In this Lecka Bites episode, Markus dives into the adventurous life of Kieren D’Souza, India's first ultramarathon runner to complete the grueling Spartathlon—a 246 km race in Greece. Kieren shares how he left city life behind to pursue trail running in Manali, taking on high-altitude, rugged terrain with limited resources and support. A true pioneer in Indian ultrarunning, Kieren helped shape India’s emerging trail scene, drawing from his own journey of self-reliance and perseverance. Markus and Kieren discuss the rapid growth of trail running across Asia and the competitive spirit uniting athletes from diverse backgrounds.

With a mix of humility and grit, Kieren reminds listeners to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and keep pushing toward new goals.

Links: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kierendsouza/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kieren_D%27Souza ⁠ Available on all major podcast platforms: Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple Podcast --- Special 10% discount for US listeners: BITES10 Visit our website: ⁠www.getlecka.com⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/leckanutrition⁠ Reach out: info@getlecka.com Shop on Amazon: amazon.com

In this Lecka Bites episode, trail runner Valentin Orange talks about his recent attempt at the UTMB 100-mile race. Valentin shares his rigorous training journey after moving back to the French Alps and how his excitement turned to struggle during the race, with fatigue and knee pain eventually forcing him to stop at kilometre 115.

Reflecting on his DNF (Did Not Finish), Valentin identifies factors such as overtraining, inadequate rest, and lack of focus on nutrition, noting that his mental resilience was also tested.

The experience has prompted him to adjust his approach to future races, focusing more on setting realistic goals and listening to his body.

Valentin finds gratitude in the lessons learned, recognizing that setbacks can provide valuable insights into both physical and mental endurance.

Timestamps: (00:10) Intro Valentin Orange (01:20) Recap of his UTMB 100 mile race (06:00) What's happening inside the mind when stopping? (11:30) The new feeling of DNF & how to overcome it (16:40) The importance of nutrition in training (21:20) Dealing with impermanent pain (24:16) How a DNF builds character & changes one's life (26:00) Changing approach in public exposure (29:15) Training the mind (30:50) Many factors impact performance Links: https://www.instagram.com/val_orange/ https://www.youtube.com/@val_orange https://valentinorange.com/ Available on all major podcast platforms: Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple Podcast --- Special 10% discount for US listeners: BITES10 Visit our website: www.getlecka.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/leckanutrition Reach out: info@getlecka.com Shop on Amazon: amazon.com

Markus sits down with Jakob Bloch, aka the “Danish Ultra Runner,” for an engaging chat on extreme desert races, nutrition strategies, and the challenges of running in diverse climates.

Jakob shares insights from his upcoming race in Chile’s Atacama Desert and his past experiences in the Sahara, highlighting his go-to fuel sources, mental stamina, and team dynamics in these gruelling races.

They also discuss Lecka's latest nutrition products, with Jakob offering valuable feedback. This episode is a must-listen for ultra-endurance athletes and fans of adventurous races worldwide.

(00:15) Intro Jakob

(01:40) The Speed Project: Atacama Desert

(11:30) Jakob's fueling strategy for Atacama

(15:50) Info about Lecka Energy Gel

(25:20) Jakob's races in the Sahara

(29:00) Analysing the sweat rate in a lab

(33:30) Plans for 2025

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Special 10% discount for US listeners: ⁠BITES10⁠

Visit our website: ⁠www.getlecka.com⁠

Follow us on Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/leckanutrition⁠

Reach out: info@getlecka.com

Shop on amazon: ⁠amazon.com⁠