Ultrarunner Jenny Capel on Finding Joy, Family Balance and Fat Adaptation

Peter Defty sits down with recently retired elite ultra runner, Jenny Capel, to reflect on her 22-year journey in the sport, much of it fueled by VESPA and OFM. Jenny shares personal stories about her father, Roland Martin, an early ultra running pioneer, and how she initially found running to be "stupid" before becoming one of the sport’s top competitors.

 

Jenny discusses her transition from a reluctant runner to an elite athlete, and how OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism) and Vespa played crucial roles in overcoming GI issues and achieving long-term success. She talks about the importance of balancing life as a mother, physical therapist, and competitive runner, highlighting her decision to scale back from racing to start a family all while maintaining her love for the sport.

Key topics covered include:

 

Jenny’s Early Introduction to Ultra Running and Reluctant Start

 

• Jenny’s father, Roland Martin, was an early ultra running pioneer, competing alongside some of the sport’s founding figures, such as Gordy Ainsleigh, Bruce LaBelle, Wayne Miles, Dana Gard and Bill Finkbeiner..
• Despite growing up in an ultra running family, Jenny resisted the sport, only joining after college when she started dabbling in races for fitness.
• Her first competitive experience came from a 10K, where she unexpectedly placed 3rd in her age group thus sparking her interest in competitive running.

 

Overcoming GI Issues with Vespa and Transitioning to Fat-Adaptive Running

 

• Jenny was one of the early adopters of Vespa and the OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism) protocol after experiencing severe gastrointestinal issues during races.
• Before Vespa, Jenny often found herself puking during races, a common issue among ultra endurance athletes relying heavily on carb-based fueling.
• Peter Defty guided Jenny through adjusting her diet, lowering carb intake, and using Vespa to stabilize her energy and avoid the typical mid-race crashes.
• After switching to a fat-adapted approach, Jenny noted an improvement in her energy levels, reduced calorie intake during races, and complete elimination of GI issues.

 

The Mental Fortitude Required for 100-Mile Races

 

• Jenny highlights the difference between 50-mile/100K races and 100-milers, emphasizing that the mental challenge is significantly greater.
• Between roughly the 65- to 85-mile mark, runners face what Peter calls "no man’s land"—where the body is fatigued, Circadian Rhythm disrupted making it mentally easy to quit. It is the mental fortitude to override all these signals that keeps you going.
• Jenny shares her personal experiences of battling “demons” during races, explaining that the ability to overcome these moments of vulnerability often separates successful ultra runners from those who drop.

  

 

Balancing Life as a Mother, Physical Therapist, and Competitive Ultrarunner

 

• After becoming a mother of two, Jenny and her husband, Steve, both physical therapists, prioritized work-life balance by cutting back on their work hours to focus on their family.
• Jenny shares how she maintained her competitive edge while raising young children, adjusting her training around family commitments.
• Despite the demands of ultra running, Jenny emphasizes that family was always her top priority, a lesson she carried from her time living in the Netherlands, where family is placed above work.

  

Finding Joy in Running Again After Personal Loss

 

• After her father’s death in 2018, Jenny questioned her relationship with running and whether racing still held meaning for her.
• She ran the Canyons Endurance Run the day after her father passed away, feeling a deep connection to him on the trails where he had introduced her to trail running.
• In a pivotal race at Bighorn, Jenny rediscovered her love for running by focusing on joy rather than competition. This experience changed her perspective, allowing her to appreciate the beauty of the trails, nature and the camaraderie of the ultra running community.

  

The Decision to Retire from Competitive Ultra Running

 

• After more than two decades of competing, Jenny decided to retire from racing after achieving her dream of running the Hardrock 100, which her father completed at the race’s inception in 1992.
• Jenny’s goal wasn’t to podium at Hardrock but to take in the experience, honor her father, and ‘Kiss the Rock’ at the finish line and have her Dad run his fastest time by carrying a photo of him from a race with her throughout the run..
• This race marked a perfect conclusion to her competitive career, where she felt at peace and in tune with the mountains, culminating in what she describes as a "spiritual experience."

  

How OFM has helped Jenny navigate Female Health

 

• At 51 Jenny is showing none of the signs of perimenopause symptoms.
• Jenny talks about her friends' experiences and hopes she doesn’t have to go through the same..
• Jenny and Peter discuss how the OFM Lifestyle of minimizing sugar intake and physical activity have wide ranging benefits for female health such as reduced inflammation, improved circulation and proper hormonal balance, all of which are critical to female reproductive health. 

Embracing Life After Racing and Continuing to Run for Fun

 

• Jenny still runs regularly but focuses on enjoying the process, often exploring new trails and embarking on adventure runs without the pressure of competition.
• She shares a memorable day run on the Ruby Crest Trail with a friend, highlighting the joy of running for the pure love of nature and adventure.
• Looking forward, Jenny plans to remain active, exploring trails and maintaining her fitness without the intensity of race training, all while incorporating new activities like yoga, golf and spending more time with her family.