A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project.
In This Issue:
• Four More Years?
• Turning Fall into Rise
• Running Raw Apparel & Lecture DVDs
• 105º is HOT
• Grazing at Grezzo
• The Running Raw Buzz
• The Training Log
• Upcoming Events
• Your Support
• In Conclusion
Four More Years?
November 3rd marked the 4th Anniversary of the Running Raw Project and my 5th anniversary of stepping on to the raw path. What seemed like a very narrow path 5 years ago has become quite the popular thoroughfare. It really amazes me how quickly the tides of change can sweep upon our shores.
As this movement towards health and personal responsibility grows, I have grown along with it. Many lessons have been learned along the way. Here are a few:
• Regardless of what we eat, we are still mortal, we are still human.
• We need to be compassionate and understanding towards those that make different choices than we do.
• Example is much more effective than a soap box.
• Our past is always waiting to greet us with open arms and welcome us “home”, if we take our eyes off of future possibility.
• Community and friendships provide more energy and healing than fruits and vegetables.
• There are no mistakes, there is no “cheating”. There are only moments to reflect upon and learn from.
• Stressing over your diet is just as toxic as a stressful diet.
• There are no magic pills, “super” foods, shortcuts or quick fixes. Just common sense, effort and focus.
• Peel your bananas before you freeze them.
“A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
– William Shakespeare
Turning Fall into Rise:
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. So the saying goes. But what happens when the going stays consistently tough? Can the tough keep going? How much tough going can a person handle before they begin to break down?
We are a society that doesn’t suffer fools kindly, but we celebrate fools who love to suffer. We celebrate those who persevere and overcome great odds and obstacles. But what would happen if we stopped seeing these obstacles altogether? What would happen if we simply saw a path in front of us leading straight towards our goals? Henry Ford once said “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”
Somewhere along the way I took my eyes off of my goal and the obstacles that appeared were far larger than the mountains I’ve been running up. For four years now I have been tilting at windmills in the hopes that I could inspire and make even the smallest difference in this world. After much reflection, I have come to the conclusion that it is me that needs to change the most of all. Although I have enjoyed much of what I do, the overall experience has been that of a battle or a fight. No one can battle on forever… the tough can only get going for a finite period of time. Be the change.
The time has come to breath fresh life into this project, to take on a new perspective. Your suggestions and help are welcome.
Running Raw Apparel has Arrived!!
After over a year of searching for the perfect shirt and the most sustainable dyeing and printing processes, I am proud to announce that you can now represent the Running Raw movement with a super comfortable, super sustainable, super cool Running Raw tee. Men’s and women’s styles are available. Anniversary price of $20 + shipping until November 15th. You can check them out here – http://runningraw.com/store.html
Lecture DVDs are Now Available:
Okay, I can take a hint. So many of you have requested that I make my full lectures available for purchase that I have decided to turn my two most recent talks into DVDs. You can find them on the Store page on Running Raw. More lectures will be completed for purchase soon. As part of my anniversary celebration, I’m lowering the price of these talks to $10 + shipping until November 15th. You can check them out here – http://runningraw.com/store.html
105º is HOT:
On October 3rd I was invited to be a part of the grand opening gala at 105º in Oklahoma City, OK. 105º is the brainchild of chef and author Matthew Kenney. This new state of the art facility features a large restaurant, serving up delicious raw vegan fare, a first rate raw culinary academy and a boutique selling all kinds of wares for the health conscious consumer. In the Fall of 2008 I gave a presentation to a packed house of nearly 90 people in Tulsa, OK, so I knew that there was a growing interest in health and raw foods in this area, but still didn’t know what to expect at this event. Any hesitations I might have had were quickly dismissed. The food, the atmosphere, the staff, and the crowd in attendance – were all far beyond my expectations. This is truly one of the best “dining out” experiences that I’ve ever had. If Oklahoma City has not been on your ‘hot list’ of places to visit, it should be now. 105º is the hottest place around.
Grazing at Grezzo:
Nestled away in the far northeastern corner of Massachusetts is the charmingly historic town of Newburyport. A town built by the fishing and whaling industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered a raw vegan restaurant in the heart of this quintessential New England village. Owner Alissa Cohen, best known for her book “Living on live food” and her popular website http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/ has brought gourmet raw food to the Atlantic Coast… In a BIG way. Grezzo (pronounced GrayZo) which means “raw” in Italian is Cohen’s second restaurant of the same name (the first opened last year in Boston). The atmosphere, presentation, vibe, and quality of the food were incredible. I enjoyed my first experience there so much that I returned for a second night. If you happen to be anywhere within 100 miles of the north coast of Massachusetts, I highly recommend that you make a trip to Grezzo.
The Running Raw Buzz:
In April of 2008 Jonathan Waller of the Bennington Banner did an interview with me which was only available to Banner subscribers online. Recently, Jonathan reposted the interview on his blog which can be viewed here: http://thegreatwaller.com/?p=51
The Training Log:
The high mileage training days of the past are over for the time being and I’ve moved on to some exciting new methods. A new system out of Japan called Tabata, has become the core of my workouts for the past six weeks. This protocol can be applied to many different types of exercises and involves a four minute effort. The four minutes are broken down into 20 seconds of all out effort followed by 10 seconds of rest. This is repeated eight times in the four minute period. Total exhaustion is usually reached around the three minute mark and the last minute is the longest 60 seconds of your life. Studies around the World have shown this practice to yield the highest cardiovascular benefits of any training regimen. Due to the intensity of the workouts, it is recommended that they only be done every one to two weeks. Due to the intensity of stair climbing, I am doing them every four days.
Despite averaging only 22 miles a week since July 9th, I nearly tied my personal record on the “1,000 steps” trail in Woodford, VT yesterday. This grueling section of the Appalachian Trail climbs 900 vertical feet in 4 tenths of a mile and has served as my testing ground of fitness for the past 3 years. The Tabata training seems to be working quite well and I’m looking forward to upcoming stair climb races.
Rather than continue with the exhausting schedule of at least one race a week (which I have done for nearly three years) I have decided to focus my efforts on the upcoming Empire State Building Run Up in February of 2010. This race serves as the unofficial World Championships of stair climbing and I hope to do quite well there this year.
Upcoming Events:
November 14th – Presentation – Green Gratitude Thanksgiving – Chicago, IL
November 17th – Presentation – Chicago, IL
November 19th – Milwaukee Stair Climb – Milwaukee, WI
November 22nd – Presentation – Raw Aura – Toronto, CAN
December 1st – Presentation – Bonobos – New York, NY
December 5th – Presentation – Edgewater, NJ
Paying it Back and Forward:
Please support my sponsors Larabar, Blendtec, Nutiva, Garmin, Excalibur, and West Coast Labels.
Your Support:
Your donations help more than you can imagine. Even very small contributions help to pay for event registrations, travel, etc.! Thank you in advance for your support. Your generosity allows me to do what I do and hopefully touch lives in the process. You can make your donation through http://paypal.com to the address donate@runningraw.com. No amount is too little, and every dollar is greatly appreciated.
In Conclusion:
If you’re excited about Running Raw and would like to be a part of the team, please get in touch. I’m always looking for new contributors, technical help, sponsorship and enthusiastic athletes to help make this project all it can be.
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 runningraw.com better, please pass them along.
Thank you for your continued support.
With Love and gratitude
Tim VanOrden
Tim VanOrden’s Running Raw Times – November 9th 2009
A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project.
In This Issue:
• Four More Years?
• Turning Fall into Rise
• Running Raw Apparel & Lecture DVDs
• 105º is HOT
• Grazing at Grezzo
• The Running Raw Buzz
• The Training Log
• Upcoming Events
• Your Support
• In Conclusion
Four More Years?
November 3rd marked the 4th Anniversary of the Running Raw Project and my 5th anniversary of stepping on to the raw path. What seemed like a very narrow path 5 years ago has become quite the popular thoroughfare. It really amazes me how quickly the tides of change can sweep upon our shores.
As this movement towards health and personal responsibility grows, I have grown along with it. Many lessons have been learned along the way. Here are a few:
• Regardless of what we eat, we are still mortal, we are still human.
• We need to be compassionate and understanding towards those that make different choices than we do.
• Example is much more effective than a soap box.
• Our past is always waiting to greet us with open arms and welcome us “home”, if we take our eyes off of future possibility.
• Community and friendships provide more energy and healing than fruits and vegetables.
• There are no mistakes, there is no “cheating”. There are only moments to reflect upon and learn from.
• Stressing over your diet is just as toxic as a stressful diet.
• There are no magic pills, “super” foods, shortcuts or quick fixes. Just common sense, effort and focus.
• Peel your bananas before you freeze them.
“A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
– William Shakespeare
Turning Fall into Rise:
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. So the saying goes. But what happens when the going stays consistently tough? Can the tough keep going? How much tough going can a person handle before they begin to break down?
We are a society that doesn’t suffer fools kindly, but we celebrate fools who love to suffer. We celebrate those who persevere and overcome great odds and obstacles. But what would happen if we stopped seeing these obstacles altogether? What would happen if we simply saw a path in front of us leading straight towards our goals? Henry Ford once said “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”
Somewhere along the way I took my eyes off of my goal and the obstacles that appeared were far larger than the mountains I’ve been running up. For four years now I have been tilting at windmills in the hopes that I could inspire and make even the smallest difference in this world. After much reflection, I have come to the conclusion that it is me that needs to change the most of all. Although I have enjoyed much of what I do, the overall experience has been that of a battle or a fight. No one can battle on forever… the tough can only get going for a finite period of time. Be the change.
The time has come to breath fresh life into this project, to take on a new perspective. Your suggestions and help are welcome.
Running Raw Apparel has Arrived!!
After over a year of searching for the perfect shirt and the most sustainable dyeing and printing processes, I am proud to announce that you can now represent the Running Raw movement with a super comfortable, super sustainable, super cool Running Raw tee. Men’s and women’s styles are available. Anniversary price of $20 + shipping until November 15th. You can check them out here – http://runningraw.com/store.html
Lecture DVDs are Now Available:
Okay, I can take a hint. So many of you have requested that I make my full lectures available for purchase that I have decided to turn my two most recent talks into DVDs. You can find them on the Store page on Running Raw. More lectures will be completed for purchase soon. As part of my anniversary celebration, I’m lowering the price of these talks to $10 + shipping until November 15th. You can check them out here – http://runningraw.com/store.html
105º is HOT:
On October 3rd I was invited to be a part of the grand opening gala at 105º in Oklahoma City, OK. 105º is the brainchild of chef and author Matthew Kenney. This new state of the art facility features a large restaurant, serving up delicious raw vegan fare, a first rate raw culinary academy and a boutique selling all kinds of wares for the health conscious consumer. In the Fall of 2008 I gave a presentation to a packed house of nearly 90 people in Tulsa, OK, so I knew that there was a growing interest in health and raw foods in this area, but still didn’t know what to expect at this event. Any hesitations I might have had were quickly dismissed. The food, the atmosphere, the staff, and the crowd in attendance – were all far beyond my expectations. This is truly one of the best “dining out” experiences that I’ve ever had. If Oklahoma City has not been on your ‘hot list’ of places to visit, it should be now. 105º is the hottest place around.
Grazing at Grezzo:
Nestled away in the far northeastern corner of Massachusetts is the charmingly historic town of Newburyport. A town built by the fishing and whaling industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered a raw vegan restaurant in the heart of this quintessential New England village. Owner Alissa Cohen, best known for her book “Living on live food” and her popular website http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/ has brought gourmet raw food to the Atlantic Coast… In a BIG way. Grezzo (pronounced GrayZo) which means “raw” in Italian is Cohen’s second restaurant of the same name (the first opened last year in Boston). The atmosphere, presentation, vibe, and quality of the food were incredible. I enjoyed my first experience there so much that I returned for a second night. If you happen to be anywhere within 100 miles of the north coast of Massachusetts, I highly recommend that you make a trip to Grezzo.
The Running Raw Buzz:
In April of 2008 Jonathan Waller of the Bennington Banner did an interview with me which was only available to Banner subscribers online. Recently, Jonathan reposted the interview on his blog which can be viewed here: http://thegreatwaller.com/?p=51
The Training Log:
The high mileage training days of the past are over for the time being and I’ve moved on to some exciting new methods. A new system out of Japan called Tabata, has become the core of my workouts for the past six weeks. This protocol can be applied to many different types of exercises and involves a four minute effort. The four minutes are broken down into 20 seconds of all out effort followed by 10 seconds of rest. This is repeated eight times in the four minute period. Total exhaustion is usually reached around the three minute mark and the last minute is the longest 60 seconds of your life. Studies around the World have shown this practice to yield the highest cardiovascular benefits of any training regimen. Due to the intensity of the workouts, it is recommended that they only be done every one to two weeks. Due to the intensity of stair climbing, I am doing them every four days.
Despite averaging only 22 miles a week since July 9th, I nearly tied my personal record on the “1,000 steps” trail in Woodford, VT yesterday. This grueling section of the Appalachian Trail climbs 900 vertical feet in 4 tenths of a mile and has served as my testing ground of fitness for the past 3 years. The Tabata training seems to be working quite well and I’m looking forward to upcoming stair climb races.
Rather than continue with the exhausting schedule of at least one race a week (which I have done for nearly three years) I have decided to focus my efforts on the upcoming Empire State Building Run Up in February of 2010. This race serves as the unofficial World Championships of stair climbing and I hope to do quite well there this year.
Upcoming Events:
November 14th – Presentation – Green Gratitude Thanksgiving – Chicago, IL
November 17th – Presentation – Chicago, IL
November 19th – Milwaukee Stair Climb – Milwaukee, WI
November 22nd – Presentation – Raw Aura – Toronto, CAN
December 1st – Presentation – Bonobos – New York, NY
December 5th – Presentation – Edgewater, NJ
Paying it Back and Forward:
Please support my sponsors Larabar, Blendtec, Nutiva, Garmin, Excalibur, and West Coast Labels.
Your Support:
Your donations help more than you can imagine. Even very small contributions help to pay for event registrations, travel, etc.! Thank you in advance for your support. Your generosity allows me to do what I do and hopefully touch lives in the process. You can make your donation through http://paypal.com to the address donate@runningraw.com. No amount is too little, and every dollar is greatly appreciated.
In Conclusion:
If you’re excited about Running Raw and would like to be a part of the team, please get in touch. I’m always looking for new contributors, technical help, sponsorship and enthusiastic athletes to help make this project all it can be.
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 runningraw.com better, please pass them along.
Thank you for your continued support.
With Love and gratitude
Tim VanOrden