Welcome to episode 106 of The Eat for Endurance Podcast! It’s been a few months since my last Athlete Nutrition Profile, so I’m extra excited for today's guest - writer, trail runner, and mountain athlete Emily Halnon.
Emily's essays and articles explore the intersection of running and the human experience, and have been published in a number of major media outlets. She also recently published her first book, called To the Gorge.
To the Gorge is a beautiful memoir that Emily wrote about losing her mother to a rare uterine cancer and setting the Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the 460-mile Oregon Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) later that year to celebrate her Mom's life and help process her grief.
In addition to setting the FKT, Emily has run the Hardrock 100 for the last three consecutive years, finishing 6th female this past summer.
Emily and I cover a wide variety of topics across her life, including:
Her early memories of food and mealtimes with her family, growing up in Vermont
Her time as a competitive swimmer and the positive nutrition influence of her high school coach, followed by some not so positive nutrition experiences in college
Her transition from swimming to running, motivated by her mother's love of the sport
Emily's mental health struggles, including an eating disorder and depression, which coincided with her identifying as a more "serious" road runner and triathlete
Her move from DC to Eugene, Oregon, where she started trail running, began therapy, ditched her watch, and rediscovered joy in running
How she views joy as the ultimate performance enhancer
How her nutrition has evolved as an athlete, from a disastrous Ironman with too many gels to embracing "picnics" with real foods on the trails
Some of her favorite moments from the PCT, including trail magic and other treats
How she fuels during trail adventures as well as races, like the Hardrock 100
Her dog Dilly's incredible trail runs and his favorite ways to fuel
What she currently struggles with in her everyday and performance nutrition
Her tips for how to care for yourself through hardship
Running plans for 2025, since she didn't get into Hardrock
I loved this interview, and I’m really glad that I got to have Emily on the show after the media frenzy of her book calmed down. This created space for us to explore the chapters of her life as well as of her book from a slightly different perspective.
FYI, this is the last episode of Season 6. If you've enjoyed the 26 episodes from this season and would like to support my free content, here are a few easy things you can do:
Shop using my affiliate links (e.g. EATFORENDURANCE20 at SkratchLabs, EATFORENDURANCE15 at Momentous, my general affiliate link at Amazon, and more)
Share the podcast and rate/review wherever you listen - this is so helpful!
Join my Patreon community and give as little as you want per month
Buy my BOCO Eat for Endurance hat!
Use code EFE15 at checkout to get 15% off + free US shipping + a free 2 x 4" sticker now through Dec 31st.
I’ll be back in mid January with a whole new season and already have some great episodes waiting for you.
Wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year!
Links:
Check out my free nutrition downloads
Sign up for my monthly newsletter and get my FREE fueling before exercise guide
Fill out a new client inquiry form if you'd like to work 1:1 together in 2025
Get in touch at claire@eatforendurance.com.
Music Credit: Joseph McDade
Disclaimer – all information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is in no way meant to replace individual medical and nutrition recommendations
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotfiy
Comments