Eggs
Sliced turkey breast
Tomatoes
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Avocados
Alfalfa sprouts
Apples
Bananas
Kara explains…
BLUEBERRIES
“We eat a lot of blueberries. They are packed with nutrition and make a great snack.”
EGGS
“Eggs are great scrambled in the morning or right after a workout. They keep for a long time and are a good source of nutrition.”
GREEK YOGURT
“We like the texture of Greek yogurt and it is loaded with protein.”
What to learn more about the amazing elites who rock our sport? Subscribe to Women’s Running Magazine now!
Lauren Fleshman
This professional runner/entrepreneur extraordinaire is a two-time U.S. 5,000-meter champion and five-time NCAA champion. Fleshman, 30, is also the co-founder of Picky Bars, a wholefood energy bar company; co-founder of Believe I Am, which works to empower female runners; and wife of professional triathlete, Jesse Thomas. She lives and trains in Eugene, Ore.
Shopping List:
Redwood Hills Farms Vanilla Goat Yogurt
Kale
Raspberry Jelly
Food for Life Brown Rice Tortillas
Tilamook Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Black Label
So Delicious Coconut Milk
Red and yellow bell peppers
Limes
Spinach
Lauren explains…
REDWOOD HILLS FARMS VANILLA GOAT YOGURT
“I’m picky about my yogurt. I want it minimally processed, sweetish but low in sugar (and no cheating with fake sugars), high in protein, creamy and not from a giant cow-milking factory (that grosses me out). Goat yogurt is high in calcium, and naturally low in lactose so it doesn’t mess with my stomach.”
KALE
“The versatility of kale makes it my go-to green food. I can chop it up and sauté it into any type of dish, whether it’s Italian, Thai or Chinese.”
TILAMOOK EXTRA SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE, BLACK LABEL
“It’s the best. I can overlook my fear of industrial cow-milking for this one product only!”
RASPBERRY JELLY
“Raspberry jelly with seeds, to be precise. Jelly is the key to my happy marriage. My husband goes through a Costco-sized container of jelly every week, and if I didn’t keep it stocked in the fridge, he’d be outta here. Plus it’s great on toast with peanut butter, which I eat daily.”
What to learn more about the amazing elites who rock our sport? Subscribe to Women’s Running Magazine now!