Welcome Claire – it’s fabulous to have you with us today as we celebrate publication of your debut book ‘The Planted Runner’.

For those of you who are thinking, hang on, we’ve heard of Claire before – well you have! Claire is the host of “The Planted Runner” podcast, and former host of “The Run to the Top”.  

Q So, Claire, how does it feel to celebrate the publication of your very first book?

This book was two years in the making so it’s wonderful for it finally to be here.

Q Of course it’s on a subject you know an awful lot about. You are a certified coach and certified sports nutrition specialist. Tell us a bit more about your background – and why you decided to write the book?

I started writing about my own running journey back in 2016 when I started The Planted Runner as a blog. At first, I was just documenting my own experiences with running and plant-based nutrition, but over the years it turned into a true passion and eventually my full-time career.  As I fell in love with the marathon, I also became obsessed with learning as much as I could about how the sport worked and how to excel at it.  I hired an online coaching team and then later they hired me to coach for them.  I continued to research and write and then started writing and producing podcasts.  The book is essentially a collection of just about everything I’ve learned in the process and what I teach my own athletes.

The Planted Runner Podcast debuted as the number 1 running podcast in the United States and is continuing to grow.

Q Have you always been into sports and running?

No! Running came in and out of my life a couple times before it “stuck” in my mid-thirties.  I was simply trying to get in shape for my high school reunion.  I had no idea how life changing it would become.

Q And when did you stop eating meat? Did you start out as vegetarian before becoming vegan? What led you to your decision?

I have been plant-based for 10 years. Before that I was what you would call “flexitarian” or mostly vegetarian with the occasional bird.  I went 100% plant-based after watching a documentary on health and found that it’s been a really positive experience for me.

Q Have you found it hard to convince others that it’s perfectly healthy to be vegan? And not only that, but well-balanced, vegan nutrition can optimise performance?

I don’t try to convince anyone.  The health benefits are well-documented as long as you educate yourself on how to plan to get everything you need from plants.  Not too many people will argue that we could all use more plants in our diets, so my goal is to help people find delicious ways of doing that so that they can feel and perform better.

I don’t try to convince anyone. The health benefits are well-documented as long as you educate yourself on how to plan to get everything you need from plants.

Q Do you include recipes in ‘The Planted Runner’?

This book is about training and fueling that training with a plant-based diet rather than how to eat plant-based. I do include a few recipes though and there are more over on my website theplantedrunner.com.

Q  What is your favourite meal?

I love pesto pasta or a veggie-heavy stir fry with crispy tofu.

Q Of course successful training requires more than just good plans and nutrition. You’ve identified the importance of addressing the mental side of training too – and the mindset techniques you’ve included in ‘The Planted Runner’ are very much proven aren’t they?

The mental side of training is just as important as the physical. We can only do really hard things if we can get our minds to stop telling us we can’t. The techniques that I teach will help you quiet the negative chatter and ease the nerves that come with big challenges. These are things that I’ve learned for my own running, but also what I’ve learned from the elite athletes and sports scientists I’ve interviewed and researched.

The book not only describes the running techniques and workouts you need to be your best, but I also cover the supplemental training like dynamic stretching, strength training, and more.

We can only do really hard things if we can get our minds to stop telling us we can’t.

Q Interestingly, you know our very own Jeff Galloway – how did you guys meet?

I met Jeff when I interviewed him for the podcast. He has been such a great influence on so many runners and his Run Walk Run® method has made running so accessible to runners of all abilities.

Q It’s obviously the beginning of 2023 – and just where did 2022 go?! – but what new year resolutions do you have?

I am looking forward to lots of great things in 2023.  I plan to expand my coaching workshops and create online classes to be able to reach more runners.  I’m also hosting my own 4-day running retreat in September in my beautiful hometown of Asheville, NC.  Looking forward to training with runners in person while enjoying delicious plant-based cuisine.

I’m not a resolution person. If I want to change something, I just do it no matter what the calendar says!

Q And what were last year’s? Did you keep them? 🙂

Nope, I did not! But 2022 has been an incredible year for me and my coaching business.  The Planted Runner Podcast debuted as the number 1 running podcast in the United States and is continuing to grow. I’m looking forward to connecting with even more runners in the coming year.

The Planted Runner: Running Your Best With Plant-Based Nutrition is out now and available through all good bookstores and online retailers.