For ultra-runner and head boxing coach David Rúnar Bjarnason, being active is the norm. But when the distances get longer and the hours on his feet begin to add up, something changes. Ultra-running is where he finds calm. And with those extraordinary demands on his body, recovery has become an essential part of being able to keep going.
“Running ultra-marathons is really the only time I feel calm.”
Finding calm in the distance
Ultra-running asks a lot of the body, but for David, the appeal goes beyond the physical challenge.
He describes himself as someone who is always active. Alongside his own endurance training, he is Head Boxing Coach at Mjölnir, making movement, training and sport a constant part of his life.
Long-distance running gives him something different.
Hours on the trail allow him to settle into the rhythm of simply moving forward.
And the more he asks of his body, the more important recovery becomes.
“I’m always active, and Unbroken has been key to maximizing my recovery.”
Feeling ready to go again
David uses Unbroken consistently and says the biggest differences he notices are in how he feels after demanding training and competition.
“With Unbroken, I rest better, and my recovery is faster.”
He also says his body feels able to bounce back more quickly after particularly tough workouts or races.
For an ultra-runner, that matters. Training doesn't stop with one long run. Recovery is part of preparing the body to handle the next session, the next week of training and ultimately the next starting line.
Before bed. After training. During the ultra.
David has developed a particularly consistent Unbroken routine.
He normally takes one tablet before bed each night, one to two after training, and two following particularly long workouts or competitions.
But perhaps the most interesting part of his routine happens while he is still racing.
“During ultra-marathons, I even take Unbroken at rest stations along the course.”
For David, recovery doesn't necessarily wait until the finish line.
During events that can keep him moving for hours, he incorporates Unbroken at aid stations as part of his race-day nutrition routine.
It is a particularly clear example of Real Time Recovery: supporting the body while the work is still happening.
Keep moving forward
Ultra-running is built around patience. One kilometer follows another, and progress comes from continuing to move when there is still a long way to go.
For David, Unbroken has become part of that process, from everyday training and nighttime recovery to the aid stations along an ultra-marathon course.
Run. Refuel. Recover. Keep moving.
