Beginning the Journey

I am pleased to report my marathon training has begun once again.  I will be sharing some stories, worries, accomplishments, and fears with you along the way.

As I stare down the last months of my 30s, I deliberated about what to do to celebrate such a milestone.  An epic trip?  A raging party?  A midlife crisis with a car and poolboy? 

All of things appeal to me in one way or another but I decided to run the Mount Desert Island Marathon!  What better way to honor a strong body that has gotten me this far in life!  And Acadia is such a magical land that, no matter what my pace, I will be able to enjoy the landscape and the town.

As I train I will be including Sea Shepherd Conservation Society once again and asking for pledges.  Volunteering for SSCS is one of the most rewarding things I have done over the years and running for something so near to my heart makes the miles less taxing.

So follow me.  Come on a run with me.  Help me to conquer 26.2 miles and turning 40!

Happy Earth Month and some of my Favorites

                                           Me and my friends at a beach clean last summer
Hello friends.  It is April, which means spring is here (unless of course you are in Maine like me) and Earth Day is around the corner.  In some circles of the world, this has become a month-long celebration of the Earth and her inhabitants.  For me, it has become a time to re-evaluate the things that I am doing to help the world.  Am I living in a way that is sustainable and that lessens my impact to benefit the rest of the creatures that dwell here?  Am I living in a way that can be an example to others; inspiring them to do more in their lives?

In our egocentric, social media infused world we sometimes get so wrapped up in our microcosm that we forget how our way of living directly impacts a chain of other living organisms.  We have lived in this bubble so long that species are disappearing before they can be discovered and we are increasing in momentum in a manner that it seems nothing can stop us, rolling forward and demolishing all in the path of our consumer frenzy with disregard to the smoke and flames as we go forth. 

So, I say to you:  STOP!   Take a moment to reflect upon our Earth.  We all share it.  It is not divided by race or creed, gender identity or nationality.  Or even species.  We are all a part of it, not outside of it.  Meditate upon it.  Think about what you do every single day to make the world a little bit better.  It can be as small as recycling, forgoing meat one meal a day, trying to eliminate single use plastic, picking up trash when you go on a stroll.  It can be bigger; educating others at events, running a race to raise money for an organization, going vegan or giving up your car.  And it can be huge!  Start a non-profit, create an animal sanctuary, go on the high seas with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to save marine wildlife.  Small or gigantic, every little bit helps make a difference and we all can do a little bit more. 

I am happy to say I know of many amazing people and groups of people doing amazing things to try to put a dent in the problem:

My friend Erin helps run Lulu's Locker Rescue. This group focuses on black cats and dogs, senior animals and FIV positive cats.  These are the animals very tough to place in homes.

My friend Dave volunteers for HART. HART is run completely by volunteers and gives homeless cats safe refuge in Maine

There is an animal sanctuary in Maine called Peace Ridge Sanctuary. They provide a life-long home for animals once abused and neglected, with a focus on farm animals.  

My friend Maureen has a radio show called Animal Sounds Radio.  Her weekly radio show explores the human relationship with animals in many fabulous ways.

In the environmental sector, Portland Maine has many great groups as well.  I participate in curbside composting through Garbage to Garden, and have seen my waste go down tremendously! 

Portland Trails helps maintain a system of recreational trains for walkers, runners and bikers.  I'm glad they don't charge a toll, because I would be poor after all of the miles I've covered here!

As you well know, I am an onshore volunteer for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society,

And of course there are those organizations from a place I feel is a second home.  I have been to Aruba a number of times and fell madly in love with the donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary Aruba. 

I recently learned of a newer organization that helps find homes for the dogs and cats that wander the island.  I look forward to going back and visiting Sgt Pepper's Friends!

So, now I am realizing I could go on all day with these examples and this isn't even touching upon the bigger groups or for-profit businesses changing the world with their dollars.  Please share with me some of your own favorites as well!

Finally, if you are local, join me for an Earth Day celebration April 23 at East End Beach in Portland.  At 8:00 we will have a Vegan Breakfast Potluck Picnic off of Cutter Street in Portland.  We will proceed along East End Beach and the trail and spring clean the area!  More information is on my Facebook page; For The Oceans. Portland's Urban Earth Day is later that day so it can be a day-long celebration!  We owe it to one another and to the Earth to try a bit harder today and every day to be aware of all of the life that surrounds us on the land and in the ocean.  Let us change the world, one heart at a time!

Bad News for Whales

It is one of those mornings that I am finding it hard to be positive.  The big breaking news day before yesterday was that the Japanese whalers managed to bag 333 minke whales, some 200 of them being females and 90% of those being pregnant.  All of this in the name of research to understand the species, allegedly.  Because obviously the way to help preserve a species is to kill multiple pregnant females?!!  These are scientists?

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/24/japan-confirms-whales-killed-during-scientific-expedition-to-antarctica

This creates such sadness.  Human beings are killing one another with technologies never seen before.  The internet breeds hatred and it festers.  Human beings kill other species- for food, for fun, for economic gain, for a great hunting photo for social media, for the feeling of power.  Whales are hunted and killed in a battle in which they have little chance to escape what is coming.  The meat, laden with the toxins our excess has created, is sold for food when we could easily feed the world with plants.  Baby whales are never born.  Nearly 200 baby whales never born into the ocean.  I ask the Japanese government, 'How exactly does this help us to understand the species?'

People condemn groups like Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for being too aggressive.  Too extreme.  But no one is doing anything about this!  No government is willing to give up resources or, dare I say, some of their navy to conquer this.  There is no benefit in it for a country.  The ocean is so vast, it would take so many ships to really stop it.  And I am positive that a large population of Japan feels the same way I do, they must.  But they are not allowed to voice those feelings without fear of being targeted.  There are so many countries where environmentalists live in real fear because there is such hatred for them.  Some are targeted and killed for their beliefs.

So, as I sit here disgusted with the human race, I do find a gratitude for being in a land that I can sit and write this blog, post it, and not worry about losing my job or having death threats made.  I can write my blog for the very small population who might read it and I can write it with honesty.

I hope you will follow me as I train for the Old Port 1/2 Marathon to raise awareness for animals like these minke whales.  Help me to educate, help me on beach cleans this spring and summer, help me to spread the word on social media and maybe we can, bit by bit, foster a contagious passion for the creatures that cannot help themselves.  Maybe someday we can create a world that will prosecute these horrors rather than allow them in the name of scientific research.

Setting An Intention

I've been thinking a lot, as I enter another season of training for a race, about intention.  What is my intention for doing this?  I come back to the intention of getting stronger and faster, the intention of seeing what I am made of, and the main intention for this race- to raise money and awareness for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society- the international organization who seeks to protect the oceans and the creatures that live there.

I am blessed to live right alongside Portland Harbor where the beauty of nature is apparent in every single run I go on.  I try to capture at lease a moment of it on each run through my instagram account, @veghed77.  I try to really appreciate each and every run.  And through a new regimen of meditation and yoga, I plan on making each run even more important and significant in my training.

I have had a mantra for a while now.  Mantra, you say?  Has she gone hippie?  Well, maybe.  But I have also always believed in the power in words and in self-talk.  I went to college for English and considered myself a poet for many years (still do, I suppose).  During each run, I stop for a moment by the small beach I run by.  I say to myself:
'Strong in Mind.  Strong in Body.  Strong in Spirit.'

I want these parts of my self to be balanced.  I want to be aware of where I fall short.  The mind and body have often been connected to my ego.  People notice if I am smart.  They notice my body.  I have always tended towards making these the important two.  I am trying to separate all of it from ego.  I am also realizing that I definitely notice when others are strong in spirit.  They are people I want to spend more time with and people that make me feel inspired to do more.

How do I strengthen my spirit?  My spirit is directly connected with nature and animals.  It always has been.  As a child I was endlessly outside.  I rescued birds and mice the neighborhood cats had grown tired of playing with.  Sadly, this was often an unsuccessful nursing attempt and it ended with my broken heart.  My cat was my best friend.  I loved to visit the cows at my cousin's dairy farm and no longer wanted burgers when I made that connection as a young girl.  My happiness was linked with all of this in a way I didn't realize until years later.  I bring all of this understanding with me as I begin a meditation and yoga routine that is a new venture for me. 

Meditation is hard.  It is sitting still.  It is doing nothing.  This is contrary to the life I have lived thus far, feeling a need to multitask and complete things and check of lists and be able to look back on the day and evaluate it by what got done. 

Yoga is hard.  It hurts in a still way that running does not.  It is challenging but not a challenge to be completed as running is.  My lack of flexibility is quite amusing but it does not hurt my ego because I know this is something that I am not striving to be 'good' at but it is something that connects all three of my mantra points- mind, body, and spirit.  I am not in a list of finishers, ranked by percentile.  I am just myself and whatever I take onto the mat emotionally.

I have begun meditating just before running.  I am embarking on a whole new adventure with a plan to set an intention before each meditation and run.  These daily intentions will be mostly connected to something in nature or an animal or species but may often be a member of the human species that needs some good thoughts.  In this way, I can experience each run in a deeper way that will be satisfying even if my legs aren't feeling so strong.  I will share these intentions on this blog.

Please contact me if you have an intention you would like me to run with!  Follow me on Instagram @veghed77 to see photos of these runs.  Help me to be Strong in Mind. Strong in Body.  Strong in Spirit.  Join me on my journey to raise money and awareness for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. 

The Dumb Things People Say

I was reading an article online about the dumb things people say to runners when they aren't runners themselves.  It was amusing and spot-on.  I started thinking about what people say in general, to undermine any population they are not part of.  Some of it is ignorance.  Some of it is because they somehow feel threatened by change.  I think people have a desire, deep down, to do good in the world and when they see someone else setting an example, they feel guilt for not doing more.  Rather than change, they try to justify their lifestyle by negativity.  I have chosen my top favorites of dumb things people say in 3 categories with commentary:

Dumb things People Say to Runners
-It isn't good for your knees-
Anyone I have known with bad knees has been a couch potato with extra pounds.  Running can shed extra pounds and is weight bearing activity, which is actually good for the bones.  I have seen 80 year old ladies running races.  Their knees seem fine.  You know what will give you bad knees:  squatting improperly with inappropriate weight. 
-You don't have the build of a runner
Someone actually said this to me.  And I actually didn't punch him in the face!  Yes, professional runners often have a similar build that is low in body fat.  This is because they dedicate their lives to the sport.  Any sort of body can run.  I am short and stout, therefore I can endure.  Any body can run and what impresses me most are people who aren't deterred by the stereotype!   Take Mirna Valerio for instance: http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/ultra
Never tell someone they don't have the build to run.  It is rude and false.   
-Running is boring
Running is not boring.  It is hard.  I don't think of challenging things as boring.  It can be meditative.  It can be mind opening.  Some of my best ideas have come while running.  You can run alone or with friends.  You can run trails or roads or mountains.  You can see a lot of beautiful scenery and discover new towns while you travel.  You can run races or race yourself.  And don't tell runners it is boring because obviously they don't think so.  I think sitting on the couch is boring.  

Dumb things People Say to Vegans
-Animals were put on earth for us to eat
Oh, were they?  And who told you that, God?  If you talk to God, maybe you should do more good than you are doing!  Oh, you don't talk to God?  Did the animals tell you?  They said, I really want you to raise me in misery, kill me prematurely, and consume me so that your chances of many diseases become greater?  Ok, cool then.
-How do you get your protein?
I get me protein my blending up 5 blocks of tofu a a tub of peanut butter a day and knocking it back.  Seriously?  Have you heard of veggies and grains?  News flash- they have protein http://www.theholykale.com/plant-based-protein-chart/
-I was vegan but my health suffered/ I had to listen to my body
This one really chaps my ass.  If you eat a CLEAN, plant-based diet you will be healthier.  If you eat fries and tofu dogs, you will not be healthier.  A diet of any sort takes planning and common sense.  Let me say that again- COMMON SENSE!
-A vegan diet is too expensive
Do a little comparison shopping.  Veggies, bulk grains, beans and legumes.  Then go price out the cheeses, the meats, the fish.  Which is cheaper?  Hmmmm....  And, by the way, cholesterol meds cost quite a bit and so do heart attacks.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/eat-vegan-cheap_b_840191.html 
-I only eat humanely raised meat
  I only eat unicorn meat.  Unicorn meat?  But that doesn't exist?!  Exactly!

Dumb things People Say about Conservation
-I am one person.  I can't make a difference.
Imagine all of the horror in the world that would have continued if we all adopt this attitude.  Genocide, slavery, burning of witches.  There are a million things one person can do to make an environmental difference.  One of the biggest impacts being a vegan diet (see above).  Reuse shit.  Don't use unnecessary plastic.  Walk or ride a bike.  Volunteer.  Compost.  Recycle.  
-Science will fix the mess we are in
This 'let someone else figure it out' method is a really cowardly method of living.  What if science can't figure it out?  Why not free up those brilliant minds for solving other problems, like cancer and how to feed the starving babies of the world and how to end war.  
-Climate change is not real
(Warning: profanity to follow) Just shut the fuck up and take your head out of your asshole! 
-There are plenty of fish in the sea 
It is so untrue it makes my heart ache to think about.  Yes, the ocean is vast.  Yes, we don't have to look at most of it so it is easier to ignore it.  Sylvia Earle, a brilliant steward for the oceans, has watched species literally disappear in her lifetime.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/mar/12/fishing-extinction
http://www.outsideonline.com/1835751/sylvia-earle-mistress-deep-surveys-her-perch

ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER CHANCE TO CHANGE

 February 2016 finds me with an unplanned mini-vacation.  Because it is unplanned, it means spending any money is sort of out of the question so I have been forced to stick around home.  Now, if you picture me on the couch watching Animal Planet and eating vegan cheezy poofs and coconut ice cream, you are half mistaken.  While there may be some of that behavior, I am certainly not sitting idle. 

First off, I have been taking some time to work out a bit harder than usual.  I have acquired some unnecessary blubber over the past year; perhaps my feeling of kinship to whales manifesting itself.  I need to get a bit more trim, and strong.  I want my body to be in it's late 20's, not 30's.  So I have been doing some gross sweating during my hours jobless.

Secondly, it has given me time to become newly excited about all of those things I am passionate about.  Sometimes the everyday leaves one with little time to contemplate changing the world.  But now I have had some time to think about changing the world.  And I have made the decision to go back to a job that allows more flexibility around these things.  Here is what I have come up with:

Earth Day Spring Beach Clean and Vegan Breakfast Potluck Picnic
Join us to clean the beach on Portland's East End.  We will be starting the day off sharing some vegan breakfast food.  Details can be found on the facebook site 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1006421926097051/

No Meat Athlete Running Group
I have been haunted by this one.  We have had to cancel due to flooding.  Life has gotten in the way and everyone has cancelled.  We have not yet held a running group in Portland, Maine for No Meat Athlete.  I am hoping that the energy of spring can change that! Join the group.  Please!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1635750273363100/

Sea Shepherd Ocean Warrior- Run for the Whales at the Old Port 1/2 Marathon
I will be running the Old Port 1/2 Marathon in July for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.  You can help with a donation or by joining my team!  It would be so very fun to have a team. This may be my only distance run this year.  It feels strange to not be shooting for a marathon.  (Hoping to do MDI Marathon for my 40th)!  Below are the links for the donation page as well as my FB event page.  You should at least come cheer me on! 
 http://team.seashepherd.org/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=1040&px=1004105
https://www.facebook.com/events/1291643644185601/

This is what I have on my horizon.  Please support me in any way that you can and follow my blog.  It will likely be a mishmash of recipes, training fumbles, environmental or animal-welfare type supporting and ranting, pictures of ocean and pictures of animals, and whatever else motivates me to do what I love.  In the midst of all of that, I hope I motivate you somehow!

August Beans and Beaches and Microbeads

I suppose the dog days of summer are upon us.  This means marathon training is in full swing as I prepare to run 26.2 miles to raise money and awareness for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, the eco-warriors putting their lives on the line to save our oceans!  seashepherd.org  Stay tuned, as my fundraising page will be up and running very soon. 

This is also the season of long, long sweaty runs and blackened toenails.  It is the week of the 18 mile run, completed this morning while there was a wisp of fall in the air and shadows that are already changing.  I ran into old friends and stopped to try to figure out why there are taxidermy wolves on a wharf near the cruise ship terminal.  Turns out to be a cool art installation about man versus nature.  Definitely worth a trip to Ocean Gateway.
http://kindlingfund.org/projects/project/unpack/

Recovery consisted of an amazing lunch of Beyond Meat's Beast Burger, a veggie burger loaded with protein and omega 3's, and an epsom salt bath with a Lush 'big blue' bath bomb (imagine a bathtub full of seaweed and sea salt- ocean blue).

Now it was time to march onward in my ocean-saving efforts.  Thankfully, I am far from alone in this quest and was happy to have some good people join me for Beans and Beaches, a monthly beach cleaning endeavor that meets at Arabica Coffee (the Commercial Street location) and picks up trash along the path and beach at East End Beach.  Debbie and Leigh were there, a couple of my regulars.  Today we also had two Portland Park Rangers join us, Zach and Krista.  It was great to have their knowledge of nature and this great city. We picked up trash and discussed a bit of everything. 

At one point, the discussion led to microbeads.  Microbeads are tiny tiny bits of plastic (sand-sized) found most commonly in personal care products such as exfoliant scrubs and toothpaste.  They get through the sewage system and into the oceans and sea creatures literally become full of them, often causing starvation.  I found a great organization called Beat the Microbead.  This page has a lot of good information on the problem with microbeads and what we can do.  First off, check out any of your beauty and healthcare products for these microbeads and properly discard of any you have.  There are many amazing biodegradable scrubby options.  Check out the aforementioned Lush for some eco friendly smelly goodies.  They are truly the bomb:  they not only label vegan products, use less packaging, use earth friendly and fair trade ingredients; they also lead awareness campaigns and donate proceeds to some really rad non-profits.  Recently, they partnered with 5 Gyres, another non-profit targeting microbeads.  They have partnered with Sea Shepherd in the past.  Beauty and brains!

How can you help me, you ask?  I know you just must be asking yourself that.  Follow my facebook page, For the Oceans.  Come to the Beans and Beaches meetups.  Support my marathon by donating or coming to the actual race and holding a Sea Shepherd sign (or both).  I am also looking for any contacts that might be able to help me involve young people in this quest- such as Scout groups or environmental groups.  So, if you have ideas or know anyone, please let me know. I am also looking to educate myself as much as possible to that I can be a better advocate in every aspect of this so if you hear of marine biology events, environmental or ocean conservancy events, please drop my a line.  Spread the word to friends and family, stop using so much plastic, and think about that vast body of water and how your actions might impact it.