Dr. Anthony Chaffee’s podcast features Mick Sullivan, a 66-year-old ultramarathon runner who has achieved remarkable athletic success on a carnivore diet. Mick shares his journey from cross-country skiing to trail running after retiring in 2015, eventually adopting a low-carb and carnivore lifestyle. He and his wife, Jenny, both ultramarathon runners, transitioned from keto to carnivore, experiencing improved performance and recovery, as well as significant reductions in inflammation and joint pain.
Mick highlights his adaptation to the carnivore diet and its impact on endurance events. Initially, he included small amounts of carbohydrates to aid adaptation, but he gradually eliminated them, finding his energy levels stable during long training sessions and races. He emphasizes the reduced inflammation, better recovery times, and the ability to train consistently without delayed-onset muscle soreness. Mick also experimented with fasting and completed marathons without food, achieving personal best times.
A major achievement for Mick was winning his age group in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), a 170-kilometer race with nearly 10,000 meters of elevation gain, often referred to as the pinnacle of trail running. Despite grueling conditions, Mick’s carnivore diet provided steady energy and quick recovery, a stark contrast to the carbohydrate-heavy approaches of other runners, many of whom suffered gastrointestinal issues during the race.
Mick’s diet during races involves minimal carbohydrate intake, typically around 20–30 grams per hour, through homemade glucose-based jellies. He avoids processed foods and focuses on sustaining energy without overloading his digestive system. Mick credits his ability to perform well in ultras, even as one of the oldest competitors, to the fat adaptation achieved on a carnivore diet, which allows his body to efficiently use fat for energy.
The podcast underscores the potential of a carnivore or low-carb diet for endurance athletes and features Mick’s insights into optimizing nutrition for long-distance running. Mick has started a Facebook group for carnivore and low-carb ultrarunners, aiming to build a community where athletes can share tips and strategies for thriving in endurance sports on this diet. Dr. Chaffee concludes by encouraging viewers to explore the benefits of this dietary approach for performance and health.