Nathan Fa’avae: Behind the Scenes of Eco Challenge Fiji and Fueling for World’s Toughest Races

Welcome to Episode 33 of the Eat for Endurance Podcast! Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Nathan Fa’avae, elite adventure racer and longtime captain of Team New Zealand, one of the most dominant teams in the sport’s history.

Nathan is a true legend in the world of adventure racing, with an athletic career spanning nearly two decades. He has led Team New Zealand to six World Championship victories, proving time and again that he thrives in some of the most grueling endurance challenges on the planet. Most recently, he captained his team to victory at World’s Toughest Race – Eco Challenge Fiji, a must-watch documentary on Amazon Prime. (If you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend watching before listening—this episode contains spoilers!)

If you’re unfamiliar with adventure racing, it’s arguably the ultimate test of endurance. Teams race continuously for up to a week, navigating through rugged terrain while tackling multiple disciplines, including trekking, paddling, mountain biking, climbing, white-water rafting, and more. With limited sleep and extreme conditions, fueling properly is not just important, it’s essential for survival and success.

After watching Eco Challenge Fiji, I had SO many questions about the logistics of nutrition in adventure racing. I was eager to deep dive into how he and his team manage their fueling strategy, energy needs, and overall nutrition. So, naturally, I had to bring him on for an Athlete Nutrition Profile!

This episode is packed with fascinating insights, behind-the-scenes stories from Eco Challenge, and decades’ worth of wisdom from one of the most accomplished adventure racers of all time. Nathan’s love for the outdoors and adventure is contagious, and by the time we wrapped up, I was ready to plan my own expedition!

I hope you enjoy this deep dive into the fueling, mindset, and endurance strategies behind one of the toughest athletes out there.

More on Nathan Fa'avae:

•  Nathan’s Website: https://nathanfaavae.nz
•  Follow on Instagram and Facebook

Other Links and Announcements:

•  Watch World's Toughest Race: Eco Challenge Fiji
• Please SUBSCRIBE to and rate/review the show if you're enjoying these episodes!
• Have nutrition questions, a guest or topic request, or any other feedback? Email me - claire@eatforendurance.com.
• Music Credit: Joseph McDade
• Disclaimer – all information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is in no way meant to replace individual medical and nutrition recommendations.