Absolutely, you can hit those protein targets without the carbon blast of meat. Think beans, lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, hemp, spirulina, and a bit of nuts or seeds. Mix them up, pair with veggies, and you’ll get the amino‑acid balance you need for miles. Just keep track of the calories, stay hydrated, and the planet will thank you.

Sure, I’ve got the numbers. A typical 100‑km runner needs about 1.2 g protein per kg body weight per day, so a 70‑kg athlete needs roughly 84 g a day. Here’s how a plant‑based mix hits that and covers lysine and methionine: - Lentils 200 g (protein 18 g, lysine 0.8 g, methionine 0.2 g) - Chickpeas 200 g (protein 12 g, lysine 0.6 g, methionine 0.1 g) - Quinoa 150 g (protein 6 g, lysine 0.4 g, methionine 0.3 g) - Hemp seeds 50 g (protein 13 g, lysine 1.0 g, methionine 1.2 g) - Peanut butter 30 g (protein 7 g, lysine 0.5 g, methionine 0.1 g) - Spirulina powder 10 g (protein 5 g, lysine 0.6 g, methionine 0.3 g) Total protein 69 g, lysine 3.9 g, methionine 2.4 g. Add a protein shake made from pea protein (25 g protein, 1.5 g lysine, 0.3 g methionine) every 20 km and you’re above 95 g protein, fully covering the essential amino acids. Studies from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the USDA nutrient database back this combo up. So yes, you can finish 100 km without meat, and the carbon footprint stays way lower.

You’re right, electrolytes are the real hero, and a pre‑run carb load is essential if you’re going all out on the trail. I’d put about a gram of carbs per minute for the first two hours, then keep it steady with oat or banana bars and a sports drink that’s low in sugar but high in potassium and magnesium. As for the pea protein, I’ve seen studies that say the amino‑acid profile is solid, but adding a bit of olive oil or avocado in the smoothie does help the methionine absorption—so a splash of healthy fat never hurts. I’ll keep the water bottle full, the electrolyte mix handy, and the protein shake in the backpack. Let’s see how the numbers play out on the trail—data should match the sweat if we’re doing this right.

Thanks for the heads‑up! I’ll stay on the carb schedule, keep the electrolytes up, and add that little oil splash in the smoothie. If I feel a drop in the beat, I’ll pull a power‑pause and refuel. Looking forward to the data showing the sweat matches the plan—let’s crush this!