30 miles on my 30th year of life

Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep. Three successive beeps followed by a slight pause, followed by three successive beeps, followed by another pause. The unmistakable sound of my wristwatch alarm clock going off. It was 4:58 AM on July 23rd, 2012. My thirtieth year of life had officially started, and what better way to get it all kicked off than with 30 miles of running?

The idea was originally planted in my brain during the spring of 2005. I was in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee, having started my Appalachian Trail thru-hike attempt only a month prior, when I heard of Freightliner (his trail name, of course), a muscle-bound, mileage-crushing dude who was carrying a 55-pound pack over rugged rollercoaster-like terrain. Rumor was that this guy was clipping off 20+ mile days with the same ease as most people have walking across a parking lot. At that time on the trail, common mileage for new thru-hikers was maybe 10-15 mile days, with the occasional bigger day tucked in here and there. But for regular days of 20 or more miles, well, that was just nuts!

Then I heard through the grapevine that Freightliner was attempting a 30 mile day on his 30th birthday. What?!?! 30 miles in one day in March?? We'd only been on the trail for maybe a month, and this crazy was going to rack up 30 in a day? Silly, but awesome. This may be needless to say because his trail name was Freightliner, but he did it and still refers to it as a "great time in my life." I was only 22 at the time, but the idea hung out in the back of my mind for the next eight years. Ole Freightliner and I became post-AT buddies out in Colorado, so the idea began to really sink in...

Fast-forward about six years. I was a newly certified personal trainer and was reading as much as I could about some of the greats within the industry. There were plenty of them, but the late Jack Lalanne was one that I became fascinated by. This guy, at advanced ages mind you, would swim handcuffed and shackled, towing boats loaded with people or freight, for incredible distances. So the idea became more than idea...

The original idea was to run 30 consecutive miles, taking breaks where needed but never really stopping for good until it was done. However, I love my family dearly, and the only way to really spend any time with them on my birthday (also my mom's birthday, mind you) was to split the day up. Plus we were all at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine. So the altered plan was to run between 10 and 14 miles in the morning before anyone got up, spend the day with my family and girlfriend, then wrap it up in the evening back in Portland.

I crawled out of bed on my 30th birthday, put on the running shorts, laced up the shoes, and headed out the door. The first 14 miles fell like a ton of bricks. I felt great! My pace was right around 7:10 per mile, and it was an absolutely gorgeous morning. I finished before anyone was out of bed, so as far as birthday activities go, nothing was missed. Perfect. If the next 16 was anything remotely close to how easy those first 14 were, I would instantly become excited about turning 40!

Doing alright--only about 10 more miles to go.

My girlfriend Tessa and I arrived back to Portland around 4:30 PM. I set out to run the next 4 miles by myself then would meet up with her so she could bike the remaining 12 with me. This plan was a little squirrelly because she had just had a tonsillectomy a week and a half before and hadn't fully recovered yet, but she was determined to bike those miles with me.

The next 4 miles fell with ease. An easy 7:00 minute/mile pace took care of them. Feet, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders...all feeling great! I met up with Tessa and we set out to do a 7 mile loop on relatively flat ground. Well, the wheels started coming off a little bit here. About a mile in to this leg, my left foot and left knee started to ache (pretty sure this had to do with the road grade). Then overall fatigue began setting in. Quads, hamstrings, glutes, and shins began to feel the thumping the road was giving them. I'm glad Tessa was there because she was a big pick-me-up with water and paparazzi-style photo taking!

So I limped in to my driveway having knocked off 25 miles so far. 5 to go. 2.5 of them would be done running to my favorite restaurant EVER--The Great Lost Bear--where I'd meet up with some of my best friends and probably be given an unhealthy dose of booze. But I was excited about this! Only 2.5 miles there, then a 2.5 mile run home would lock this this up. So Tessa set out on her bike and I on my feet, making it to the Bear and changing from our sweaty clothes into clean ones an adjacent parking lot like a couple of hobos. Cleanly-clothed, we went in and were immediately met by my friends. AWESOME! We had a great time but when it was all said and done there were still miles to be had.

The last 2.5 miles were done at about 11:00 PM. I was a hurting unit--my legs were stiff and my feet were tender--but I made it with time to spare. It wasn't a consecutive mileage like I initially dreamed about, but it was so much more enjoyable. And a big thanks to Tessa, my family, and my friends for making it as fun as it was and for being so encouraging! I'm sure both Freightliner and the late Jack Lalanne would be able to relate...

What will 31 look like? Eh, gonna enjoy the first year of my 30s first.

Fruit: One of the many things to love about summer.

Ahhhhhhhhh. Summertime in Maine. The singing birds, the sunshine, the cool ocean breeze, and the fruit and veggies. There's nothing better than chomping into a juicy strawberry picked straight from the vine, or sucking down slices of watermelon on a hot July day. While many people don't see them as being as crucial to your health as veggies are, they do play a very important role in your overall well-being. And unlike veggies, fruit is usually a little more convenient-- throw a banana, apple, plum, or peach (or all of them!) into your lunch box to snack on throughout the day. Here are a few summertime fruits (plus a few more) to help keep you fit, hydrated, and happy this summer:

Apples
-Nutrition facts: 1 large apple has about 130 calories and is a great source of dietary fiber (both soluble and insoluble) and is a good source of vitamin A and potassium.
-The scoop on apples: Soluble fiber dissolves in water and insoluble fiber does not. Soluble fiber attracts water, helping you feel fuller for a longer period of time after consuming it. Since insoluble fiber doesn't attract water, it is able to pass through your stomach quicker, which will help move along food and waste through your gut. Insoluble fiber basically acts as a laxative. It's a win-win! But be sure to choose organic apples or to thoroughly wash your apples before eating them, as apples top the Dirty Dozen list.
-How they help: Apples have been linked to help lower the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's, prostate cancer, and lung cancer.

Bananas (probably my all-time personal favorite fruit. I eat 1-2 bananas every day.)
-Nutrition facts: 1 medium banana has about 110 calories and is a great source of potassium (about 13% of your daily value) and dietary fiber. It is also a good source of vitamin C and has about 1 gram of protein.
-The scoop on bananas: Bananas have a soft, easily digestible flesh made of simple sugars fructose and sucrose. Because of this, they are used by athletes for instant energy because the sugars quickly enter their blood stream, resulting in an instantly revitalized feeling.
-How they help: Bananas are an absolutely amazing fruit. For starters, they contain the amino acid tryptophan, which can be converted to serotonin, a "feel-good" chemical in your brain. Bananas are a perfect remedy for morning sickness as they have been proven to help soothe a queasy stomach by raising blood sugar levels. They're also known to help relieve stress, quit smoking, lower blood pressure, improve nerve function, and even reduce mosquito bite itchiness (if you rub the inside of a peel on a bite). What's not to love here???

Blueberries (my personal favorite berry)
-Nutrition facts: There are 84 calories in a cup 1 cup of blueberries. Blueberries are an excellent source of soluble dietary fiber, minerals, and are extremely high in free radical-fighting anti-oxidants.
-The scoop on blueberries: Blueberries are the highest anti-oxidant containing fruits among fresh fruit. If eaten in high quantities, they will help build your immune system so you won't be as susceptible to colds, fever, or flu.
-How they help: Blueberries have been suggested through studies to help reduce belly fat, improve urinary tract health, maintain good vision, help prevent Alzheimer's, reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, and increase the health of your digestive tract. Big time super food!

Kiwi Fruit
-Nutrition facts: One medium kiwi has approximately 84 calories, half a gram of fat, 11 grams of carbs, 1 gram of protein, and 117% of your daily vitamin C! Their seeds also have a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
-The scoop on kiwis: Research has shown that kiwi fruit acts as a blood thinner similar to aspirin, preventing blood clotting formations in the blood vessels.
-How they help: Kiwis have been shown to help prevent heart attack and stroke, increasing bone mass (due to the good level of vitamin K), limiting neuronal damage in the brain, and may help prevent ADHD, autism, and other developmental differences in kids.

Peaches
-Nutrition facts: One medium peach has approximately 59 calories, 0 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of dietary fiber, 1 gram of protein, 10% of your daily vitamin A, and 17% of your daily vitamin C.
-The scoop on peaches: Peaches are known to soothe an upset stomach due to its alkaline content. They also have a high level of the chemical boron, which is known to encourage healthy levels of estrogen in postmenopausal women.
-How they help: Aside from the healthy amounts of boron they contain, peaches also build strong bones and fight against osteoporosis, help with cognitive function, fight free-radicals, and keep eyes healthy.

Plums
-Nutrition facts: One regular sized plum has about 30 calories, 0 grams of fat, 8 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, zero grams of protein, and 10 percent of your daily vitamin C.
-The scoop on plums: Given the above nutrition info on plums, they don't look all that special. However, scientists have somewhat-recently claimed that plums are a new superfood, containing more antioxidants than the powerful blueberry! Time for me to go stock up on some plums!
-How they help: Plums have been known to help with constipation, fight lung and oral cavity cancers, control heart rate and blood pressure, and reducing the chance of Alzheimer's.

Raspberries
-Nutrition facts: One cup of raspberries contains approximately 64 calories, one gram of fat, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of dietary fiber (about 32% of your recommended intake!), one gram of protein, and 54% of your daily vitamin C.
-The scoop on raspberries: Raspberries are are loaded with dietary fiber and anti-oxidants. A diet high in anti-oxidants can help limit how often you get sick and fight against free radical-causing diseases.
-How they help: Raspberries have high levels of phenolic flavonoid phytochemicals, anti-oxidant compounds that fight cancer, aging, inflammation, and neuro-degenerative diseases. They also have high levels of B-complex vitamins and vitamin K--vitamins that can help metabolize carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Strawberries
-Nutrition facts: One cup of strawberries contains about 46 calories, 0 grams of fat, 11 grams of carbs, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 1 gram of protein, and 141% of your daily vitamin C.
-The scoop on strawberries: Be sure to choose organic strawberries at the grocery store, as strawberries, like apples, do a good job at retaining nasty pesticides.
-How they help: Strawberries help fight against cancer, aging, and neurological disease, while producing red blood cells and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. Who knew?

Watermelon
-Nutrition facts: One wedge of watermelon contains approximately 86 calories, 0 grams of fat, 22 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 2 grams of protein, 33% of your vitamin A, and 39% of your vitamin C.
-The scoop on watermelon: Watermelon is very good at cleaning out your bladder and kidneys. It also has more lycopene than tomatoes (good news for us guy as lycopene helps reduce the risk of prostate cancer), and is loaded with anti-oxidants.
-How it can help: Watermelon has been shown to help prevent heart disease, asthma, arthritis, and help prevent many types of cancer.

So there you have it: a few fruits to get you by this summer. It's not always possible, but eat local, organic fruits when you can. And if you can only get fruits from somewhere else in the country or the world, be sure to wash them thoroughly before chowing down. Enjoy!