Tim VanOrden’s Running Raw Times – December 26, 2007
Happy Holidays to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project.
In This Issue:
• Pruner needed
• VB to VT
• Tilting at Skyscrapers
• RAW Summit success
• Vide-oh no!
• VegNews article coming out this month.
• Training
• Upcoming Events
• Running Raw Website Updates
• Running Raw Website Statistics
Pruner Needed:
Any good fruit farmer will tell you that in order to get the best fruit, you have to prune the trees. If you let them grow to their full size, they will have smaller fruit and it will be harder to harvest. The Running Raw Project has grown into a very large beautiful tree, but it’s fruit has grown small and it’s now out of my reach. I need some help pruning the unneccessary branches, and help shaping the future of this mighty tree. Who’s with me?
VB to VT
It’s been seven weeks now since I left the warm gentle breezes of Venice Beach, CA and traded them for the harsh and unforgiving winter of Vermont. I’ve been reflecting a great deal on this abrupt change in my life and it’s possible direction. They say that home is where the heart is, and as much as I loved Los Angeles, my heart never felt at home there. Now, after nearly two months in the home of my youth, I realize that my heart is not at home here either. So the hunt to find “my community” continues. A place that contributes to me and allows me to contribute back. Where that is, I do not yet know. If you have any ideas as to where the Running Raw Project should relocate, please send them my way. My top list at the moment includes: Asheville, NC, Eugene, OR, Manitou Springs, CO, Boulder, CO.
Tilting at Skyscrapers:
Ok, I’ll admit that perhaps I dream too big and set my standards too high. But I just don’t see any other way of blasting the miracle of a simple, plant based diet into the American consciousness. That’s why I’ve set my sights on conquering the most demanding sport there is – Tower Racing. In order to truly claim victory in the world of tower racing one must win the unofficial “World Championships” of the sport at the Empire State Building on February 5th. This event draws all the top competitors from around the world for a mass start clash of the tower racing titans. To make sure I’m ready for this event I have chosen to train in the quiet, Siberian-like environment of Vermont – watch Rocky IV and you’ll understand why.
RAW Food World Summit Success:
I never could have imagined the positive response I’ve received from my Raw Food World Summit 2 interview. So many new voices encouraging this project onward. Thank you all for your kind words and support. I wish I had time to answer all of your emails, but there are just not enough hours in the day.
Vide-oh no!:
My apologies to those of you that have been looking forward to more videos on my site and on YouTube. I was in the process of filming a segment on the “joys” of running in a Vermont winter when I slipped and fell on the icy road and smashed my camera. I will still be posting written blogs, but there will be no more new video segments. I do have some footage that I shot beforehand that I will put up soon.
VegNews Article:
At long last, my interview in the January issue of VegNews Magazine has hit the stands. I’m hoping that this coverage will give the Running Raw Project the publicity it needs to jump to the next level and continue growing. So go out an buy this issue and support the best vegetarian magazine on the planet.
Training:
Two weeks ago I broke my record for weekly mileage and then broke it again this week with my first ever 70+ mile week. There is VERY little to do here in Vermont, so I’ve turned my runs and other wintery workouts into my main daily event. This in turn has accounted for the 10+ mile runs that I’ve been putting in on a nearly daily basis. In another week, I will have run every street in the town of Bennington, VT.
I’ve also begun an aggressive leg strength routine far beyond anything I’ve done in the past. I’ve been doing a combination of single legged chair squats, lunges and using an upright rowing machine to destroy my quads 3 times a week. I’m already beginning to see significant improvements in my leg strength. I’m giving it everything I’ve got for the upcoming Empire State Building race on February 9th. I will be prepared like never before.
We’ve gotten quite a bit of snow already in November and December, which makes it very difficult and dangerous to run on the roads so I’ve had to get creative with my workouts. I’ve hopped on my old cross country skis a few times, and have recently fallen in love with Deep Snow Running. Simply put, I put on knee high winter boots and run through the woods in a foot of snow for an hour or more. It could possibly be the best workout ever. Not only does it involve more quad and glut strength than normal running but it also involves more upper body and core strength. But wait, that’s not all – each step of the way involves lifting 3 pound boots covered in snow at least 15 inches off the ground in order to make the next step – this in turn is an INCREDIBLE way to develop your leg lifting muscles – which are the weakest link in the speed cycle. The quickest way to get faster is to increase the speed at which you lift your leg and drive forward for the next step. I’ve even taken it a step further now and borrowed some snowshoes to run on, which increases the lift weight even further and allows me to cover more ground and reduces the likelihood of injury. So now instead of just pounding away on the same roads around town, a whole new world of mountainous terrain and forest has just opened up to me for training. This winter “thing” could actually be an advantage.
Your Support:
As the Running Raw Project continues to grow, it becomes more and more difficult to meet it’s many needs. Any support that you might provide will keep this journey alive. If you would like to make a small contribution to the project, you can do so through http://paypal.com to the address donate@runningraw.com
Upcoming Events:
• Aon Center Stair Climb (80 floors) – January 27th, 2008
• Empire State Building Run Up (86 floors) – February 5th, 2008
Running Raw Website Updates:
• Training Page – http://runningraw.com/training2010.html – Updated each week
• Channels Page – http://runningraw.com/channels.html – Many new pictures and videos
• Blog Page – http://runningraw.com/blog.html – Several new blogs
Running Raw Website Statistics:
262,000 hits, 20,000 unique visitors. We had 67,000 hits in November alone.
Paying it Back and Forward:
Please support my sponsors Larabar, Blendtec and Nutiva
In Conclusion:
If you want to become part of this growing team I’d love to have your support. We need help in many different areas. Please pass this newsletter along to anyone that you think might be interested in this journey. If you have any suggestions on how to make this site better, please pass them along. If there is anything you’d like me to try or blog about, send it my way, it may become a part of this journey.
Thank you for your continued support.
With Love and gratitude
Tim VanOrden
