The Unbearable Lightness of Running

I Am Not a Runner

So you might think it strange that yesterday, I got into my car and drove an hour north of Santa Fe to meet Robbie Balenger, a plant-based endurance runner whose pastime is competing in ultra marathons. Robbie isn’t running in just any old marathon, he is running 3200 miles across the US from Los Angeles to New York on a plant-powered diet to spread awareness about what is possible when you eat plant-based.

Alongside a Lonely Stretch of Highway 84

I first saw Robbie’s lean figure against a vibrant New Mexico sky. It was late afternoon and an intense 77 degrees on day twenty-five of Robbie’s epic run. The first thing I noticed was that Robbie is tall, has a great smile, and boy is he tan. He had already run 30 miles by the time we shook hands and had 12 more miles to go. During his break, I discovered a little more about what drives an ordinary guy to do something so extraordinary.

It all began with a soul-searching journey to the Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico where Robbie ran with the Tarahumara Indians, some of the best long distance runners in the world. During his race, Robbie met a guy who had run across the country. This connection gave Robbie the idea of doing a transcontinental run fueled by a plant-based diet. Friends told Robbie he couldn’t do it because he needed to eat meat for protein and strength. But Robbie had already experienced that the more animal products he eliminated from his diet, the more his running performance was enhanced. He ignored the advice and embarked on the run of a lifetime to inspire change in others. What he didn’t realize was the change that would occur in him.

Robbie Began Eating Plant-based to Enhance His Athletic Performance

Then it became about doing something positive for the environment. But the more he ran the more he understood the ethical nature of his decision. Today, his driving force is ethical. According to Robbie, “A lot of carnivores don’t allow themselves to think about what they are eating. I think they do this for self-preservation. It’s a contradiction to say you are an animal lover if you eat meat. For me, once that switch flipped, it became extremely clear and it resonates in a deeper way the longer I run.”

Every day on the road is different for Robbie. There are highs, lows, injuries, and joys. Friends, family and even Rich Roll, the vegan ultra-endurance athlete, have come out to crew for and support Robbie on his historic run. But it’s not only 2-legged friends that Robbie has connected with.

“As I run through different areas, I notice how aware animals are. Cows and sheep might ignore passing cars but when they see me coming from half a mile away, they look up and seem interested and curious like they are contemplating who I am. Apart from dogs and cats, we separate ourselves from animals. We say they don’t have emotions or feelings and we see them as commodities. This allows us to do the horrible things we do to them. But after this trip, that separation is not true for me anymore.”

Robbie Finished his Banana, Orange, and Apple –

Foods that are just a fraction of the nearly 8000 calories he consumes during his rigorous day. He stepped out of his Nada Moo Camper, his home for the next 50 days, we said our goodbyes and Robbie hit the pavement to finish up his remaining miles for the day.

As I passed Robbie in my car, I noticed his focus fixated on the road and a half smile on his face. I wondered who he would become at the end of his seventy-five days on the road. Who can any of us become when we embark on a journey of a lifetime on behalf of a cause we hold dear? I believe each of us has a unique puzzle piece reflecting our purpose in life. And when we finally wake up, become aware of, and embrace that puzzle piece by sharing our truth and living our mission, like Robbie we move from the ordinary life into the extraordinary. And as all of our puzzle pieces connect with each other, this is how the world changes – for the better.

Robbie’s mission has inspired me, but I won’t be jogging anytime soon. Still, I can pull my bike out of its winter hibernation, enjoy a ride at sunset, and continue speaking up on behalf of my animal friends. That’s my piece of the puzzle. What is yours?

Stay Pawsitive,

CMDO