Nutritional Revolution Podcast · Kyla Channell, MSc Nutrition & Human Performance

Crushing the Triple Crown of 200s: Manu Vilaseca’s Blueprint for Recovery, Real Food & Relentless Mindset

·50 min·1 clip

This episode features host Kyla Channell, a performance nutritionist, interviewing elite ultrarunner Manu Vilaseca about her record-breaking 2025 Triple Crown of 200s. Vilaseca is a top-ranked trail runner with multiple wins and course records, known for her multilingual coaching and multidisciplinary training approach. The conversation centers on her strategies for completing the Tahoe 200, Bigfoot 200, and Moab 240 races within four months. Vilaseca explains the Triple Crown consists of three 200-mile races in the U.S. with only four months separating the first and last event. She shattered the prior record by approximately 29 hours, finishing in roughly 201 hours. Her background in week-long adventure racing, which involves kayaking, climbing, and biking, initially made a 100-mile run seem simpler by comparison. During the Triple Crown, her key challenge was managing recovery between races while maintaining her coaching and yoga studio workload. She credits the drink Tailwind for saving her race at Tahoe, where travel fatigue and altitude left her unable to eat solid food for the first 100 kilometers. Vilaseca emphasizes the necessity of real food like pizza, noodles, and broth during 200-mile events, using aid station menus for variety. For between aid stations, she packs savory snacks like cheese crackers, chocolate, and dates stuffed with pistachios to balance sweet options. A surprising favorite is Chia Mama pouches, which she consumes entirely during every race. The most difficult aspect was the intense international travel between Spain and the U.S., juggling a nine-hour time difference and teaching classes immediately upon returning. Her running volume between races was minimal, with her longest run between Bigfoot and Moab being only 20 kilometers. Vilaseca believes her focus on yoga, mobility, and strength work, rather than running, was crucial for inter-race recovery. She experienced significant dehydration at Moab, requiring a complete reset by changing clothes early in the race. A key insight is her mental strategy of staying present, honed through yoga, which helps her manage race stress and avoid overwhelm. She uses the coaching app Final Surge to meticulously organize her daily tasks and race logistics. Post-race, Vilaseca listens to her body's cravings but prioritizes anti-inflammatory, colorful whole foods like beetroot and ginger to enhance recovery. She notes a severe sweating rate, losing up to two liters per hour, requiring careful hydration with a mix of Tailwind and water. The tone is conversational and educational, blending personal storytelling with practical fueling and recovery advice. Listeners interested in ultrarunning, race nutrition, and balancing high-volume training with a busy life will find immense value. Those seeking a highly technical or debate-driven podcast may find the focus on one athlete's personal experience too narrow.

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