The Running Raw Blog

While on a boot run in the George D. Aiken Wilderness in Woodford, Vermont, I had some thoughts about the current squabbles in the raw world. Click here to check out Tim Van Orden's race results - https://timvanorden.com/results.html Click here…

A few days ago Matt Monarch posted a video on his TheRawFoodWorld channel on YouTube, asking the leaders of the 'Raw Movement' to come together. These are my thoughts on the matter. This is Matt's video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGMQtlRblno Here is…

Did you know that toxic compounds form when carbohydrates are heated at high temperatures? Which means that any time you bake, broil, fry, roast, grill, or sauté fruits, grains or starches you produce a cancer causing substance called acrylamide. Acrylamide…

A new study out of the UK shows that a vegetarian diet can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease In this episode of Health News, I want to talk about a new study that just came out in the…

Tim Van Orden speaking at Arnold's Way in Lansdale, PA about running and it's effect on mental health. While speaking at Arnold's Way in Lansdale, PA, I went on a riff about running and the effect that it's had on…

Moose leave some pretty large tracks, and so do behaviors that we enjoy. This is part 3 of my series on New Year's Resolutions. In this piece, I tackle values and how they apply to making changes in our lives.…

If you've spent enough time building your path, there is no reason to fear the dark. At one point in my Los Angeles adventures I purchased a season's pass to Disneyland. Every few weeks I'd head down with a friend…

Life is less sweet when you consume sweetened drinks. This may come as no surprise to most of you, but a new study just released by the National Institute of Health (NIH), shows that the consumption of sweetened beverages (sodas,…

This year, resolve to make incremental changes instead of massive New Year's Resolutions. Do you have trouble keeping on course with your New Year's Resolutions? Do you end up backsliding a few weeks into the new year? In this video,…

We all have excuses for not getting motivated to exercise when it's cold outside. The beginning of a new year always gets people to think about fresh starts and new beginnings. Feeling the accumulated burden of a year's worth of…

Building my trail on Mt. Anthony in Bennington keeps yielding fruitful thoughts on trail blazing and finding meaning in life. On this glorious, rainy, Vermont Winter day, I found myself facing two very large obstacles, which inspired these thoughts on…

Anyone who's ever read a book on raw veganism or listened to a raw 'guru' give a lecture has heard this statement - "you will never get sick again as long as you eat a raw vegan diet." There was…

The clock strikes 12:12:12 on 12/12/12. What is the significance of this? Objectively - none. But if you want to have some fun with it, go ahead and give it some meaning. Human beings are meaning making machines. Our brains…

While out in the mountains creating a new trail, I realized that the process that I use to design and build trails is very similar to the method you can use to create your own path in life. So many…

The weather outside is frightful, but I'm not going to sit here and feel spiteful. Instead, I'm going to follow a process that I've taught myself over the past few years, that helps to get me dressed, out the door…

This is the 56th installment in my 'Getting Started' series. In this episode I focus on perfectionism. It's been a rough day at the end of a rough week. After slowly dying for the past two years, my trusty computer…

Tim Van Orden takes a bite out of heart disease. Today, I want to discuss a new study that recently appeared in the Journal of Functional Foods. This study looked at the consumption of apples and it's effect on heart…

Tim Van Orden training with a patellar tendon strap Today I want to share my success story in dealing with 'runner's knee' pain. Many runners experience pain and swelling in the knee after long runs or high mileage increases. The…

Tim Van Orden discussing a new study on the effect of zero calories sweeteners on the brain. I've also decided to start a new video series which covers the latest breaking news in the world of nutrition. I'm calling it…

Tim Van Orden discusses whether or not to 'go raw' This is the first in my new FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) video series, where I'll be answering many of the questions that fill up my various inboxes. Today's question -…

Mt. Bachelor in Central Oregon This race really took a lot out of me mentally and physically... So I stepped away from working on this video for a few weeks. But now with a new perspective, I thought I'd put…

Tim Van Orden musing about the benefits of insecurity. While on a road trip to the Seacoast of New Hampshire, I stumbled upon some insights into my past and it's effect on my current behavior. I'll admit it, I'm an…

Tim Van Orden talking about falling in love with running... again. Do you love doing the things that you are committed to? Or do you simply feel pressured and obligated to do them because of a commitment you've made? Many…

Tim, featured in this issue of Fast Forward Tim shares some great news! The Running Raw Project was just featured in the USA Track & Field (USATF) quarterly magazine 'Fast Forward'. Not only is this a huge honor, to be…

A brilliant display of Fall color. After a wonderful trip to Los Angeles I find myself back in Vermont, where I'm greeted by a brilliant display of Fall color. While the vast majority of the tourists clogging the arteries of…

The city of Los Angeles, home of the broken sidewalks. In this post I discuss the dangers that can arise when you set your plans in nice, flat, smooth concrete. While goal setting is an important tool, it should not…

Dara Dubinet and Tim chat outside of Euphoria Loves Rawvolution While in Santa Monica, California, I had a rare opportunity to hang out and have a chat with Dara Dubinet at Euphoria Loves Rawvolution. Dara is one of the most…

Even kids will love this green smoothie recipe. While in Los Angeles recently, I stumbled across a 'secret' green smoothie recipe... A green smoothie that will appeal to kids and wimpy adults that don't like to eat things that are…

A delicious avocado dish at Matthew Kenney's M.A.K.E. restaurant in Santa Monica, CA Some friends and I went to Matthew Kenney's new restaurant M.A.K.E. in Santa Monica, CA on opening night and had a little fun. It seems that Matthew…

September 22nd — Mount Bachelor, Oregon The top 10 finishers at the 2012 US 50K Trail Championships. When Runners arrived at the start of the USA 50km Trail Running Championships this Saturday they were not certain the race was a…

Nancy Hobbs - USATF Mountain, Ultra, Trail Council Chair. Stepping up to your first ultra (longer than 26.2 miles) can be a scary thing. So before I toed the line for my first 50k, I wanted to make sure I…

Swayze Foster & Tim Van Orden In this episode of the Running Raw Project: Tim sits down for an interview with Swayze Foster of http://fitonraw.com while at the Woodstock Fruit Festival ( http://woodstockfruitfestival.com ) Fit on Raw is a site…

Yulia Tarbath & Tim Van Orden talk about emotional eating. While attending the Woodstock Fruit Festival, Tim was asked by Yulia Tarbath of http://rawsomehealthy.com to discuss his thoughts on emotional eating (see video at bottom of post). One of the…

Tim Van Orden speaking about diet and emotional health. While speaking in Highland Park, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) I gave a talk about diet and emotional health. All the research that I've read leads me to believe that emotional…

Dan 'The Life Regenerator' McDonald Over the past seven years on this journey I've seen 'raw' personalities come and go. Dan McDonald is one of my favorites. His 'evolution' on this path towards raw health has been fun to watch.…

My interview with the controversial Harley Johnstone a.k.a. Durian Rider at the Woodstock Fruit Festival. In a rare moment, I get to sit down with Harley Johnstone aka Durian Rider to have a chat at the Woodstock Fruit Festival. Harley,…

June 10th, 2012 The start of the 2012 U.S. Half Marathon Trail Championships. Bend, Oregon Nearly eight hundred runners took on the challenge of the Dirty Half Marathon in Bend on Sunday. For the third year in a row, this…

Tim Van Orden on Mount Anthony It's been a while since I've made a video and some of you may have guessed that if you don't see a video from me for a while, it means that the 'sheep' has…

There is so much misinformation on television and the net about fat loss, diet, exercise, stress and specifically on belly fat loss, that I decided to put out my two cents on the subject. • Like the Running Raw Facebook…

I'm often asked why I run so much... am I running away from something? Here's my answer (inspired by Henry David Thoreau). Why do you run? • Like the Running Raw Facebook page - Like Running Raw on Facebook •…

A recent report out of China demonstrates the power of cruciferous vegetables in combatting breast cancer. • Like the Running Raw Facebook page - Like Running Raw on Facebook • Subscribe to Tim Van Orden's Facebook updates - Subscribe to…

I'm a bit behind the ball on this post, but I wanted to let you know that Running Raw has been featured in this month's (March/April) issue of VegNews Magazine!! The issue focuses on vegan men. Check it out! •…

When it comes to being properly prepared for a race, one of the most important factors that's usually overlooked is your stress level. Stress affects metabolism and bodily energy stores and needs to be considered when prepping for a race.…

There seem to be a whole lot of 'gurus' out there in the alternative health world that have THE truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But many of them disagree. So how could they all have THE…

I'm often criticized for over training by people that don't know a great deal about training. Here are my thoughts on the subject. • Like the Running Raw Facebook page - Like Running Raw on Facebook • Subscribe to Tim…

The question that just won't seem to die - "Tim, how many calories do you eat on a daily basis?" The short answer - It changes daily. For the long answer check out the video below. How Many Calories do…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5th, 2011 St. Louis, MO Every December, USA Track and Field holds it's annual convention to celebrate the year gone by and to plan for the year to come. Among the celebrations are the handing out…

It's that time of year again. Yes, THAT time of year. The time when the days are short, the afternoons dark and the temperature sinks well below the "it's a nice day for a run" mark. As I type this…

It's been a long and expensive year of racing. My goal this year was to compete in all five of the U.S. Trail Running Series races, and with any luck, come in the top 5 overall. The series consists of…

There are many things that I am thankful for. But at this moment one opportunity stands out in my mind. It was November of 2006. I was in Chicago to coach the fledgling Run Raw Team in their first raw…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ASHLAND, OREGON (November 5th, 2011) Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow could stop the competitors at the 2011 U.S. Trail Marathon Championships on Saturday. A record number of participants braved the weather and the terrain, including Bennington…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ASHLAND, OREGON (August 6th, 2011) The idyllic town of Ashland, Oregon is known for three things; the award winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival, world famous Lithia Park, and one of the best ultra-running trail scenes on the planet.…

Tim VanOrden’s Running Raw Times - August 3rd, 2011 A big hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project! In This Update: Only One Hill The Road to Italy The Woodstock Fruit Festival Southeastern U.S. Tour…

A big hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project! After 2 months of editing and compiling the best segments of my most recent lecture tour "Turbo Charge Your Life!" I am happy to announce that…

On the training front, this week was 'scheduled' as a base builder. The plan was to get my mileage back into the 90's and then 100's the following week in preparation for the Mt. Ashland Hill Climb on August 6th.…

The best laid plans of mice and men... This week my manly plans had me feeling like a mouse. A mouse that played chicken with the cat.... and lost. This was all thanks to the Cranmore Hill Climb , which…

Having a great race at Mount Washington last week was a huge confidence builder. Running well on trails is one thing, but to do well in a mountain race you need to have a pair of mountain legs. So heading…

Keeping up a substantial training load while in the middle of an important racing season can be a challenge. You don't want to train too much and show up to your races tired, but you also don't want to taper…

North Conway, NH (June 26th, 2011) – Top runners from across the country converged on this small New Hampshire town on Sunday to compete in the U.S. Mountain Running Championships . Up for grabs was an all expenses paid trip…

Failing to plan is planning to fail. But even the best laid plans are mere guideposts on your journey. My plan of not taking any rest days was quickly derailed this week by various elements and I had to simply…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BEND, OREGON - (June 12th, 2011) - The U.S.A. Half Marathon Trail Championships held in conjunction with the 10th annual Foot Zone "Dirty Half", kicked off to sunny, blue skies, a sold out field of 800 runners…

Training has always been experimental for me. There are some athletes that follow the same plan day in and day out for their entire careers. I have never been one of those regimented souls. The unknown has too great a…

There is nothing quite like the brilliant neon green of a New England Spring to motivate one to explore the plentiful wooded trails in the area. Rather than dreading the relentless mileage that I've been putting in, I've been looking…

This week was a busy one as I was bouncing around the Pacific Northwest giving talks and then entertaining guests in Vermont upon my return. Keeping up a heavy load of training while traveling is always a challenge, especially when…

The buildup in mileage over the past 5 weeks followed by a slight taper this week put me exactly where I wanted to be for the 2011 U.S. 15k Trail Running Championships in Spokane, WA on May 14th. Although I…

Tim VanOrden’s Running Raw Update - May 11th, 2011 A big hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project! In This Update: A Championship Summer Upcoming Talk Schedule The Race Report The Training Log A Championship…

With 408 running miles logged over the past 30 days, I can now say that I am the fittest I have ever been. My training is WAY ahead of where I was at this point last year and I'm setting…

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Honestly, I have no idea, but I do know that they can easily outrun me after a long trail run. Another hundred mile week under my belt…

Getting sick for nearly 3 weeks in February really shook my confidence and threw me abruptly off of my training path. After 2 months I have finally begun to build back up to my desired training load and regain confidence.…

After a long, cold and exceptionally snowy Winter I think it’s time I got a little sunshine. So I’m heading to Florida in a tomorrow for a one week speaking tour. I've created a brand new presentation called "Turbo Charge…

The build continues! With the Northeast Snowshoe Championships only a week away and the U.S. National Snowshoe Championships less than 3 weeks away, I've really pushing my body to the limit in hopes of a high peak at race time.…

Tim VanOrden’s Running Raw Update - February 15th, 2011 A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project . In This Update: • Race Report - Empire State Building Success • Getting to Nationals •…

When in Rome, do as the Romans. Or more appropriately, when you are buried in snow, go snowshoeing! Now that the Empire State Building Run Up is behind me, I can focus all my efforts on the upcoming U.S. National…

The week started off with a taper for the Empire State Building Run Up. All of the long hours of cross training these past 6 weeks seems to have paid off as I shaved 44 seconds off my best time…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VanOrden 4th at Empire State Building Run Up NEW YORK CITY, NY (February 1st, 2011) - Tim VanOrden, 42, of Bennington, Vermont rose to the occasion at the 34th running of the Empire State Building Run Up…

A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project . In This Issue: • The Top Ten of 2010 • Finding Heaven in Eleven • The Blog is Back! • The Race Report • Fundraising…

The final week of training before the Empire State Building Race. I cut back on the time but actually bumped my running miles up a bit. Sunday's snowshoe race was a medium effort and gave me great confidence as I…

The week started off slowly, due to an illness over the weekend. Fearing for my lungs, I kept indoors a good bit and ran on the dreaded treadmill. In order to make this tolerable I built a stand to hold…

What started out as a very solid week of training, crashed and burned as I came down with a stomach bug Thursday afternoon. A combination of hard training, lack of sleep and stress have put me in a rather weakened…

The intense cross training regimen continues. My legs are tired every day, but I continue to get stronger and more fit every week. The Tabata leg press records that I've been setting, keep falling. My road mileage has been gradually…

Thanks to the bounty of Wintry white goodness that has blanketed Vermont, I've been able to greatly increase my training load through the use of cross training. Activities such as cross country skiing, snowshoeing, upright rowing machine and boot/snow running…

People often ask me what I eat each day and how much I train. So today I thought I'd give you a snapshot of a day in the life of the Running Raw Project. At present I'm preparing for the…

Now that my injuries are healing up I'm back out there running in the cold. It's hard enough to get yourself started again after a layoff, but doing so when the days are short, cold and dark can be a…

Leafy Greens have numerous health benefits A new study out of Harvard University shows that diets high in the mineral magnesium seem to reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac failure - at least in women. So where do you get…

Onions can improve dietary iron absorption. As I stated in Iron Absorption on a Vegan Diet - Part I , there is plenty of iron in a whole, plant based diet. The trick is absorption. In addition to adding vitamin…

The Pitfalls of Iron Supplementation Supplementation can be problematic. The popular media will tell you that vegans are likely to be iron deficient and at risk for anemia. This prompts many vegans, especially women to take iron supplements. While this…

Most of you already know that I'm not a fan of shortcuts, quick fixes, magic bullets, supplements or diet gimmicks. I believe that natural, whole, and gradual solutions are the best choices for long term health. But it's also fun…

A new study out this week shows clear evidence that physical activity is not just good for the body, but it's good for the brain as well. In my own experience, I am far more intelligent when I'm running than…

There are many who believe that plants lack iron and therefore vegans are likely to become anemic. While it is true that anemia seems to be more common in the vegan population, it is not for a lack of iron…

How often do you consider the effects of your dietary choices on others? Maybe it's time you started.

USATF Mountain Ultra Trail Council Announces Runners of the Year Indianapolis, IN ---- USA Track & Field (USATF) has named the 2010 USATF Mountain Runners of the year, Ultra Runners of the Year, Trail Championship Series winners, and Contributor of…

I read a very promising and yet at the same time, a very troubling study today. A team of researchers at the University of Boulder have been experimenting with stem cells and wound healing. By injecting stem cells into the…

Flu season is upon is. Will you go along with the media's call to vaccinate? Or will you hold off and hope for the best? Either way, it's best to educate oneself on the matter. Here is a great article…

You read that title correctly - Mike Tyson, the man who has been known to eat the flesh of fellow competitors in the ring has foregone animal products and adopted a vegan diet. More and more high profile Americans are…

As most of you know, meat is not the healthiest thing you can eat. Yes, it's got plenty of protein, vitamin B12, iron and a few other trace minerals, but it also come packed with a host of health comprising…

The dairy industry has discovered that cows don't need that much protein and in fact, they fare much better with less in their diets. Oh, if only there was a "human industry" to get to the bottom of how to…

Stair climbing is hard enough wearing a lightweight top, tiny shorts and 5 ounce shoes, but imagine doing it with 40 to 60 pounds of gear on! I have a LOT of respect for these guys. Someday I'd like to…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VanOrden Tops at U.S. Bank Tower Stair Climb LOS ANGELES, CA (September 24th, 2010) Tim VanOrden, 42 of Bennington, Vermont held off three of the top stair climbers in the world to win the U.S. Bank Tower…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VanOrden wins third National Trail title Tim VanOrden, 42, of Bennington, Vermont won his third U.S. Masters Trail Running title of the Summer on a scenic 13.99 mile course along the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon. He…

A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project . In This Issue: The Oregon Trail Event with Ani Phyo The Race Report The Training Log Upcoming Events Your Support In Conclusion The Oregon Trail…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VanOrden Wins Second National Trail Running Title LAUREL SPRINGS, NC (August 28th, 2010) - Tim VanOrden, 42, of Bennington, VT captured his second national championship title in less than a month at the U.S. 10k Trail Running…

A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project . In This Issue: • On The Road Again • The Race Report • The Training Log • Upcoming Events • 2010 Veggie Awards • Your…

You might think that it's hard to continue making green smoothies while traveling, but it's actually quite easy. During my travels in British Columbia I discovered that a coin-op laundrymat is a great place to get your green on.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VanOrden Takes Gold at U.S. Trail Running Championships SPOKANE, WA (August 2, 2010) - Tim VanOrden, of Bennington, VT ran away from the Master's field to win his first national title by nearly two minutes over runner…

It's official - I'm a raw food freak and I've got video evidence to prove it. (This video contains mild profanity. Enjoy it at your own risk)

A new study shows that high protein, animal based diets increase bone loss - Unfortunately, they only studied older women and not the population as a whole. High-protein diets may cause bone loss in older women

A huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project . In This Issue: • Growing Pains • The Race Report • Running Raw Apparel & Lecture DVDs • The Running Raw Buzz • The Training…

Heather Lounsbury who hosts the 'Live Natural, Live Well' radio show on BlogTalkRadio invited me to be a part of a three person call in interview about being healthy on a vegan diet. Robert Cheeke of VeganBodybuilding.com and Whitney Lauritsen…

This "research" looks a little sketchy to me. It appears that special interest groups are hard at work trying to get people to believe that being healthy is a good thing and that TV is a bad thing. I'm not…

According to this new study, it seems that eating ginger post workout or post race can significantly reduce muscle pain. I suggest adding it to a post workout smoothie to smooth out the kick. Check out the story here: Ginger…

This is a great step in the right direction... Up your fruit intake so we can keep them with a full supply of raw materials. Bioplastic packaging made from fruit skins

In order to be a good secret agent you have to know how to create an effective smoke screen. Apparently, such agents are hard at work creating such a distraction in their fight against organic foods. The main reason to…

Scientists are so smart. They are going to solve all of our problems. I think eating nanocellulose is so much better than eating carbohydrates: Swedish breakthrough to unlock ‘super material’ potential . After all, scientists would never come up with…

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables have many benefits. After 12 years of being vegan, it never never once occurred to me that fruits and vegetables might improve my health. It just seems too radical an idea to stomach. There's no way…

A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project . In This Issue: • The Year in Review • 2010 To Do List • The Race Report • Running Raw Apparel & Lecture DVDs •…

Whether you drink green or black tea, you'd better drink both of them black. A new study published in Nutrition Research demonstrates that adding milk to a cup of tea decreases the health benefits of the tea. So if you…

Prologue: If I were to choose one sport to define myself as an athlete, it would be stair climbing. As much as I love the challenge and scenery of mountain running and snowshoe racing, neither has impacted me as profoundly…

Your friends still don't believe that one can be a competitive athlete while eating a plant based diet? Make them watch this video

It has been discovered recently that the organic acids in many fruits can leach a toxic metal known as antimony out of plastic packaging. Read the story HERE

Breakfast 7:00am - 3 hours before race start - 2 bananas Less than 24 hours after having returned home from the Greylock Glen Snowshoe race , I found myself back on the road to compete in the 4th WMAC /…

Tennis great Martina Navratilova is still one of the best in the sport in her 50's. She credits her whole, fresh, plant-based diet for her continued success.

Breakfast: 6am (4 hours till the start) - 24oz Green Smoothie; Kale, Banana, Blueberry, Dulse, Raw Honey and well water. With the Empire State Building Run Up (the unofficial world championships of stair climbing) only 2 weeks away, my training…

Brendan Brazier interview at the Willis Tower Stair Climb. Brendan is one of the top vegan athletes in the world and makes his debut in this epic race. Brendan Brazier Interview

The rains may have washed away the snow in the rest of New England, but up on Woodford Mountain, the snow was heavy and deep. Perfect conditions for the first of the 2010 Dion Snowshoes WMAC Snowshoe Series. Speaking of…

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…

This past week I returned from my first ever trip to Europe. Well, if I'm to be perfectly honest I should say that most of me returned. There is a still a part of me that fell in love with…

The Bliss Fest in Parkville, Missouri went over so well yesterday that demand for new talks in the area had to be met. The current schedule is as follows: Monday July 27th Green Acres Market, Kansas City, Missouri Wednesday July…

Kansas City Bliss Festival Saturday, July 25,12:00 – 7:00 pm - Parkville, MO High Vibes ~ Music ~ Food ~ Speakers ~ Demos The Midwest's Hottest Live Band! SEED LOVE DJ Jabberock & Miss Conception Speakers: Tim VanOrden Angela Stokes…

Running Raw Summer Lecture Series Thriving on a Raw Diet Tuesday, July 21, 5:30 – 9:30 pm - Waltham, MA Can one be an active raw vegan without resorting to expensive supplements, and “superfoods”? How does one get enough calories,…

It's time once again for the most challenging race in the New England Mountain Running Series - The Loon Mountain Race. This demanding 5.8 mile race climbs well over 3,000 vertical feet with sections reaching 45% in slope. The best…

Somehow 2009 has managed to zoom to the halfway point in the calendar and I find myself firmly entrenched in my 41st year. The race that I've been training for since January is now finally staring me square in the…

This past Sunday at the Northfield Mtn. Race (New England Trail Championships) I felt like I had been hit by a truck. The two weeks prior had been incredibly stressful. My grandfather passed away, two days before his 99th birthday…

I've been told that opportunity only knocks once. The person who shared this cautionary wisdom with me must be wearing earplugs most of the time, because I hear opportunity knocking constantly. In fact, it often knocks the loudest after you…

For the first time since the early 1970's, the stairs of the historic Bennington Battle Monument in Bennington, VT will be open to the public in the first annual Bennington Monument Stair Climb. This event will also be the first…

After a lengthy interview with a reporter from the Wall Street Journal in the Spring of 2008 about being a vegan athlete, I suggested that he also get in touch with NFL star Tony Gonzalez. When the article went to…

You have all heard the saying "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again". Wise words indeed considering that most of our great endeavors involve an initial "failure" and learning curve. But where are the great maxims that prepare…

As many of you have already noticed, I love superlatives. How many times over the past three years have you heard me say "It was the toughest race I've ever done!"? Well, get ready, you are about to hear it…

A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project . In This Issue: • The Little Victories • Food Networking • The Running Raw Buzz • The Race Report • The Training Log • Upcoming…

When my friend Dave Dunham first described the Stark Mountain Hill Climb race to me earlier this summer, I knew that it was a "must do" event. This race is unique in New England mountain racing in that each athlete…

Thirty six hours after tackling the US Bank Tower I found myself toeing the line once again. The view from this starting point was dramatically different. The concrete, steel, glass and sheetrock were replaced by an old road lined by…

You have probably all heard the old saying "Luck is where opportunity meets hard work." Late this afternoon in a spartan stairwell in downtown Los Angeles, a combination of luck, opportunity and hard work came together in brilliant fashion. At…

With one of the biggest races in Running Raw history only three days away ( US Bank Tower Stair Climb in Los Angeles on September 26th), I thought I'd keep you posted on my preparation for this monumental event -…

Thriving On Raw Foods With Tim VanOrden The world is taking notice of Tim VanOrden, elite athlete and creator of the Running Raw Project. Tim is a raw vegan athlete who has an international reputation for excelling in some of…

A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project . In This Issue: • All's Quiet on the Eastern Front • Forté at Forty • Olympic Trials and Tribulations • Food Networking • The Running…

The sixth and final race in the N.E. Mtn. Running Circuit was a relentless grind of a climb up Mt. Ascutney in South Eastern Vermont. After Dave Dunham’s stellar race at Loon Mtn., I now trailed him by a just…

Two years ago, I had my first taste of New England mountain running at the Loon Mtn. race . I had been running for only 6 months at that point, and had somehow managed to move into the front pack…

"Everyone should have people that inspire them. For some people it's world leaders, for others it's baseball, basketball or football players. For me, it's elite mountain runners." - Paul Kirsch (Race Director) Last week's race at Mt. Washington left me…

For the last twelve months my training has been focused on one goal; doing well at the Mount Washington Road Race . This year, the 7.6 mile race, climbing Mt. Washington's Auto Road to the 6,288 foot summit, was serving…

As the Mt. Washington race looms ominously on the horizon only two weeks away, I've been a bit nervous about my readiness for the event. Although I have been training more these last few months than at any time during…

Although it had only been 3 days since my race up Whiteface Mtn ., When Josh Merlis of the Albany Running Exchange invited me check out a trail race in the Catskill Mountains of New York I couldn't say no.…

June 1st was a busy day for racing in the Northeast. Among the numerous events being contested were the New England 5k Road Championships in Rhode Island, the Pack Monadnock 10 miler (the 2nd race in the LaSportiva Mtn. Cup…

Although I cannot remember the bulk of my life (a result of years of depression perhaps) there are a few conversations that have stayed in my memory as clearly as the day they occurred. One such dialog took place at…

Although the 62 storey Aon Center race was a grueling affair, it only lasted a little over 8 minutes. Since I don't have a coach, I find it hard to push myself to the limit on my own, so I…

For the first time in more than 10 years I found myself a visitor rather than a resident of the great city of Los Angeles . Mark Trahanovsky and his company, West Coast Labels had generously offered to fly me…

Over the past two years, it has become clear to me that New England is the epicenter of trail running in the United States. This tiny region of the country boasts the greatest number of trail races and the best…

Planning is not my forté. In fact, I'm pretty darn awful at it. I had intended to compete in the 52 storey Climb California race in San Francisco. Last year I placed second in this event and was eager to…

Tim VanOrden’s Running Raw Times - March 22nd, 2008 A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project . In This Issue: • Marching Into Spring • The Sunshine State in the Raw • The…

The term "green smoothie" gets thrown around a lot in the raw vegan community, but what does that term actually mean? Well, everyone has there own version of this green elixir, and of all the versions that I've tried, I've…

My original intent on traveling to Tampa, FL was to compete in the Climb Tampa race up the 42 storey US Bank Plaza . As plans for the trip evolved, the race took back seat to all of the other…

In the three months that I've been in Vermont, I've done very little exploring in the state. So when a qualifier for the US Snowshoe Championships was scheduled for Smugglers Notch Ski Area in northern Vermont, I thought this would…

As a kid growing up in rural Bennington, VT , my first city experience was in Albany, NY . It was only a 45 minute drive away, but to a farm kid it was a completely different planet. In the…

New York was nicknamed the Empire State , to recognize its vast wealth and variety of resources. Among the treasures of this great state is the Empire State Building , the crown Jewel of New York City. Although there are…

Tim VanOrden's Running Raw Times - February 1st, 2008 A Huge hello to all my friends and supporters of the Running Raw Project. In This Issue : • Running Raw in the Public Eye • Super Tuesday • The Race…

What goes up, must come down. The competitors in the Curly's Record Run snowshoe race in Pittlsfield, MA this past weekend might rephrase that statement as: what goes up, up, up and still higher up, must come down, down, and…

Yes, you read the title correctly - I snowshoed in Florida yesterday with a hundred other winter sports fanatics. Of course I'm referring to Florida, Massachusetts , just south of the Vermont border on the high Green Mountain plateau. It's…

The second race in the W MAC snowshoe series was held in Guilderland, NY, just a few miles outside of the state capitol Albany, NY. This is the 5th year of this event, and the first time in those 5…

Since snowshoeing has become such a staple of my winter workouts, I thought it only natural to start entering local snowshoe races. The Western Mass. Athletic Club (WMAC) has a winter race series, with races held in VT, MA, NY…

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…

Thrashing through the snow in the Snowstorm Classic 5k was so much fun, that I decided to make the hour and forty minute drive south again to compete in the Snowstorm Classic 10k. Where the 5k offered bone chilling temps…

When I initially came to Vermont I was quite worried that my training would come to a halt as winter arrived. The icy roads and cold temps make running far more challenging and dangerous. In addition, we've had a very…

It's been a month since my last race in Milwaukee. A month of rough and tumble Vermont winter. I've been doubting whether my isolated training has been long enough on my easy days and hard enough on my hard days.…

All too often we lump the words thanks and giving together into one word - Thanksgiving. It has come to mean turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and family. The word does little more than house the name of a…

It's been a very exciting week here in the windy city, and feeling more and more like home everyday. I was a bit disappointed with my third place at the Sears Tower, so I drove up to Milwaukee yesterday afternoon…

Yesterday, I competed in the GoVertical Chicago - Sears Tower Stair Climb. This grueling race sents competitors up the stairwell for 103 storeys, and 2,109 steps to the top of the tallest building in North America. Last year in this…

There is no better way to see the country than to drive across it, stop every few hundred miles and go for a run... or two. Meandering about on foot in small towns looking for fresh organic produce and seeing…

It has been two years since I took the first running step towards this dream, and three years since I went 100% raw. What a long strange trip it's been. It always amazes me how fast time passes, and that…

It's a beautiful fall day in Los Angeles. A cold front has moved down from Alaska to temper the constant California sun, there is a light breeze and plentiful white fluffy clouds in the sky to offer shade. Perfect running…

My buddy Robert Cheeke at VeganBodybuilding.com recently asked me to fill out a featured athlete profile for his site. Even though I'm not a "bodybuilder" he thought that people should know about what I'm doing. Robert put together a great…

On one of my last runs in Los Angeles I head back to where it all began. Ten years ago, upon arriving in LA, and yearning for the mountains and greenery of Vermont, I was introduced to the magical world…

Two days before the presently raging Malibu wild fires , I decided to get in a long hard run in Malibu Creek State Park. Of all the traveling that I've done in this country, and of all the beautiful places…

What a pleasure it was to be interviewed for Celebrating Your Potential by Revvell Revati. It has to be one of my favorite interviews so far. We had so much fun and shared so much great information that she asked…

In a race that has been dominated by elite marathoners and road racers from around the world, I managed to best the field by over 30 seconds. But more importantly, I became the only runner in the past 5 years…

In order to make up for my runner's legs in a stair climb race, I've had to employ new training regimens that allow me to take advantage of other muscle groups. I've learned to turn a stair climb event into…

After bouts of long or hard exercise lasting sixty minutes or more, the body's stores of muscle and liver glycogen can become depleted. This can significantly effect performance, as the body's main fuel for exercise is glucose, and the body…

At 75 floors (1,018 feet high), the US Bank tower in downtown Los Angeles is the tallest building west of Chicago. For 11 years, this building held the title of being the tallest building in the world built on a…

At 8:00am on October 6th, I will be racing up the 1,500 stairs of the US Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles. The US Bank Tower is the eighth tallest building in the US and the tallest building in California.…

One year ago I entered the Mt. Baldy Run to the Top for the first time. It was my first all vertical "mountain" race, and I didn't know what to expect, nor did I have anything to compare it to.…

It's always a very nice treat when my friend Brendan Brazier comes into town. Not only is he one of the few people that can keep up on a long trail run, but we always have the best conversations about…

One of the great things about living in Los Angeles is the very large and diverse athletic community. The L.A. Unified School District celebrates this athletic abundance by hosting the Summer Grand Prix Track Series on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday…

My high altitude training continues, with a 10k race at 4700' at Lake Gregory in Crestline, CA, on the outskirts of LA. This was my first 10k since March, and I wasn't sure if i'd have the legs to maintain…

In 1960, the world was introduced to Squaw Valley, California near Lake Tahoe, as it hosted the Winter Olympics that year. It was a grand event that produced many American superstars. Now, 47 years later, it's still a sight to…

There is a great cross-country running culture in the Latino neighborhoods of Los Angeles. The running event of the summer in this community is the Aztlan Track Club's Summer Indian Run. Many of the best cross-country runners in the Los…

In order to be prepared for the upcoming Mt. Baldy race (8 miles - 6,000' to 10,000' ascent) on September 3rd, I've started to incorporate runs at high elevation into my schedule. Los Angeles County offers some of the best…

The Running Raw team duked it out with some of the best runners in the world today at the Bastille Day 5k in Irvine, CA. Large cash prizes attracted a highly competitive elite field from all over the US and…

After more than a week of not being able to run due to the intense leg trauma I suffered in the US Mtn. Running Championships, I decided to get a good workout in the Will Rogers 5K. This race, held…

I went back to New Hampshire one more time to take on the country's toughest mountain runners in the national championships at Mt. Cranmore in North Conway, NH. Unlike the Mt. Washington road race which was entirely uphill, this race…

After a grueling race up Mt. Washington , my family thought it would be a good idea for me to get away and relax at our camp in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York. It's a trip back in…

The 47th running of the Mount Washington Road Race drew 1000 of the toughest and fittest athletes from around the world. Mountain runners, marathoners, triathletes and cyclists come to test themselves on the highest peak in the northeastern United States.…

Have you ever heard of blood clots forming in passenger’s legs during long flights? Is it a myth or reality? Well, one of my subscribers sent me to a website that has caused me some concern . Check it out…

With the abundance of running trails within minutes of my house, I hardly ever head into Hollywood to run in the parks there. The parks in the Hollywood Hills (Santa Monica Mountains) are not only some of the largest city…

More than two decades have passed since my last high school track meet, but it's never too late to be a kid again. This was a day full of surprises and inspirational performances. I watched world record holders and grand…

My warmup for the Southern California Masters Track Championships starts the day before the event. Instead of overdoing it on the road or trails, I incorporate some cross-training in the form of rollerblading. Yes, I said rollerblading. It's a great…

My strategy of a 5K every weekend continues with the Brentwood Run. This race attracts large crowds and some of the best runners in Southern California, and offers a relatively flat course - which is a great combination to set…

One year after being humbled in one of the toughest trail races in the country, I take another crack at the Malibu Creek Trail Challenge. It looks like my knee injury is safely behind me.

Everyone has a pre-race routine. After extensive research and testing I have come up with a "day before the race" regimen for optimum performance.

Have you ever tried running in the deep sand in the middle of the beach? Now imagine tilting that beach at a 40% slope and running up it. That's what awaits the brave souls who enter Sand Dune Park in…

The Paseo Miramar fire road has been my nemesis since day one of this undertaking. It was the first trail that I ran on as I began this journey, and a year and a half later the thought of running…

In preparation for the US Mountain Running Championships in New Hampshire this June, I've had to really up the intensity of my workouts. The usual mountain trail runs with an average grade of 10% to 12% just won't cut it…

Supreme Master Television, a large satellite TV station committed to conscious programming and positive news approached me to spread the word of health around the world. This station has a huge following in Europe and the Middle East, and a…

As part of my '5k every weekend' training plan I decided to enter into the very competitive quite unique Derby Days 5k in Arcadia, CA. This race includes a flattish PR friendly course, incredible talent and some of the most…

Oh, the joys of being injured... Since the vast majority of my training is uphill (due to runner's knee), I very rarely if ever get any speed work done. The fastest that I can run up my normal 10% to…

Why take the elevator when you can run up 52 flights of stairs with 500 other crazy souls? So I headed to San Francisco to race in the Climb California Stair Climb. Racers from around the country came to challenge…

In preparation for the 1st Climb California race, I did one last hard vertical effort - The steep access road up to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. At the end of the road you can catch the tram to the…

Well, after 45 days of recovery from my knee injury in the Catalina Half Marathon, I decided to see how fast I was on flat pavement. I haven't run on a flat surface nor done speed work since early February,…

The knee injuries I sustained during the Catalina Half Marathon have forced me to shift my training and my perspective. Is it possible to turn an injury into a blessing and create a new training method that is better than…

Running a marathon has never been tops on my list of things to do, but as this project has evolved, the gold standard of distance running seems to be my destiny. Unfortunately, I've been sidelined with a knee injury and…

On a clear Winter day, the mighty summit of Mt. Wilson can be seen rising up above Los Angeles to a lofty height of 6000 feet. Topped with radio and TV towers, four observatories, a museum and a paved road…

A year after running my first race for the Running Raw Project, I found myself back on gorgeous Catalina Island off the coast of Los Angeles to compete yet again in the race that started it all - The Buffalo…

Racing up the 86 flights of stairs in America's most iconic skyscraper has become a New York City tradition. This race attracts athletes from around the world and is essentially the world championships of tower racing. Nearly 300 of the…

On a recent speaking tour of Northern California, I had the opportunity to explore many of the beautiful trails of the lower Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this video, I'm running on the Steven's Trail along the American River in California…

Trying to make a difference is not easy.

Racing up the stairwell of the tallest building in the North America sounds easy right? After 105 flights of pain, I discover otherwise. Perhaps I shouldn't have spent the entire day before the race in the blistering cold winds of…

On November 3rd, 2004 I went 100% raw. One year later, on November 3rd, 2005 I started running. It's been a year now since that journey began. This past year has provided a wonderful education in determination and sacrifice. I…

Seven months after I started running, I decided that I would try to make the US Mountain Running Team. A little too ambitious? Perhaps, but you've got to dream big. Who's afraid of a 3,000' climb? Click HERE to watch…

During a visit to my hometown, I decided to run the race that defined my level of fitness 20 years ago. Then Bennington Road Race is one of the more competitive races in the Northeast. The winner, Brian Rhodes-Devey was…