The Trail Runner's Paradox: Nature Lovers, Junk Food Junkies?
We extol the virtues of fresh air, the beauty of untouched wilderness, the profound connection we feel with nature as we pound the trails. We preach the gospel of healthy living, touting the physical and mental benefits of running. And yet… A paradox lurks within the trail running community, a sometimes-uncomfortable truth: we can be nature-loving, seemingly healthy athletes who, when it comes to race day, fuel our epic adventures with… gels. And maybe a handful of gummy bears. And let's not forget that post-race burger and fries.
This difference is amusing. We speak about the pure appeal of the trails, the clean mountain air, and the grounding effect of being in nature. But when the going gets hard, we rip open a bright packet of food with artificial flavors and eat it, hoping for quick energy - this is a bit like connecting with the forest spirits while wearing a shirt made from recycled plastic bottles. To be fair, this shirt actually helps the environment.
Gels, chews along with sweet snacks serve a purpose. During long runs and very long races, our bodies need quick energy - these easy packets offer many carbohydrates - they are a helpful answer to a real problem - how to fuel our bodies during hard endurance events. But this causes some mental conflict. We go out to connect with nature, yet we eat products that often differ from anything natural.
This is not just about race day fuel. Many trail runners, even those who support healthy living, like junk food. They crave it after a run, use it for celebrations, or just desire a greasy burger after a long day on the trails. That is a common desire. People excuse it by thinking about the miles they ran and the calories they burned. We think we deserve a treat.
This issue is complex. We try to find balance and a healthy way of life that fits our love for the outdoors. We want to nourish our bodies with good food, but we also know the practical side of fueling for endurance events. Perhaps finding a middle ground helps. We should choose carefully what we eat and how we fuel our trips. Perhaps it means just accepting the puzzle, the sometimes amusing, sometimes ironic truth of being a trail runner - a nature lover who keeps gummy bears hidden.
