The Craziest of the Crazies

"100 mile runs — everybody should try them!"

"Yeah, only if you want to die."  Well, die a little bit inside, I suppose.  These runs are truly brutal.  100 miles running around some obscure countryside with only a few other crazy people.  Whatever food you eat tastes horrible, since it is specially concocted for your low energy.  Water does not taste like water anymore; it is more of a slime moving down the back of your throat as you gasp for air.  And your legs!  For God's sake, your legs fall off! 

Well, not entirely.  They hurt, yeah, like hell.  At least that is what everyone says.  On the other hand, ultramarathons usually take place in the world's most stunning places.  Ambling over mountaintops, slopping beside lakes, and watching the night stars twinkle in and out of existence seem to make it all worth the run.  The food isn't too bad, either, according to runner Michael Arnstein, who recently finished 16th overall in the Badwater Ultramarathon in 120 degree heat. 

And get this: all he eats is fruit.  After all, he is "The Fruitarian".

Now try running over twenty back-breaking races a year without even complaining.  That is what Michael does, and then vlogs about it.  So if you think running 100 miles is hard, it is — don't get me wrong.  But this guy does an race of some kind almost every weekend and only eats fruit.  Now this is my kind of hero.  While I really want to follow in his footsteps, baby steps are required first.  Very small, incremental miles, baby steps.

Fruit is amazing running, and all I have to say is it makes you feel 200% better physically and internally with just 0% of the processing of modern-day food.  Keep that in mind, aspiring runners.

This video is of Michael's recent Badwater ultra feat.  Bear with me on this one — I know it's a long video, but it starts to kick up at 2:54.  However, the video gets really interesting at about 7:36, when the uphill climb over two mountains in 120 degree heat really starts to mess with Michael.  Enjoy.

Have fun on your next run!  Remember: anything run is better than what this guy is doing.  I sure know I will be thinking that.

The Lean Green Health Machine

Kale n' Carrot Fruit Smoothie (recipe below)

People make fun of those who eat healthy.  It's a fact.  They don't understand: "but how can you live without meat?", "doesn't grease taste sooo good though?", and "ew. veggies".  Well, that's because they've never had anything that tastes good, and is healthy.

Smoothies are the go-to feel-good-but-still-remind-you-of-a-milkshake drink.  Usually, they are horrible for you.  Tons of fruit juice with added sugar, fatty yogurt, and, of course, more sugar.

Yogurt doesn't have to be the main component of smoothies.  In fact, it doesn't have to be an ingredient at all.  Cut the yoghurt and ice, add some kale and other veggies, and what you're left with is an incredibly nutritious breakfast.  Hell, kale tastes good with everything...as long as you know what to do with it.  

Kale

You can start preparation the night before, by chopping up any fruit you want, throwing it into a bowl, putting it in the freezer.  Overnight, the water particles within the fruit will freeze, making it unnecessary to add ice in the final smoothie.  I've found that adding ice makes the consistency a lot more watery and sloshy, instead of a semi-thick consistency.


Kale n' Carrot Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients:
1.5 cups of frozen fruit
1 cup fruit juice (any no sugar added, all fruit-juice will do)
1-2 carrots (per preference)
2-3 leaves kale (per preference)
1 banana
extra fruit

Add all of the ingredients into the blender, and blend!  It's as easy as that!  If you want a more green color, add more kale.  As long as you have a good amount of fruit in the smoothie, the kale taste won't come through.  Also, if there is any other fruit you want to add in or supplement, anything will do.  My main suggestion is use frozen fruit, not ice.  It just never tastes the same.