The Ultra Distance Blog

Athletes are no longer just making a plant based diet work for their training; they’re thriving on it. This lifestyle is starting to pick up momentum as endurance athletes are adopting a plant based diet for a variety of reasons, including health, environment, and performance. Additionally, when a plant-based diet is coupled with entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, you get the world’s ultimate sustainable superfood diet! Insects, particularly crickets, provide many of the essential nutrients that plants lack.

Fasting diets have become increasingly popular over the last several years, with the promise of weight loss and performance benefits. They have especially gained traction among dieters and bodybuilders looking to lose weight, with an increasing number of endurance athletes practicing it to increase fat oxidation capacity in their muscles. However, there are varying schools of thoughts and opinions on the matter: while some may swear by fasting, others call it a waste of time and energy. If you ever thought about how this diet could possibly help or harm your performance, keep reading to learn more!

Näak bars are taking the world by storm. A tasty energy bar with minimal and sustainable ingredients that gives you enough energy to stay active, what’s not to love? Many endurance athletes depend on the ubiquitous Näak bar for fuel during long runs or as a post-workout snack for muscle recovery. But there is more to these bars than just its tasty flavor, read on for 7 things you might not know about your favorite energy bars!

Do you think it’s possible to complete an ultra distance race on a low-carb, high fat diet? If you responded no, think again! Although this concept may seem strange as most endurance athletes rely on a heavier carb diet during races, focusing on fat as a fuel source is a viable alternative. Despite the fact that our bodies naturally prefer to feed on carbohydrates, dietary fats are able to provide energy to the brain and the body in a safe way. While this method of approach is possible, everybody is different and what works for some may not work for others. The only way to determine what works best for you is through trial and error.

If you’re curious as to how your body is able to adapt to utilize more fat and less glycogen stores during a race, then this article is for you!

Whether you are preparing for an ultra marathon or keeping in shape during the off-season, your diet has a huge impact on performance. Maintaining the perfect balance between training and nutrition can be overwhelming, especially with all of the misinformation out there on how to fuel your body. To help, we’ve narrowed down the top mistakes you might be making in terms of nutrition, and how to fix them. If any (or all) of these common mistakes sound familiar, read on to learn why and how to avoid them for good in order to improve your athletic performance!

Whether you are a recreational athlete, a physically active person, or a competitive athlete, it is important to recognize the impact nutrition has on health and performance. Proper daily nutrition will improve exercise performance, prevent injuries due to fatigue, provide energy during endurance training, facilitate maintenance of an optimal body weight, and enhance overall health.

It all started after my victory in the Quebec Mega Trail 110 km in July 2019, where the prize for the winner was an invitation to the Grand Raid de la Réunion. Without hesitation, I embarked on the adventure! At the beginning of 2019, when I was only in my first year of trail racing, I planned to stay in Quebec to see how I was doing in my province before venturing on a national or international level. However, my goals have changed and my training was now focused towards the Grand Raid taking place in October.

Elliot Cardin, his name may ring a bell, because this young Quebecer from Bromont is one of the elite endurance athletes. Elliot started racing a few years ago, and has never given up. Trail running has become a passion for him and our Näak ambassador shares it with us today.

Elliot shares with us his best racing memory, his achievement at the Black Canyon Ultra 100k 2020.

As we face an unprecedented crisis, we know how difficult it is for our ultra-distance athletes to be deprived of their races. Näak team wants to contribute in it own way to support its community of ultra endurance athletes. We encourage everyone, from amateurs to professionals, to stay active during this period, while respecting the safety guidelines dictated by the Government of Quebec and Canada.

After having made our athletes run an ultra distance, what better than to make them do some elevation gain this week to remember the good feelings of the trail? On your stairs or in the mountains if the safety guidelines dictated by the government allow it, are you ready ? 💪

160km, in 22 hours and 49 minutes. No, you are not dreaming, this is the ultra marathon that Nicolas Danne, of French origin and Quebecer at heart, completed in his Montreal neighborhood, Villeray, on Saturday, March 24, 2020.

Like many endurance athletes at the moment, Nicolas has seen all his spring and summer races cancelled. Far from being discouraged, he wanted to take on a new challenge over an ultra distance to support a cause that is close to his heart.

Indeed, more than a personal feat, it is above all an act of great generosity. What could be better than wanting to help the healthcare personnel who are fighting every day against the current pandemic?

While we are experiencing an unprecedented crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several events and races are being cancelled or postponed. Näak team wants to contribute in its own way to support its community of elite endurance athletes. We encourage everyone, from amateurs to professionals, to stay active during this period, while respecting the safety guidelines dictated by the Government of Quebec and Canada.

Given the success of last weekend's challenge, we've decided to raise the level a little bit. So, will you take up the challenge? 😋