Walk Breaks

It seems many runners are dead set against walk breaks as introduced by Jeff Galloway. Galloway feels that walks breaks taken early and often can keep the legs fresh for longer, aid recovery and reduce or eliminate injury. Sounds like a good deal. Yet some runners feel that if you walk during a run than you're not really a "runner" Which is fine by me - some races I take walk breaks and some I don't - yet I always feel like a runner and usually feel pretty good at the end of my races and runs. I can't ask for much more than that - especially considering that early on in my distance running I felt fairly broken down - especially during (and after) my long runs. Walk breaks fixed that almost instantly and I also began to race faster and faster. Not being particularly blessed with speed this was a happy surprise and one that is still occurring to this day. I really urge runners to check out Jeff Galloway's books and website http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/walk_breaks.html
Put some of the preconceived notions of what a runner is and does and explore some options. The results just might surprise you.

Peace,
Eric

Why Are You Eating Meat?

I'm often asked about why I am a vegan or more precisely why I no longer eat meat and it's a great question and I have a whole host of answers. Let's stick with one though - I feel better physically, mentally and spiritually not eating meat. I know this because I have an accurate comparison as a life long non-vegan up until the age of 44 or so. Many people tell me that they need meat in order to be healthy or that they know someone who was vegan and gave it up for health reasons. I believe that the real answer is that they simply wanted to eat meat again. So lets flip the original question around - why do people still eat meat? Why do you still eat meat? If you knew that you could get everything you needed nutritionally wise from plants - with no drawbacks of heart disease, diabetes, and low cancer rates. And you removed yourself from the circle of cruelty that feeds our addiction to meat by treating animals as mechanical products instead of living beings - well all that sounds like a pretty good deal. So why are you still eating meat? Taste? Doubtful. Unless you're a hunter or fisherman and eating wild caught game then most people have long since forgotten (if they've even known) the taste of real meat and not the chemically and hormonally infused flesh we consider a meal. More likely your eating meat because it's a habit. Because you've never stopped and asked yourself some seriously hard questions. Because you've never considered the worth of a life other than your own or another human. It's mindless consumption. And it's a shame.

Peace,
Eric

Peaceful Abiding Meditation

Peaceful abiding - staying calmly with the breath - allowing and letting go. There is no fight for awareness - it's the art of coming back and coming back through the constant interruption of thoughts parading through our minds. Being gentle. Being kind. Return to the breath and again return to the breath - there is no time limit on patience. Smile - the Buddha's smile. We're not fooled (for long) by the tricks of mind and ego. There is always the breath....waiting for our return.

Peace,
Eric

Race Review - Maryland Heat 25k 2013

Yesterday was the second annual Maryland HEAT 25k and the race is really shaping up to be one of the top local summer races - really a race to be looked forward to all year. Race Director Nick Yeates posted on Face Book though the year asking runners what they would like to see added or improved from the previous years event and he took opinions seriously and really fine tuned the race to suit runners of all levels. For those who just wanted a long day in the woods and a great after party the course was set without a time limit and those who wished to hike the challenging course were able to tackle the hills and reach the pavilion in time to party with everyone. And that brings up two things the HEAT race will be well known for - 1. this is a serious challenging course - hills, technical terrain and some very runnable sections make a perfect 25k highlight this section of the Patapsco Valley. Nick did an excellent job mapping the race course out. 2. The after party -as a vegan I'm not too impressed by most after parties. They're fun, but I'm seriously hungry and need some fuel. Most have none or very little and mostly it's an after thought. Nick and his team provided for everyone - vegans and non-vegans alike and if you're a beer drinker you're even luckier. Even a root beer keg. The after party for HEAT is up there with the best of them and with the vegan fare (the vegan burgers rocked!) has become my favorite along with the CAT after party (and that's mostly out of relief for finishing)

I ran the race fairly hard on some very tired legs. Still recovering from last weeks CAT 50K and a full weeks training load I wasn't sure what the legs had left in them but running with fellow CAT survivor Andrew Russ kept me going and I found that my legs had a bit more kick in them than I might have thought - so taking the hills nice and easy and bombing the down hills and flats pretty hard brought us in around 3:18. A nice days running.
A big thanks to all the volunteers who came out and helped with the aid stations, traffic and the after party. These races come off so smoothly because of your efforts. Thanks guys!

I definitely see HEAT becoming the local running event of the summer with growing numbers of people training to meet the challenge. And with the passion Nick and his family bring to the race the quality will continue to grow as well - no small feat considering how high the bar is now set. Mark the event on your calendar, train hard and see you there next year!

Peace,
Eric

Get Out There

Three weeks and three great races in a row - and they all in their own way reminded me of why I love these events. A long day on beautiful trails, running hard, having fun and great company. The last three weeks has shown ultra running at it's finest and they'll be hard to top. Fortunately I have some great events to look forward to and if not topped - I'm sure they will be equaled. If you haven't hit the trails in awhile - get out there. It's good for the heart and soul.

Peace,
Eric

One More Summer Race

Tomorrow I will run the Maryland HEAT 25k - it's the second running of it - both for the race and myself and a chance to let loose a little on some familiar trails and stretch my legs out after last weekends 50k. Nothing more than a long (ish) day in the woods and I'm looking forward to the run and seeing some friends afterwards. The running community is an awesome place to make friend and I've made some good ones. Stay tuned for race report and after party details!

Peace,
Eric

Change Now (Vegan Rant - Procede With Caution)

There's a disconnect at our dinner tables - the meat that is enjoyed (fleetingly) and the torture that has taken place to bring it to the plate in such a relative cheap fashion. Even the most low income families these days can afford what was once a luxury - meat. Not only that but most Americans will consume meat three or more times a day. Meat is affordable - yet it comes with a heavy price. Not just the health crisis that consumes America and the environmental crash that will most definitely take place for our meat addiction - no, the heaviest toll of all is placed on the animals that are treated as a commodity in order to reach the dinner table. We have placed them out of the realm of living beings and into the hell of a being a product. And in return we have lost a large portion of our own humanity. Something needs to change. We need to change. And now is the time.

Peace,
Eric