What's the secret to maintaining a body that will go the distance?

If anyone should know, it's 66-year-old Army veteran Roy Pirrung, who just bagged his 1,000th long-distance race finish at the Boston Marathon this spring — and, to celebrate, ran the course again.

If you ask him the secret to his success, the first thing he'll tell you about is the no-milk cereal he eats every morning with a splash of olive oil.

Pirrung is not only a champion long-distance runner, he's the president of the American Ultrarunning Association and on the executive committee of USA Track and Field's Mountain, Ultra, and Trail Running Council.

Pirrung says he's not a fan of low- or no-carb, Atkins-style diets. "It's very hard to stay with, and in the long-term, I don't think it's very beneficial for your body."

Instead, he prefers more Mediterranean fare.

"I eat lots of fruits and vegetables, fish, whole grains, olive oil, flaxseed," he says.

Experts at the Mayo Clinic say a Mediterranean diet lowers the risk of heart disease. Research shows it also reduces the risk of cancer, as well as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

"One of the most important things for me is good nutrition. I don't think people eat the way they should, especially if you're an athlete."

But really, olive oil in cereal?

He swears by it. Here's how he makes the concoction:

  • Start with a bowl of Grape Nuts cereal.
  • Slice in some fruit — banana, strawberries, blueberries or whatever's in season.
  • Top with a few tablespoons of ground flaxseed. Pirrung likes Mega Omega from Omega Fields Health.
  • Instead of milk, pour in some apple, orange or cranberry juice.
  • Mix in four teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil.

"That's my typical breakfast," he says. "I have it just about every day. Sometimes I'll sprinkle in a topping of Cascadia Farms Granola for some extra flavor and crunch."

Of course, we had to try it.

It was surprisingly not terrible. The slick, slightly yellowish sheen from the oil certainly makes it look a little odd, but the general consensus among taste testers was "not bad."

One 11-year-old tester, not told about the oil or lack of milk, even said it was "pretty good."

Apple juice does not seem overly watery in the thick mixture, and the fruit — we used bananas and then strawberries — seems to mask whatever bitterness the olive oil might bring.

It's definitely better with the granola.

Pirrung says the ingredients all have a purpose.

Grape Nuts is one of the few low-sugar, high-protein cereal options, he says, while also packing a lot of carbs to fuel his runs.

"When I stopped using dairy, I needed some alternative to milk that would give my cereal some taste. So I started using fruit juice. But then I realized without the dairy, I had cut out fats, so I started adding the olive oil, which is one of the better fats for your body. It's low on polyunsaturated and unsaturated fat, so it's actually really good for you."

Meanwhile, the flaxseed is rich in omega-3s, protein and fiber. Flaxseed also helps prevent hardening of the arteries and plaque buildup, while lowering blood pressure and normalizing the heartbeat.

For the rest of the day, like most athletes, Pirrung is a grazer, opting to eat a series of smaller meals and snacks.

If it all sounds too extreme, he does have one piece of very basic advice: "Just drop the junk food. It does nothing for you."

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