Bart Smith, a 75-year-old resident of Nashville, North Carolina, has led an extraordinary life in athletics, beginning with his passion for speed skating at the age of 14. His journey in sports led him to set North American speed skating records in the 3000 and 5000 meters. Encouraged by his coach, Yolstemmon, Bart trained in Norway, achieving American records in these distances and competing in the 1965 World Championships in Oslo.

Transitioning from skating to running, Bart pursued an engineering degree in Norway while maintaining his athletic endeavors. Settling in Asheville later in life, he immersed himself in the ultra-running community, participating in numerous marathons and ultra-marathons, enjoying the camaraderie and challenge.

Throughout his journey, Bart has been particularly attentive to diet and nutrition, recognizing its crucial role in maintaining performance and health, especially as he aged. He credits the Vespa and Optimal Fat Metabolism (OFM) program for significantly enhancing his mental and physical performance during races. This approach helped him to stay sharp and make critical decisions during competitions. He has shared his positive experiences with Vespa and OFM with others, including his daughter, advocating for a fat-adapted diet for improved health and performance.

Even in the face of challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted many events, Bart remains active and goal-oriented, participating in smaller scale races and aiming to maintain his athletic prowess through careful diet and exercise. His story is one of enduring passion for sports and a continuous search for ways to optimize health and performance through nutrition and lifestyle choices.