The Strength Running Podcast American Record Holder Zach Bitter on Carb Experiments, DNF's, and Learning From Failure
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Jan 8, 2026 Zach Bitter, an elite ultramarathoner and former 100-mile world record holder, shares insights on his recent DNF during a 100-mile race. He discusses how an overextended training phase affected his performance and explores the shift from a low-carb to a high-carb fueling strategy, detailing his experiments and gut-training techniques. Zach emphasizes learning from failure as a critical part of training, providing advice on optimizing race preparations and adjusting fueling strategies for endurance athletes.
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Risk Of Drawing Out Peak Training
- Zach Bitter views a whole training cycle as a six-month process and warns against overextending the ultra-specific peak phase.
- Peaking too long can leave you physically and mentally overcooked on race day, reducing motivation and performance.
Equalizer 12-Hour As A Fitness Check
- Zach describes running 11:48 for 100 miles at Equalizer and using it as a key fitness check.
- That race confirmed his fitness but likely contributed to being overextended before Desert Solstice.
Avoid Back-to-Back 100-mile Peaks
- Avoid scheduling two full 100-mile efforts close together; a shorter tune-up could suffice.
- Trust prior successful training inputs and be cautious adding extra specific work after a strong block.