Kori Sampson: On Sobriety, Ultra Endurance, and Reality TV | TUH #257

Corey rejects the common endurance habit of fasted training to improve fat adaptation, at least for day‑to‑day sessions. He sees breakfast as essential because his body runs optimally on high carbohydrates and he wants to avoid breaking down muscle tissue during long efforts. He uses the same principle for bigger races, consuming real food before and during, and adjusts only when aiming for quick cosmetic leanness. He says his body naturally tolerates and prefers carbs, confirmed by his breath carb test. The consistent oatmeal-plus-protein ritual keeps his energy stable and his physique intact despite high mileage.

Corey’s approach flips the script on the standard 'be kind to yourself' mantra. He admits that he has a very competitive nature and used to lack confidence, so he created an internal battlefield: if he imagines that a detractor expects him to fail, he turns it into fuel. He also uses the relative ease of his own situation compared to far worse circumstances (like his friend in a wheelchair or the homeless man in the Shaq story) to minimize his discomfort, making it easier to push. He learned this through trial and error and sees it as a practical mental tool, not a philosophy of constant negativity. He does not advocate for it universally but presents it as what works for him after years of introspection.