Interview with Scott Jurek, Ultramarathon Legend and Author of Eat & Run

By: Matt Frazier

Only a very few athletes ever dominate their sport to such an extent that they’re considered legends in their own time.

Scott Jurek has done exactly that in the ultrarunning world. What’s even more inspiring is that he’s done it as a vegan. And the title of his new book, Eat & Run, should tell you he considers his diet to be a big reason for his success.

For many of us, Scott is the person we point to when someone skeptically asks, “Yeah, but can athletes really eat a plant-based diet and still be competitive?” And so we’ve been waiting a long time for this, for Scott to share his incredibly inspiring story, his advice on running, and his favorite plant-based recipes for endurance athletes.

In Eat & Run (out today, June 5th!), he’s done all three. Eat & Run is worth every minute of the wait. As I tell Scott in our interview below, it’s the first time since Born to Run (where Scott is prominently featured) when I’ve felt the overwhelming urge to stop reading and just run — and yet I can’t stop myself from turning the page to see what’s next!

Add to that over 20 recipes that Scott has developed, not just for running but for meals and snacks as well, and you’ve got a book that’s not to be missed. (I’ve already tried the Long Run Pizza Bread, Smoky Chipotle Refried Beans, and Apple-Cinnamon Granola, and they’re great. They pass even the most rigorous of tests; my two-year old likes them.)

I had the pleasure of talking to Scott last week about Eat & Run and many of the things I learned from it, like why he says anyone can run an ultramarathon, what he believes is responsible for his dominance in the sport, his approach to spreading the message of veganism, why he’s not against soy and oil (as is so fashionable these days), and what’s next for him. Oh yeah, and a little bit of Zen.

Check out our interview here (26:04):

You can listen to our interview using the player above, or download it with this link (you may need to right-click and “Save Link As”).

Other links:

• Learn more about Eat & Run and view photos and the book trailer on Scott’s website
• Eat & Run on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Listen to Scott’s previous No Meat Athlete interview

Thanks so much to Scott for taking the time to talk to us, some of his biggest fans, and for an amazing book. Seriously, check it out. It does not disappoint.