u/Vegan_Essentials

Honest moment from my last run:

I recently ran in the Bay to Breakers, and the Hayes street hill and the 15K hill broke me down at the end.

I started strong, but by the final stretch I could feel my energy dropping. It made me think more seriously about endurance, fueling, and what my body may have been missing during the run.

I’m sharing this because I know a lot of runners, especially vegan runners, can have great runs but still hit that wall when the course, elevation, or energy demands change.

For those of you who run hills or longer races, what has helped you keep your energy up through the end?

Better fueling?
More electrolytes?
More hill training?
Something else?

What does a B12 deficiency actually look like or feel like, especially in vegans?

When people talk about B12, I usually hear that vegans need to watch it, but I do not hear many people explain what a deficiency actually feels like in real life.

Does it show up as tiredness, brain fog, weakness, tingling, mood changes, or something else?

What are the actual signs people notice first?

For example, a lot of big food companies now make vegan options, but their main business is still built around non-vegan products.

Do you see buying their vegan items as supporting change and showing demand for plant-based options? Or do you avoid them because the money still goes back to the same corporation?

Where do you personally draw the line?

I think it’s a fair question.

You always hear people say vegans need supplements, but nobody really explains which ones matter most and which ones are just talked about a lot.

Is it really just B12?

Should vegans also be taking vitamin D, iron, omega-3, iodine, or something else?

Or does it depend completely on the person, diet, and bloodwork?

I’d rather hear real answers than the usual jokes.

For the vegans here:

What do you personally take, and what do you think is actually necessary?