Sunday, June 17, 2012

Scott Jurek and the Food Question

Cynthia and I had a great time at the Scott Jurek book-signing event last Thursday. She's so much fun to chat with, and once we arrived at the party we both knew other people and were each able to meet someone new. Meeting other runners, especially local ones, always helps me feel more connected. You can see pictures and get a good summary of the event at her post.

After Scott's talk was finished, I attempted to win a pair of shoes from his sponsor, Brooks. They invited volunteers up onto the stage, where we were put through a series of what Scott called proprioception tests. The first test? Merely lifting one of your legs and balancing on the other foot. I don't know if it's that my confidence has been shaken by this back thing, or if it was because I was wearing clogs, or if it was because I was up on stage with a pair of running shoes at stake and lots of eyes out in the audience--but whatever it was I failed immediately, put my leg down and was the first player disqualified. Oh well. Reminders to continue doggedly with my core work are always welcome (and if I'm ever on Jeopardy someday, I hope I do better than that)!

The book itself will be my next read. I'm really curious how I will feel about it, because there is a lot about food in it. Scott is well-known for his vegan eating style. He thinks it's what made him the runner and the man he is today.

As a former vegetarian myself, and as someone who struggles to eat healthily for the sake of my running and my girlish figure (ha!), I have no problem with those who choose to eat vegan, or those who emphasize protein or carbs, or any other style of eating. There are vegetarians in my family, others who are committed meat eaters, and there are others who have to watch carefully what they ingest because of blood pressure and other issues. To me, it's all good--and none of my business really.

The only time other people's eating styles bug me is when it's implied that I need to eat their way too, or there's going to be some dire consequence for my body and, sometimes, for my soul. When that happens, discussions of food can drive me up a wall. There are very few things in this world that I think are black-and-white--and food choice isn't on that select list. I think you can be a good and healthful person who chooses for whatever reason not to eat animal products....and I also think you can be a good and healthful person who DOES eat animal products.

I'm really curious how Scott will come across on this topic. From his presentation and our brief meeting with him when he signed our books, he seems like an open and nice person who thinks of others and contributes his time to charitable causes. But I'm still a little wary, because there are a lot of over-the-top eating-style zealots in Boulder, and there's far too much obsession with food choices. If there was as much attention paid here to, say, homelessness and solving our issues with that as there is to food choices, we would have much less of a problem with homelessness.

I put myself in this category, too. I think about food and body issues far too much. Really, in the great scheme of things, my eating is fine. I have enough money for food, I'm not overweight, underweight, or a frequent patron of fast-food joints, and I try to keep animal welfare in mind when I buy poultry and dairy products. I, too, should refocus the unnecessary attention I pay to food and drink on those with real troubles.

What do you think about the food thing? Do you think we rich types (and yes we are rich compared to the person holding a sign on the corner and/or using the local soup kitchen) obsess too much about food? Do you share my opinion that any eating style can be healthful and ethical?

18 comments:

  1. I'm pretty much where you are on the food thing. I'd like to be a better/healthier eater, but I think there are many ways to eat well. As with any topic, I really dislike zealotry when it comes to food choices. The very best way to get me to change my eating isn't to tell me I'm wrong; instead, cook me something "right". :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. What did he say when you asked him the question? Does he miss those things? I'm so curious!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have problems with disordered eating, so yes, I think we do obsess about it too much.  I used to be a vegetarian for ethical reasons (and I still feel guilty about eating meat, but my hair was falling out).  I dunno, food is such a hard topic for me because I have a terrible relationship with it and really struggle to not be insane.  I need to work on this.

    ReplyDelete
  4.  He said CHEESE. Not that he misses it now...but he missed it when he first went vegan. I thought I detected a note of regret there, but perhaps I was projecting.....:^)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think the old adage "Everything in moderation" is true for just about all things in life - and for athletes - moderation is a good guideline for food and training.   Except for cheese and chocolate - nothing 'moderate' about those for me!  :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Um...I'm pretty sure Scott's amazing running abilities aren't solely because of his food choices...he was one of the lucky ones born with some great running genes.  But foods we put in our bodies, good or bad,  definitely plans into how well you feel when you perform.  I do believe in moderation, too....Matt Fitzgerald has chocolate and a beer every night.  He's a pretty good athlete in my book.

    ReplyDelete
  7. about the food obsession I think that it is either too much or not enough.  here where I live I would say that most people do not obsess enough about their nutrition! Balance is key like for most things.  For me personnaly...food is touchy for the last 2.5 yrs.  I obsess about it only because of health reason but not to control weight.  I will say that I think runner do obsess over food a lot.  I tend to skip most post about what people eat every day.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You know I believe in happy mediums (and an occasional second breakfast as I am part Hobbit). To each their own but I hate it when people push their agenda on either end. Do what works best for you. But no cheese? That's crazy!
    Are you excited or tomorrow??? Wish I could take the morning off and join you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree that some Boulderites are WAY over the top on the food thing.  My big annoyances..

    1.  when people claim they are celiac went they aren't.  seriously??

    2. one of the local crossfit gyms is *supposedly*  strict Paleo - but they drink coffee(farmed), eat bacon (processed) and love their margs (tequila is processed by your liver like HFCS )...but they slam people for having cream in their coffee and sweet and sour mix in their margs.  Oh and on their "paleo challenge week" you are allowed 5 alcoholic drinks per week!  huh??  Their whole militant and hypocritical attitude about the Paleo thing is why I'll never participate in CF.

    I wonder how the whole Boulder Paleo movement will react now that people are all over the "Forks over Knifes" thing - wonder how many people will jump over to that band wagon when that gets popular.  ugh...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Okay - I'll have to write a post on this one, having studied the issues surrounding meat eating (particularly western style factory farming) - and as I've said before, my issues are not even health issues, but issues surrounding rights (of other sentient beings) and the environment. On the subject of self absorbed obsession with food choice, body image, fitness, the purity of the temple of one's body (right!) however - well that is very much a "first world problem" as they say. I agree with you on that.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I agree that in running/athletic circles, food takes on a life of it's own. That said there are so many out there who are still quite clueless about nutrition and making good food choices. Add me to the balance/moderation camp. In terms of vegan/veggie/paleo or whatever else, far be it from me to judge anyone's food choices.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a great point about refocusing all the attention we put on food into those with real troubles!  I feel guilty about that sometimes writing a running blog, as though all I really care about it fitness and healthy... although I also know that's not the platform to push my social justice values. :)  
    I agree that there are many different ways to eat ethically... I am probably a little guilty of calling my family out on their sugar-heavy, meat-heavy diet at times, but in general, I do not believe there is only one "right" diet.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am an all things in moderation kind of gal.  I do try to avoid highly processed foods but do eat them from time to time.  I am not and do not have any intention of ever being vegetarian.  Animals are great and deserve to be treated with respect but there is much to be said for the argument that Walt Disney has over humanized them.  They are an important part of the food chain and I like to eat them.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Okay, I wrote it :) Here's my response.  "Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~Albert Schweitzer http://www.chronicrunner.com/2012/06/eating-and-running-and-living.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think we are very spoiled that we even have a choice of what we are eating. Having said that, isn't it great!? I think we do obsess too much about food. I agree that we should eat natural foods and try to stay away from processed and fast foods, but other than that, I don't like it when diets are just fads for no reason. I think we can make smart choices, limit certain items, but not necessarily cut anything out completely, and still be healthy and ethical. 

    ReplyDelete
  16.  Thanks for the NYTimes link, Terzah!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Running tomorrow right!?!?!? Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

    I'm often obsessed by food and what I eat too. I unfortunately go from one extreme to another. I really need to make friends with food.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Moderation is always difficult ... especially for Pepsi and Pizza.

    ReplyDelete