Where do I get my protein?
This is probably the most common question i get, and the answer is that I'm not really that concerned with protein intake. Yes, I do consume some protein in the few hemp seeds and nuts that I eat. The dark leafy greens and broccoli that I consume daily also contain protein, but all in all, I really don't consume that much protein. The human body breaks protein down into amino acids, so I cut out the middle man and eat foods that are rich in amino acids - ALL uncooked fruits and vegetables.
Do I have to consume massive amounts of food to get enough calories?
Actually, I consume much fewer calories than the average American... I'll be doing a caloric breakdown of a single day shortly... my guess is that my consumption falls short of 2000 calories, even on a HUGE training day. Raw food is a much more efficient fuel, whereas many of the calories consumed on a SAD diet are burned trying to break down the very food that's providing the energy.
What is my Pre-race regimen?
As for a pre-race dinner... i eat no later than 6pm the night of a race... and that meal is almost entirely fruit - bananas, apples, mangoes, kiwis, strawberries... just no melon (they don't play well with other fruit). i might also have a little romaine lettuce. Make sure you are very hydrated the day before the race.
The morning of the race, i wake up 3 hours before my start time and have a large all fruit breakfast. Half an hour later i go for a 3 to 5 minute run to get my metabolism going (all the top runners do this). Then i relax and make sure i'm getting lots of fluids... i'll drink at least 32 ounces of water or coconut water before the race... i stop drinking 30 minutes before the start.
Did I go vegetarian or vegan first before going raw?
I was vegan for 6 years before I went raw. The last six months before I went raw I was eating a macrobiotic vegan diet.
How long have I been raw?
I took the plunge into fantastic health on November 3rd of 2004.
What can one expect during the "detox" period?
The detox is a highly individual process. Everyone experiences it differently. For some it lasts a week and is mild. For me it lasted 4 months and felt like a drug detox. I was light-headed, nauseous, weak, tired, headaches, fever-like symptoms. It was not fun, but I came through the other side with a new body.
What does my workout regimen look like?
I'm running about 70 miles a week right now. I run six days and take 1 day off from running. I also incorporate leg strength and core strength routines 3 times a week.
What is my resting heart rate?
Resting heart rate is measured the moment you first wake up in the morning, or after a period of 20 minutes of no activity. Currently, my RHR is 38.
What is my Lactate Threshold Heartrate?
176 beats per minute. Which means that I can train or race at a heartrate of 176 without accumulating any Lactic Acid. My max heart rate is 189, which makes my Lactate Threshold 93% of my max heartrate.
Was I athletic before I went raw?
I was a competitive Cross Country skier and track athlete in high school. I competed my freshman and part of my sophomore years in college, then retired at age 20.
How does one qualify for the Olympics?
Well, each sport is different, but for the marathon, you must meet a certain qualifying time in a sanctioned marathon. Meeting this time will qualify you for the Olympic trials. At the Olympic trials, you must be in the top 3 in order to advance to the Olympics. Currently, the men's qualifying time is 2:22:00, and the women's qualifying time is 2:47:00.
Did I start training right away when I became raw?
I was raw for a year before I started to train. I don't think it's a good idea to be on a training regimen when you are starting a raw diet. The detox can be pretty intense, and the exercise can further the stress on your immune system.
What supplements do I take?
Actually, I don't take any. The point of the Running Raw experiment is to prove that one can accomplish incredible feats of physical health and performance using only off the shelf produce.
What superfoods do I recommend?
My belief is that raw food should be as sustainable and economically feasible as possible. Therefore, I keep to the foods that are commonplace in any supermarket anywhere in the country, and cost very little money to purchase. The miracle of the raw diet is not in the foods you are consuming, it's in the foods you are NOT consuming. Your body is the miracle, you don't need expensive "superfoods" to have a super body.
What raw recipe books do I recommend?
If you go to the links page, you will find links to the books that I recommend.