Surprise! You have been quoted in your FAVORITE magazine: Trail Runner

Posted on April 26, 2012 by tiana

This was a morning to remember. After spending all night tossing and turning about my complete overload at work, I woke up to a Facebook message from one of my trail running friends: “Reading the June issue of Trail Runner magazine and you are all over it. Letter to editor and quoted in article about self-massage. Way to go! Can’t wait to get back on the trail. Have fun at Croft Saturday!” Still in a daze I began to process what it meant… oh yea that letter I sent to Trail Runner and oh yea that interview I did about massage and the regular self-massage I do now…… WHAT IT WAS PRINTED?

After jumping up to find my June edition of the magazine, which was carefully packed for my many upcoming flights, I found the articles and then realized I haven’t blogged in a while and haven’t posted my Nutrition Part 2 for a reason: I have been eating a vegan diet and was waiting until I had finished a few more “experiments” before I blogged about it. Well since my letter to the editor didn’t go unnoticed as I had suspected, it’s time for me to start talking- so here goes nothing….

For those of you that run with me regularly you get to hear my ramblings all the time, so here it is again, for everyone else this is my story. Back in October I watched the documentary “Forks Over Knives” about the benefits of a plant-based diet. I immediately wrote it off because “I am an athlete and I need more protein than a plant based diet can sustain.” However, a week later I went to CA to visit my parents. My sister and I, for kicks, decided to see if we could actually go without meat. Towards the end of the week I was feeling like CRAP, I had no energy and I had decided that it was crazy. However, I happened to go to the Longevity Conference with my dad who was showcasing his Earthing Bed™. I walked past a booth for Healthforce Nutritionals which was sampling vegan protein and other supplements. My mom, the queen of “you have to try this”, shoved a sample of their protein drink in my hand insisting I try it. Shortly after drinking it a gentleman name Tim walked up and started chatting with me. I told him that week I had been eating vegetarian but I didn’t feel good, and I am a trail runner I need more protein than a vegan diet can sustain. Tim just started to chuckle and said, “Not only have I been a vegan for 23 years (which was very evident by the VEGAN tattoo on his neck) but I am a cyclist and have been for years. It’s a fallacy to think that you need meat for protein, in fact plants have all the protein you need and you can use our product which will be more than sufficient for any activity.” Of course I was thinking, did you hear I said TRAIL RUNNER that means I am a mega bad-@$$ runner, come on no plant-based diet can sustain this machine. (Yeah ok so I think trail runners are awesome)

Tim went on to explain the benefits, etc. all which sounded similar to what Forks Over Knives stated. Although I wasn’t quite sold, I had a set of samples from Healthforce so I decide to give the vegan thing a try, after all what was it going to hurt? So I bought Brenden Brazier’s book Thrive and started following his advice. I bought all the Vega products and used them, and after I got through the detox I was AMAZED at how I felt. Running was easier, I recovered so quickly, I was FINALLY starting to catch up with everyone at Trail Running group (it takes a lot of guts to start a group knowing I was going to be one of the slowest in the group). I couldn’t believe what was happening to my body. I couldn’t make sense of it because I had always thought of myself as such a healthy eater. So how was eating whole-foods, no meat and no cheese having such a big impact? Again convinced it was placebo I decided to try meat again just to see. I made all vegan sides for Thanksgiving but I decided to eat some turkey. The following Saturday at trail running group I noticed something, I felt exactly like I used to before I switched my diet: slow, sluggish, tired, etc. That’s when I knew it wasn’t in my head it was for real and that’s when I knew I was sticking with a whole-foods plant-based diet period.

UNTIL, January 15^th when I fell and tore my hamstring (go ahead and say it “not that again”). If you want to read that story go to my blog titled: Trail Runners are NUTS- dealing with a hamstring injury as a runner. To make a long story short I was told by three physical therapists and my doctor that it would be a minimum of six weeks before I was fully able to walk and no less than three months before I could run again. That is a death sentence to a runner, and I took it that way. However, I decided that I was going to see if a plant-based diet was really all it was cracked up to be and see if it had any effect on my injury. I went on a family vacation the week after my fall and I took all my sports recovery drinks with me. I regularly took my Vega Whole Food Optimizer, Vega Recovery Accelerator and Vega Performance Protein. By the middle of the cruise, a week and a half after my injury, I was walking pretty normally and was going up and down the stairs on the ship (in direct violation of my PT’s orders). After we got back I went to two more sessions of PT, and while scratching her head my PT admitted that there was nothing more that she could do for me- go back to running.

So a little less than a month after my injury I was slowing jogging on the treadmill and out on the trails. That’s less time than I was told it would take to walk…..process that- I was running sooner than I was supposed to walk. Even though the pain was gone and the muscle was healing quickly, I had still done damage that will take a long time for me to rebuild. I honestly believe that the whole-foods plant-based diet I was eating was a HUGE part of the reason I got back to running as quickly as I did.

So that brings me to today, being overly zealous about getting back to running so quickly and the new “magical” food remedy I found I started slacking off! I ate a little cheese here and there (come on what’s a little bit of cheese). I didn’t eat meat, but I also wasn’t eating whole-foods. I had a freezer full of “vegan” processed food, vegan chips, vegan bread, vegan crap, crap, crap…..and guess what happened? My energy levels tanked, my progress came to a halt and I started thinking that maybe I should start eating meat again, after all that has to be the problem. WRONG- the ONLY nutrient that meat contains that is VERY difficult to get in plant form is B-12 (which that’s a whole different blog). Otherwise all the other nutrients in meat, i.e. protein, iron are in plant foods. But what is not in plant foods is the cholesterol and other byproducts of meat. What I needed was not meat, but to eat whole-foods again and get off the junk.

When one of my runner friends asked me about how my vegan diet was going, frustrated I declared “it’s just too hard to eat that way.” Now that I am thinking clearly I laugh at that statement- it’s harder to eat foods in their natural state? No, what I needed was to quit being lazy about my diet and to get my thinking back to where it was before my accident. The reality is that I severely damaged my muscle, and while I was able to get it back to a state of basic functionality quicker than average, I still have to rebuild all the muscle that I lost. I am not going to rebuilt it eating crap. In fact I had been so lazy I quit using all my supplements that I know played a critical part in getting me back on my feet.

So here I am, last weekend I ran a half marathon almost exactly three months after my fall, which is the time that I was told I would be back to running. And although my time was well, not what I had hoped for, I still beat all the statistics- I was running WAY before I was supposed to. But most importantly I have learned how NOT to eat a vegan diet. The good news is that after getting my butt kicked by the half I made a vow to myself to get rid of the junk (boy I had stored up a lot of it) and start eating whole-foods again. Much to my surprise, just like it was back in November and December, its not as hard as I thought and my energy is coming back. Even though I have been eating a vegan diet, I had so much processed food that I am getting to go back through detox again, yeah! But it also means that my patient running partners won’t have to hear me whine any more about feeling like crap (p.s. thank you for putting up with me lately, I love all of you).

The moral of the story- junk is junk, it doesn’t matter what kind of “diet” you eat. Unless something changes, and I will tell you if it does, I truly believe in a whole-foods plant-based diet. If you are curious here are some books to check out:

Brenden Brazier’s Thrive: http://www.amazon.com/Thrive-Nutrition-Optimal-Performance-Sports/dp/0738212547/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335441169&sr=1-1

Rip Esselstyn Engine 2 Diet: http://www.amazon.com/The-Engine-Diet-Firefighters-Save-Your-Life/dp/0446506699/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335441208&sr=1-1

Oh and drum roll…………Scott Jurek’s Eat and Run (not released yet): http://www.amazon.com/Eat-Run-Unlikely-Ultramarathon-Greatness/dp/0547569653/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335441273&sr=1-1

Yes you read that right- Scott Jurek, the Western States 100 Miler champion, is also a vegan. So call me crazy, but many athletes have realized the benefits of a whole-foods plant-based diet. In rebuttal to that statement someone said to me, “What about all the athletes that eat meat and perform well?” My response is simple, almost every vegan has eaten meat and knows if they performed better on a whole-foods plant-based diet or not, but most meat eaters have never eaten a whole-foods plant-based diet to know whether or not they would perform better.

I am going to be traveling A LOT for work over the next few weeks, but I promise as soon as I get back I will post Nutrition Part 2 in which I cover all the Vega products that I like and don’t like as well as the Healthforce products that I love.

It’s true eating a whole-foods plant-based diet meant changing my thinking, severely reducing my eating-out (which doesn’t ever hurt) and ridding myself of junk food, but it also means I feel better, have tons of energy, can handle stress and most importantly I am ENJOYING running!

Until next time happy trails………….

~tiana

10 Signs You Might Be a Runner- repost

Posted on April 10, 2012 by tiana

Since I have been too busy to get a new post finished this is a fun one to re-post….

Today I was digging through my purse and I began to laugh as I saw all the strange stuff I haul around as a result of my running. I had never really thought about how running had made its way into my purse. Then I started looking at my car and realized it’s not just in my purse, it’s in my car, my house, it’s everywhere! So to those of you runners who have forgotten how much running has changed you, this one’s for you……..

Ten Signs That You Might Be A Runner

You have a drawer full of “moisture wicking” socks that you paid more for than most of the shoes in your closet.
You have a pair of running shoes (that will last a max of 6 months) you got for $75 and you are thrilled at the deal. However, you would be appalled to pay that much for any other pair of shoes that only lasted for 6 months.
You know the exact mileage of local landmarks to and from your house.
You pay more attention to your annual mileage than you do your car’s.
Your car is to you as the phone booth is to Clark Kent. A.K.A you have stashes of sunscreen, liquid band-aids, spray on neosporin, gel packs, Gatorade, a pair of running shoes and extra socks- just in case.
The “locker room” odor in your car is now normal.
You have a collection of bibs and you think its cool.
You have a mound of race shirts you will never wear, but you can’t get rid of. (because you worked too hard for them, its the principal of the matter)
You don’t remember what your feet look like without blisters.
You think 11 miles per hour is FAST.

Drum roll………ok and number 11. (this is supposed to be the 10 signs, I know) you read this list and its TRUE!

So to all of you runners who’s lives and thinking have been rearranged by our sport- cheers!

Keep on keeping on.

until next time, happy trails….

~tiana

Running The 77 Mile Foothills Trail- what trail running is really all about: Community

Posted on March 23, 2012 by tiana

It has been too long since I have blogged, sorry! This past month I have been focused on getting my running back to where it was before my fateful fall. Even though I am back to running, I am far from the runner I was; I shouldn’t be complaining though because at least I am running. This injury has been challenging, but it’s been good for me, well at least I’ll keep telling myself that. I have finished my Nutrition part 2 video, it will be posted soon. I also have a great give-away coming up, I can’t wait for that!

I am finally beginning my ultra-training and I am so excited! One experienced runner suggested that I volunteer before I run an ultra. I had a great opportunity to get my feet wet this past weekend crewing for a friend that was running the 77 mile Foothills Trail. Although I have never been past Table Rock on the trail, I was so excited to see the Foothills Trail and see “what the big deal was.” Hikers and runners come from all over to enjoy the scenery that the Foothills Trail has to offer.

As I prepared for this weekend I could never have imagined what it would hold. I was busy worrying about packing food, sleeping arrangements, etc. little did I know that while those things mattered, those were going to be minimal compared to what I would experience. Even now as I sit here and try to figure out where to begin my head is filled with a million thoughts and memories, all I can say is I am soooo thankful for what I got to experience.

There were a few runners attempting the FHT: Mimi, Joe (who I was crewing for), Lester and Scott who was going for a double. The weekend started off great. We got up to Table Rock and got into our cabin (after breaking and entering). Mimi was there ready to leave at midnight for the run. Joe was well organized, he had thought of every detail. After getting the rundown from Joe and getting settled in we spent the night hanging out and chatting. Scott and Jason joined us after getting pelted by a hailstorm. Scott was going to catch a little sleep before he went out for his second 77 miles. Doug showed up a little after it got dark, he was also a part of the crew pacing Joe through Laurel Valley.

As a side note, it was so great to just chat about things that only runners understand. Like shoes, blisters, gu, etc. For the record, as a huge shoe junkie, I love any sport that will get a guy talking about shoes! LOL.

Bo, me and Joe the night before

We got a few hours of sleep before it was time to get up and get Joe and Mike on the trail for the first leg. Mike met us at 5:00 a.m. to run with Joe for the first part (who gets up that early to go running?). I sent Mike, Joe and Scott off and drove back to the cabin to get the truck loaded and ready for the first aid stop at the top of Mt. Sassafras.

Scott, Mike and Joe heading out nice and early...

Bo and I were responsible for meeting Joe at each of the aid stops until Bo took Doug’s place at White Waterfalls (the end of Laurel Valley). Without going into to too much detail, we got a little turned around and Sully (Jason) rescued us as we were looking for tracks on the trail (yes I am now an amateur tracker and crewman). We finally made it up to the top of Mt. Sassafras. Since we were a little early Bo, Sully and I had some time to watch the sun rise at the look out. There was a big rainbow in the sky, it was a great way to start the day. Mike and Joe came running out of the trail, we got them their aid and off they went to the next aid station.

Rainbow and View from Mt. Sassafras

Due to Bo and I’s amazing navigational skills Joe actually beat us to the next aid stop, the entrance to Laurel Valley. Doug, Dan and Bri were there waiting for Joe. After giving Joe his aid, him and Doug were off for a 9+ hour run though the technical and hilly Laurel Valley section of the trail. With some time to kill Bo and I went to Whitewater Falls and snapped some pics of the falls. We also decided to go to all the next aid stops just to be sure I knew where I was going. That was a great plan given our great track record so far. After making all our stops we eventually settled in at the end of Laurel Valley, Whitewater Falls, to wait for Joe and Doug. Sully, Dan and Bri were there. We had a few hours to kill so we just chatted. I got to hear some of the best stories, if you want a good laugh ask an ultra-runner, they almost always have a good story.

: Whitewater Falls

After a few hours of waiting Joe and Doug came up from Laurel Valley. Doug looked great, Joe was definitely worn out. We got him some water, refueled and ready to go. Doug was going to get cleaned up so the next few stops I was on my own. I met Joe and Bo at the next stop, it was dark by the time they came through. Joe was doing well, but I could tell he was getting worn out. He had a little under 26 miles left and if he could keep his pace he was on target to finish in 21 hours (which is really good). After they took off again I made my way to the next stop. It was DARK and I was alone. Joe and Bo only had a few miles to go so thankfully they made it in less than an hour. Joe looked really worn down, but in good spirits. He even asked me to update his Facebook page with his time and mileage.

I drove to the next stop where Doug was going to meet me (thankfully). It is sooooooo creepy out there in the dark. While I sat there in a locked car all I could think about is Mimi out there running in the dark ALONE. AH! Finally Doug showed up and we chatted for a few minutes before Joe and Bo showed up. By this time Joe looked really bad. I could tell he was suffering. In the background Doug prepared some fuel for Joe and gave Bo tips to keep Joe focused. They next stretch of trail was 10 miles, so it was important for both Joe and Bo to be fully fueled and prepared for the longest remaining stretch.

After Joe and Bo headed back out, Doug and I went to the next stop. Since we would have several hours before Joe and Bo were done, we decided to get some sleep. Three hours into the wait I heard something. Next thing I know I see someone coming up to the window without a headlamp (not a runner). My heart stopped as I stared trying to figure out who was approaching the car. Much to my delight it was Sully! I unlocked the car and he hopped in. His eyes were HUGE. He looked at me and said, “it is so CREEPY out there!” I was sooooo glad to know I wasn’t the only person that was freaked out! We sat in the car and laughed at ourselves for almost an hour before we finally saw headlamps coming out of the woods again.

Excited we jumped out of the car and started cheering for Joe and Bo. However, the cheering soon ended when we noticed only one headlamp. Bo, distraught, told us that Joe had stopped in a parking lot a mile and a half back and wasn’t able to go any further. Sully and Bo jumped in the car and took off immediately looking for Joe. Doug came up with a great idea of trying to pull up google maps to try to find the parking lot where Joe was located; it was pointless though there was no cell service. After a little while Sully and Bo came back, they weren’t able to find any road that lead to the parking lot. To make matters worse it started to rain. Now we had a downed, lost runner and it was cold and rainy. We loaded Bo up with a sleeping bag and a jacket and he took off back down the trail after Joe. Meanwhile Lester came through, he started two hours after Joe. Lester and his pacer said Joe was curled up under a car and was not good at all.

That’s when Doug and I decided it was time to go find Joe. We left Sully (alone again, sorry) to go see if we would have any more luck finding the parking lot. We like Sully and Bo couldn’t find anything. We decided to drive to a spot where we knew we would get cell service to see if we could get google maps up. Thankfully our plan worked and we found the road we were pretty sure lead to where Joe was. It was almost 10 miles down the road. After what seemed like forever we found the lot and Bo, who had been there for a little while. Joe, in an effort to survive, had climbed in the back of a jeep. Doug and Bo got him out of the Jeep and loaded in the car (after Joe threw up). I knew right away he needed to get to the hospital.

Bo and I dropped Doug off and drove straight to the hospital. They immediately got Joe on an IV and started to get fluids back into his body. Tests later showed that Joe had severe rhabdomyolysis. The doctor recommended Joe stay for 24m hours. Shocked and tired Bo and I drove back home trying to digest what had happened. In the end Joe made it 69.9 miles, just a little shy of the full 77 miles. He did great, and we are so glad in the end he was ok.

Phew…….what a weekend. I got to meet some GREAT people (all who happen to be trail runners) and had some good laughs. I also got a good scare and learned a lot about how dangerous our sport can be. While we can all use a good push every now and then, there is a fine line between pushing yourself and overdoing it. If there is anything I took away from this weekend it’s the need for community. Even though running is technically an “individual” sport, trail running can really be much more: it’s a community. I am so thankful for the trail running community around here and for all the great runners that I get to hang out and run with. If you don’t have that community where you live, then start it. It was because of the community that there were enough of us around to find and rescue Joe.

Endurance sports are great, but they are also dangerous. If you are going to run in remote places, be sure you are not alone. Not only is it nice to have good company, but it’s smart.

I have always said and I will always say: trail runners are my heroes. Witnessing Joe run 69.9 miles, Scott complete 154 (77 x 2), Lester finish the full 77, Mimi run 56 and all the crew, Doug, Bo and Sully, I am reminded why you are my heroes! Cheers to trail runners!

Until next time happy trails………

~tiana