My Rann 100 miler story was published in Endurance News magazine. Here’s the article and be sure to check out my tips to run injury-free on page 2.
Read my entire detailed Rann 100 miler race report HERE
-Damian Stoy is a renowned coach, professional runner and founder of Wholistic Running
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Here are the top foods that Damian and I personally eat:
1. Goji berries are a superfood high in nutrients and one of the world’s highest sources of antioxidants. Goji berries are also an adaptogen that improves stamina and increases energy.
2. Chia seeds are high in omega-3’s which reduce inflammation naturally. Also, just 2 tbsp of chia seeds give you the following RDA’s: 13% calcium, 41% iron, 19% magnesium and 20% selenium.
3. Quinoa is a staple in our diets. Just 1 cup of quinoa provides 39% B6, 22% folate, 75% iron, 47% magnesium and 27% zinc for your RDA and is only 222 calories. That is nutrient dense!
4. Maca is another superfood and adaptogen. We put 1-2 tbsp in our smoothies everyday for added performance, stamina and energy.
5. Sweet potatoes are another staple in our diet. The Okinawan’s, some of the longest living people’s on the planet, diet consisted of about 67% sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are nutrient dense and super tasty.
Damian’s favorite smoothie recipe:
-Lindsey Hintz, M.S. in Holistic Nutrition and certified in Plant-based Nutrition from the T. Colin Cambell Center for Nutritional Studies at Cornell, the founder of Wholicious Living and an elite runner
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I’m known for saying, “there is always a solution”. Because from my own personal experience as well as coaching hundreds of athletes, no matter the issue there is always a solution. The trick is finding the right solution for each individual and my job as a running coach is exactly that. Sometimes I have to find the solution to a chronic injury or figure out how an athlete can perform their best and reach their full potential. Sure it’s my job but more accurately it’s my passion… with a fair amount of obsession.
A tool that can help many runners is Correct Toes. They are incredibly effective and easy to use. I am very skeptical of most products and hesitant to recommend any. In fact, I rarely if ever recommend a specific product. But seeing what Correct Toes have done for some of my athletes, it’s hard not to recommend them. Check out the video below to learn more about Correct Toes and get free shipping when you use the code: WR2014 on their website.
I currently have only 2 online coaching openings. I’m giving away a free pair of Correct Toes ($65 value) to two runners who sign up for either 3 or 6 months of coaching. Sign up HERE
Running uphills efficiently, quickly and easier is important no matter what level of runner you are. As a professional ultra marathon runner who trains in the Rocky Mountains, I’ve worked diligently on my uphill running technique. Here are some of my tips for road and trail runners.
I use to hate downhills. They would hurt my knees, bang up my quads and I would get passed by so many runners on them. But after learning how to run them correctly, I now love downhills. They don’t beat up my body at all anymore and downhills are now one of my specialties.
Here are some of my tips for running gradual downhills:
Damian Stoy is the founder of Wholistic Running, biomechanics specialist and professional ultra marathon runner.
Sign up for my free newsletter and blogs for tips on running, nutrition, health, injury prevention on our homepage
That’s right. I said it, running IS bad for your knees. Well…if you’re doing it the way many runners are doing it.
I use to suffer from chronic running injuries. In fact, my knees were so ‘messed’ up that several doctors told me I had to give up running. I tried everything out there to overcome my injuries and nothing helped. I didn’t run for over two years because I was in so much pain everyday. Finally, I was so frustrated and depressed that I wondered if there was a real solution out there. I did extensive research, had a lot of my own trial and error… and finally found the solution.
Since those painful days, I have now been injury-free for over 10 years. I’m also a successful ultra runner who has run over 35 ultra marathons including six 100 mile races. That’s right, injury-free!
“But Damian, you said running is bad for your knees?”
It is for a lot of runners because of the way they are running. Most runners I see (probably you too) run with a high impact running technique and poor biomechanics. Combine that with improper training and inadequate nutrition and it’s no surprise that over 50% of runners get injured every year.
So what did I do to become ‘injury proof’ as a runner? I worked really hard on my running technique, I eat a whole foods diet and I train ‘smarter not harder’. I’m very passionate about injury-free running and sharing it with others. This is why I am now a biomechanics specialist and I coach runners from all around the world teaching them injury-free running technique and how to train smarter.
Please share and pass this blog along to friends and family. My passion is sharing injury-free running with runners of all levels.
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The Run the Rann 100 miler in Dholavira, India proved to be the most unique and challenging ultra race I have ever done. The combination of GPS orienteering, desert heat, course terrain (including cliffs, 3″ thorns and salt flats) as well as the runners I befriended made for a one of a kind experience that I will never forget.
The base area for the race was spectacular. I met runners from all around the world and the day before the race we explored ancient ruins which were awesome.
The food prepared by the race was absolutely fantastic. It was some of the best food I’ve eaten in my life and I had to hold back and not eat too much new food before the race. I’d wait till after the race to pig out (and I did).
Race morning started out with temperatures in the 60’s. After less than 10 miles when 100 milers separated from the other race distances, we had to start using our GPS units to navigate the race course. This proved to be very tricky and slowed us down a lot. I ran with several other 100 milers for a while as we learned just how difficult orienteering in this desert terrain was going to be for the next day or two. We got lost a lot, had to backtrack and we all got very frustrated with having to run, walk and crawl through thickets with 2-3″ thorns.
I ran with Dan Lawson up until about mile 30. We had run over 3 hours without water (aid station 5 was non-existent, a terrible mistake that led to several runners not finishing) and I become very dehydrated with temperatures approaching 100 degrees. We made it to aid station #6 and I was 100% convinced I was going to quit. Dan continued on and I waited over an hour before other runners came in. Finally, Linda Doke motivated me to continue going and we ran the rest of the race together.
Running at night on the bright white salt flats was my favorite part of the race. Linda and I chatted underneath a nearly full moon and even turned off our headlamps several times and ran under just the moonlight. We were running so fast (or so it seemed).
Linda and I continued to run into the next day and watched the sunrise over the desert. After crawling through thorns, running through salt flats, scrambling up and down cliffs, we finally finished the 100 miles tied for 2nd place in over 32 hours with no sleep and very little stopping. I was incredibly happy to finish to say the least. The race was my most mentally challenging race to date. I’m grateful to Linda for helping me push on and finish together.
After finishing, I almost immediately headed to the dining area and ate at least a couple thousand calories of amazing India food. I then took a cold shower and chatted with other runners about their races. I finally fell asleep later that night exhausted.
Over two weeks since finishing the Run the Rann 100 miler and I do not feel like I have yet processed the race. It was a very surreal experience and I have many vivid memories of the painful, challenging, exhausting yet wildly exciting race. I highly suggest this race if you are a person who seeks extreme challenges, adventure and does not mind a lot of pain. This is not your ordinary ultra marathon. It involves navigation, painful thorns, desert heat and never ending adventure and excitement.
Two days after completing the Run the Rann 100 miler I headed to the Himalayas where I backpacked, camped and stayed with Nepalese families. I gazed at Everest, ate with Buddhist monks, meditated in remote monasteries and ate a lot of great food. I’m amazed I was able to hike 20+ mile days with a heavy backpack so close to a 100 miler. I will write about that adventure soon, stay tuned.
Damian Stoy is a coach, professional ultra runner, biomechanics specialist and nutritional consultant.
Exciting news! I have been invited to participate as an elite athlete in the Run the Rann 100 mile (161 km) race this February. Run the Rann is a truly spectacular race in India’s largest salt desert and includes 4 different distances: Half-Marathon, Marathon, 101 km and 100 mile.
Read my race report HERE
Set against the silver-white landscape of India’s largest salt desert, the Great Rann of Kutch, Run the Rann is a race for the strongest.
I will be one of 150 lucky athletes over that will embark on India’s hardest trail running desert race. Cracked desert land, vast salt marshes, unforgiving cacti and a few slithery surprises like hidden quick sand, black cobras and giant monitor lizard’s claws that are definitely best to avoid are a few of the things we may encounter. We will circle the arcane ruins of Dholavira, one of the largest, grandest, most advanced metropolises of the 5000-year old Indus Valley Civilization. We will explore the island and its most remote corners, fight the temptation to quit, and meet with every surprise the Khadir Bet island has to offer, from friendly and huge gypsy buffaloes happy to come sniff our sweat to the high peaks we will climb several times to oversee the gigantic northern white desert. Run The Rann is not your average trail running race.
Run the 
Rann race director, Gael Courtier, is a long distance runner and triathlete for over 20 years. He has worked for Runner’s World in France and now directs races halfway across the world. He has run over 30 marathons all around the world, finished 7 ironman triathlons, finished 5 Marathon des Sables (one the world’s most difficult races), finished 4 Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc’s (165 km non-stop with 9600 meters of elevation gain) as well as many others. 
Damian Stoy is the founder of Wholistic Running and has run over 30 ultra marathons winning 8 of them. He coaches runners from all over the world.
Some shoes are better at promoting an efficient running technique thus reducing impact and injuries. When it comes to running easier and injury-free, we here at Wholistic Running believe learning proper running form is essential and the correct shoes can help promote efficient technique.
To help you get started, here are some tips for choosing shoes that promote a healthier way of moving. Most shoes have an elevated heel which promotes a heel strike (think high impact). We recommend shoes with ‘zero-drop’. A zero-drop shoe encourages a full foot landing. A full foot landing has been proven to reduce impact in several studies (2010, 2011). Zero-drop shoes also promote correct posture and alignment as well as engagement of the core when we stand, walk and run.
Altra shoes are zero-drop and have another benefit, a wide toe box:
Remember, to most effectively reduce and recover from injuries as well as run easier, learning efficient running technique is essential and the right shoes can help. I teach efficient technique because it is the easiest and the most effective way to run efficiently (farther, faster, injury-free).
-Damian Stoy is a professional ultra marathon runner, founder of Wholistic Running, biomechanics specialist, running coach and has been injury-free for over 10 years.
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I use to suffer from many chronic running injuries and had several doctors and physical therapists tell me:
“Give up running.” “Running is bad for you.” “You aren’t designed to run.”
I sure am glad I didn’t listen to them. Since then, I have run over 30 ultra marathons and even won 8 of them.
But a much greater accomplishment is the fact that I have been injury-free for the past 10 years. Yep, not a single major running injury in over 10 years even as a competitive ultra runner. Sure, I have minor tweaks and pain after running 100 miles in the mountains. But I do specific things that prevent serious injury which would cause me to go back to the days when I was injured and couldn’t run. I never want to go back to those dark days.
Shin splints, runner’s knee, IT band pain, muscle strains and foot pain were just some of the injuries I use to suffer from. Worst of all, I had patellar tendonitis in both knees for two years when I was in college. I was in pain all the time and some days I could barely walk. I went to some of the best doctors and physical therapists in New England and nothing seemed to help so I gave up running completely.
Two years of not running led to depression and a decline in health. I decided there had to be a solution, a better way. I did some research, read lots of books and found out that if I modified and practiced my running technique, I could maybe run again. It sounded unbelievable and I was very skeptical. But I went out and modified my running technique, running for the first time in over 2 years. To my surprise I was able to run with minimal pain. As the days went past, I was able to run more and more with less and less pain. I was hooked.
That was over 10 years ago and since then I have learned extensively about how to run injury-free as well as increase performance. I have experimented with many concepts and lots of trial and error. Now being a competitive ultra runner and injury-free for over 10 years, I have found what works really well for me and my passion is sharing it with others.
My top tips for injury-free running and greater performance:
1. Listen to your body
Yes, I have minor tweaks and pains when I train and after 50 or 100 mile races. The important thing is to not let these become injuries that stop you from running. The key is listening to your body. Do NOT ignore these pains. They are a signal from your body that you need to back off, rest or correct something such as your running technique. Do not be afraid to take a couple days or more completely off.
2. Improve your running technique
The major factor that allowed me to overcome chronic injuries was modifying my running technique. In the past I was inefficient and ran with a high impact technique that beat up my body, though at the time I did not know. For you to correctly modify your technique, do lots of your own research and try different concepts. I highly recommend seeking out a technique specialist to help you with your technique. At a minimum, video yourself running so you can see exactly how you run. Too many runners tell me they don’t heel strike, don’t have imbalances or misalignment issues but most often they do.
3. Improve your nutrition
What I eat greatly enhances my overall health, keeps my energy levels very high and helps me to recover incredibly fast. Again, the key is listening to your body and finding out what works best for you. I have tried just about everything out there and the ‘diet’ that works best for ME for performance, recovery and increased energy is a whole foods, plant-based diet (WFPB).
I highly recommend a nutritional coach like Lindsey at Wholicious Living who can get you great results (she’s also my girlfriend and elite runner, in the picture above).
4. Train smarter, not harder
I am a firm believer in quality over quantity. Training with this philosophy can prevent burn out, decrease injuries and running will be more enjoyable. You will also be more likely to reach your long term goals. Every run you do should have a purpose. Get rid of the junk miles that do not serve a purpose. Cyclic and periodization training are very valuable for reaching long term goals.
There are many good training programs out there. However, most do not focus on injury prevention. I highly recommend looking for a running coach that specifically focuses on injury prevention as well as performance.
5. Other important factors
Cross training and runner specific strength training are beneficial but in my opinion NOT as important as the factors I discuss above. Your foundation should be overall health, an efficient technique and proper training. Strength and cross training will build upon your foundation but too many runners rely on them exclusively for injury prevention.
I am also an advocate of sports massage, yoga, physical therapy and other techniques to help enhance recovery and overall health. But again, do NOT rely exclusively on these for injury-prevention.
Damian Stoy is a running coach, biomechanics specialist, nutritional consultant and founder of Wholistic Running. He offers online coaching and nutritional consultations for runners all around the world.
Sign up for our free newsletter and blogs for tips on running, nutrition, health, injury prevention on our homepage …
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