Human Performance Outliers Podcast with Zach Bitter Episode 218: Mike McKnight (Part 1) - ZERO Calorie 100 Mile Run & More
Sep 11, 2020
Mike McKnight, endurance ultrarunner known for self-supported 200+ mile projects and a zero-calorie 100-mile run. He recounts why multi-day, sleep-deprived challenges suit him. He explains the zero-cal 100 concept and fat-adapted fueling with electrolytes only. He outlines plans and risks for a Colorado Trail 500-mile fast attempt, pacing, altitude concerns, and strategic use of carbs.
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Match Sleep Plan To Your Sleep Ability
- Don’t assume long races require long sleeps; personalize sleep strategy to your tolerance and avoid wasting rest time trying to force sleep.
- If you can’t sleep well, short power naps and keeping moving can be faster than lying awake for hours.
Prep Fasted And Key Electrolytes
- Train fasted to reduce race stomach issues and test fat adaptation during long runs before committing to race-day zero-calorie experiments.
- Use electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium) and water while avoiding calories when experimenting with zero-cal attempts.
What Happened During Zero-Cal 100M
- On his zero-calorie 100-mile attempt Mike relied only on Redmond real salt, potassium, magnesium, and water and felt no hunger or major energy dips.
- He could run consistently until mile ~65, then lacked uphill gear and had to walk steeper climbs.