Run For One Planet's Blog

Backstage with Local Green Guy, Steve Nash!

Run For One Planet — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:50:52 -0800

So there we were yesterday, waiting in the media area of the Phoenix Suns and out walks, Shaquille O’Neal. Ya, the “taller than me, Steph & Amber together” guy who plays for the Phoenix Suns. Standing a mere 3 feet from Steph, who came up to his knees!

But he wasn’t the green super star we were waiting patiently (and me giddily) for after the game. We were waiting for local guy done great (and gone green), Steve Nash! This former BC native has not only won over the NBA for Most Valuable Player twice. He also is inspiring the Phoenix Suns and teammates like short guy SHAQ, to go green too!

Our now bordering on Legendary Status team member Adam set up 3 VIP tickets for yesterday’s game between the Suns and the Celtics. But Adam didn’t stop there. Oh no folks, he had the personal mission to work a private hello with Steve after the game in the Arena’s lower concourse, the “Player’s Room”. It was so cool to speak with Steve about BC, his memories of living green back home and the ways in which he wanted to give back for his great life and his ability to make things happen, here in Phoenix.

He told us, living here in the desert put him on a personal mission to get the Suns organization to install solar panels (half are done, with more to be added) and implement other green practices as part of doing their part to lessen the organization’s impact on the earth. As Steve said, “it’s not everything, but it’s a start”. And it was his memories of growing up in a rain forest place like BC, that gave him the inspiration to utilize this area’s abundance of sun and his abundance of team clout, to pay it forward and teach his organization and his teammates, well’er!

A big shout out of thanks goes to Adam, for his tenacity, his ability to inspire people like Suns Media Relations, Julie Fie, who also has the biggest thank you too for getting us seats and our hello with Steve.

Please check out and support Steve’s Charity, the Steve Nash Foundation (www.stevenashfoundation.com). He began the Foundation to focus on a cause close to his heart, children. Its mission reflects Steve’s genuine compassion for kids and his continued dedication of giving back to the community.

Thanks Steve, for your incredible MVP super star skills, your super human skills to give back for a great life and for meeting with three of your fellow Canucks (even after a loss to the Celtics), as they run through town, on their way towards San Diego!

Visions along the way - Tucson, Arizona

Run For One Planet — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:46:46 -0800

Visit our Tucson Photo Album as we experience the vast desert!

Hot Dry Running in the Deserts of Arizona

Run For One Planet — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:38:58 -0800

That has been the name of the game this past couple of days here in Arizona. Dry, really hot in the daytime, really cold at night, and more jaw dropping beauty running amongst the Saguaro forests. The desert is alive with these giants cacti (that can take up to 75 years just to grow a side arm!) – the tallest is 13.8 meters tall and 3.1 meters wide. Now that’s a giant, and we’ve been privileged to run with these Sentinels of the desert for the last three days. Before that, we did five days straight, or about 260 miles, as we trekked our way to Patagonia. I must admit though, that between the natural surroundings and where we’ve been laying our heads these last few nights, having a sunburn and dry mouth isn’t too hard to take.

Courtesy of our team members Jess and Adam, we’re getting the incredible opportunity to experience the local culture of these areas through the place we’re staying. While in Tucson, we got to experience living in our own “casita” at the Casitas at Smokey Springs (www.thecasitas.com). The next night we found ourselves at a real dude ranch, called the White Stallion Ranch (www.wsranch.com).

And then, after another hot, dry day, we’ll be laying our heads here for our time in Phoenix, courtesy of Adam, our other team member, at the Indian Spring Ranch: www.indianspringsranch.com.

These are ALL places anyone living in cool climates would LOVE staying at this time of year…. For that matter, anyone living anywhere would love at anytime 

So yes, it is getting warmer here in the desert, but it’s pretty nice to know we have a light on from some wonderful people who believe in a clean shower and time away from some stinky running shoes.

So we hope everyone has a great Sunday. We’ll fill ya’ll in on what were up to today in tomorrows blog. It’s gonna be a good one folks, tune in!

PS We saw our first signs for San Diego yesterday – our first sign for the coast!!

Tour Day #293, Patagonia, AZ, and Racy Verna's continued Hospital needs

Run For One Planet — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:14:18 -0800

Update on Racy Verna (RV): solar batteries arrived (only thanks to Dave at MK Battery and Richard at Lowe’s RV in Hobbs, but that’s another story…). I thought I’d found a reputable RV repair person to install the new batteries. Not the case, as we now have zero 12-volt power, meaning, no water, stove or lights. But the solar batteries have never charged better!

So, we find ourselves having to go to another RV dealership today and have the new batteries re-installed by someone who actually knows how to install wiring in the proper sequence. Cross your fingers folks, as this is the final straw in our continued journey with Racy Verna, affectionately re-named by Amber, our intrepid new road crew. (Just for good measure, the fridge door broke too, so this is also on our list of “to fix” today, here in Tucson Arizona.)

I go back now to the day before yesterday and our final of 5 marathons in 5 days running streak through the deserts of western New Mexico. We felt like Forrest Gump and Gump’ette from the long week of heat and wind. The views through the final miles of New Mexico made the long 260 miler week incredible, even with my sore hip and Steph’s burnt skin.

We completed in a little place called, Patagonia, Arizona and were welcomed in (like the usual family or old friends tradition) by another “local hero”, Sherry Luna and her husband, Phillip Ostrom. Just two weeks ago, we received one of those jump off the screen emails that inspired us to go slightly off course for a very special opportunity. Here’s how it went:

“My name is Sherry Luna and I live in Patagonia, Arizona. A Montessori teacher friend in Tucson sent me a flyer about your event and I see that you will be in towns near us (Willcox and Tucson). My children attend a very small, but public charter Montessori school in our little town and I am very much interested in your program. I am wondering if you still have slots open and if there is a cost associated with the event…

Please let me know if you are interested in visiting our area. We are in a lovely area, have a 38 acre ranch school and have many hosts who could provide accommodations. We would also be able to mobilize the children into a fund raiser for your organization, perhaps through selling our “seed balls”. These are little adobe balls embedded with native flower seeds that we often make and sell as a fund raiser… The seed balls are broad-scattered and allowed to grow with normal rainfall.”

Needless to say, we were sold! Sherry set up a feast fit for royalty in her family’s SUPER sustainable house, upon our late evening arrival. Sherry also teed up a full police escort and 2 schools combined event with her children’s Montessori School in the eclectic town of Patagonia. This tiny little community is losing population but is on a surge, by way of the current generation of families and people moving here, to re-populate and keep the spirit alive of a town also facing hardship with the current economic situation here in America.

Here was our itinerary for the day (gotta love Sherry!):
8:00am Pancake breakfast at Sherry’s house

9:20am Matt/ Steph run through town with police escort, to the school grounds

9:30am All the students line up to greet the runners in front of the art studio/barn.

9:45am The violin students and choristers will give a short performance.

10:00am Matt and Steph will give their presentation. Students will present their “footprints” etc.

11:00am – noon Tour of R41P’s eco-RV
Noon–picnic lunch and time for play

(Check out Amber’s shot of all the kids taking the Action Challenge and the excitement we all had naming the worms in our compost bin!! I think we added another 200 names to our worm family.)

After this, Sherry toured us through the Patagonia neighbourhood, taking us to another super sustainable house 100% off grid (!!) by solar panels for all their electrical and water heating needs, not to mention the straw bail, adobe, and Styrofoam cement use to build it. Needless to say, it was a full community day affair enjoyed immensely by all. The only sad part was leaving!

Sherry and Phillip also just opened their organic produce and fruit store called Local Harvest (www.localharvestmarketplace.com) and are facing tough decisions to stay open. It has created such an uproar that Phillip has been doing interview after interview to get the message out there that this type of eating, growing and way of living needs to continue. It has actually been through the public’s outcry to stay open, he told us, which has drawn such energy from people and support from the media. They told us that it shows how much people all over want to have food grown organically and sold locally. Even in hard economic times. We put our positive energy into what Sherry and Phillip are doing as mavericks in these tough times.

So I type from the comfort of another (thank you Jess) incredible casita’ out here in the desert. Another supporter, Beth & Bob Fuller, said yes to having us for 2 nights at their desert hideaway. They are called The Casitas at Smokey Spring Ranch (www.thecasitas.com) and is the perfect place for the 3 of us to do some laundry, spread out bigger than 28 feet and yes folks, stay on the positive side of our beloved RV’s road to electric health.

11 Weeks - 77 Days - To Go!

Run For One Planet — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:05:49 -0800

Hi R41P Supporters!

After 260 miles of straight (but mountainous!) running through incredible big sky, high desert country, we arrived in Patagonia, Arizona and 2 glad to have them, rest days. There we were hosted by another “local hero”, Sherry Luna! Then we got to stay in our very own “Casita” here in Tucson – there’s bobcat’s and all around here.

We’re off running again in a few minutes and wanted to let ya’ll know we’re feeling grrrreat, totally pumped to be on another Friday and the 11 weeks to go countdown continues running.

Phoenix, Yuma and then a run out to the coast will have us running into San Diego on March 3rd! Still can’t believe we’re almost rounding corner #4. Crazy how fast the year flies by, even at 6 miles an hour (or slower).

Thank you for being along side us and can’t wait to see what this next 11 weeks brings for this humble lil run tour.

Have an amazing weekend everyone!

Places and Faces of New Mexico

Run For One Planet — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:04:46 -0800

Be sure to check our New Mexico photo gallery to see the many beautiful sights and even more beautiful people we met there.

All you need to know about Run For One Planet at EPIC 2009

Run For One Planet — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:13:35 -0800

In less than 12 weeks, Matt and Steph will bring their incredible journey to a grand close almost one year to the date they left Vancouver, by running straight into EPIC 2009 and kicking off the event! EPIC will host our homecoming reception where we’ll meet and hold discussions with exhibitors, sponsors and visitors present.

Here’s what you need to know about this event.

What is EPIC?

EPIC, The Vancouver Sun’s Sustainable Living Expo is Western Canada’s largest green consumer tradeshow and eco-marketplace. For 3 days you can learn about environmentally-friendly products and services and to find the local, national and international companies providing these green options.

What will Matt & Steph do at EPIC 2009?

On the EPIC Main Stage Matt and Steph will talk about their amazing journey, premiere their video documentary of their incredible physical, mental and emotional ordeal, and unveil their exciting new project, “Legacy for Action”. Following their Main Stage appearance will be the “Run For One Planet Homecoming Reception” where Matt and Stephanie will meet and greet, sign autographs, answer questions and pose for pictures.

When will this event be?

Matt Hill and Stephanie Tait will return to Vancouver on May 8th, 2009 and will be literally running into EPIC 2009 to kick off the event! Mark your calendars off folks, you won’t want to miss this.

How can I learn more about EPIC 2009?

Simply visit http://www.epicvancouver.com/ where you learn about exhibitors, find out how to get there and even purchase tickets.

For the Run For One Planet journey to conclude on this stage is a great honour and truly underscores all our efforts for environmental action. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to meet with Matt and Steph and celebrate our homecoming with us!

Green Running in New Mexico's Forests!

Run For One Planet — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:05:32 -0800

We entered the Enchanted (and hilly) Forests of New Mexico over the last 3 days. It felt like we’d transported back to BC on the 1st week of the tour, as the pine forests returned, complete with deer, cows running (away from us) and that fresh scent of mountain air hitting our lungs as we made our way up towards.

We were happy (ok I was) to be back running hills, as we’d not seen anything sizable since Nova Scotia back in September. Steph LOVES the backside of hills (down), I the upside, so we both get our wish, most of the time. Amber continues to slide into her road manager seat with class and ease.

After some pretty heavy headwinds approaching the foothills, we then started going up and up and up. We camped for 2 nights at an amazing campsite in the mountains called, Lazy Days Cabins. Owner, Cody and his wife Danielle were so supportive by inviting us in. It was peaceful falling asleep to the sounds of coyotes calling out to each other as we drifted into slumber, our legs pulsating from 2 days of climbing.

Yesterday we made the summit in Cloudcroft at about 8,600 feet amidst snow and even a small ski hill operation. Cloudcroft had the friendly feeling of a small town where everyone knows your name and welcomes you in like family. At least that’s what the lady at the organic coffee store told me as I asked her how it was here in Cloudcroft. I think I’d like to be mayor here.

After a quick tool around the town with the gals, we started our decent of 4, 000 feet over 13 miles through the most stunning, jaw dropping twists and turns we’d run on since Northern Ontario! There was one look out above the White Sands (missile testing range) that made us all go “WOA”, as we took in the beauty (not the missile range), but the scene it sat on top of. It was like a cloud forest above white pure sand on the desert floor, 4,000 feet below.

Steph and I even got to run through our 1st tunnel since the ones back in BC. We hooted and hollered as we blasted through the mountainside, feeling like king and queen of the mountain roads!

So about 4 hours later we made the flatlands of White Sands and just started our 2nd to last pull of the day, when a police 4X4 truck (there’s no cruisers here folks) pulled up along side and asked us this simple question. “Folks, are you out here walking for fun or something”? With a big ‘ol question mark look on his face and ready to offer us a lift. “Yes sir, in fact we’re running around North America and we’ve been running now for over 9 months. And with a grin we added, we only have 3 months to go now and will have covered about 11,000 miles ”.

He shook his head with a look that that complete and utter disbelief (or because he thought we were crazy) and drove off into the western sunset.

Our Guest Spot on Vancity!

Run For One Planet — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:17:47 -0800

Vancity and ChangeEverything.ca has featured Run For One Planet front and centre this week with a cool guest column: Passion, Commitment and Feet Running that you just must check out!

Run For One Planet is a member of Change Everything where we post to our Changes Blog and encourage others to make environmentally-conscious changes in their lives.

A thousand thanks to Kate Dugas of Vancity for making this possible!

Run off the Road in North Carolina

Run For One Planet — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:05:38 -0800

Good Sunday from North Carolina, rain soaked North Carolina. On our call to QMFM on Friday I was boasting that it was 70 degrees and sunny after they told me it was a typical Vancouver morning, filled with low clouds and heavy rain. Yesterday we woke up to low hanging clouds and heavy, with even heavier rain this morning. Luckily we’re on a rest day and sheltered at another KOA, so all’s not too hard to take.

What was hard to take yesterday, and for the last 4 days, are the crummiest roads we’ve run on to date. We thought parts of Manitoba were tough because of no shoulder, and NY and Jersey because of heavy traffic. However, the last few days have had us on ZERO shoulder with the added bonus of people driving cars and massive SUV’s not used to making any room for 2 runners.

Yesterday was by far the worst though, as it was raining, as well as Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Saturday 1st day of the Christmas season craziness out here on U.S. Route 17 South. We were forced over to oncoming traffic so we could make sure WE saw what was approaching. On too many occasions we literally had to jump off our little oasis beside the white line because someone wasn’t paying attention and crossed out of their lane, onto the shoulder.

Or, the one “jack-bleep” who smugly drove as close to us as he could, forcing us to use our best ninja moves to reach safety, as he sprayed us with water. We called it a day at 3:00pm very glad to leave this holiday weekend traffic train.

We do have more amazing, incredible “wow those kids at that school rocked” tales for you. Plus, a very special night we had with new friends, Amy, Bill and Elizabeth Jackson in Chocowinity, North Carolina. Amy (our newest road mom) read about us in the local paper and has a daughter, Victoria, who is a nationally ranked runner and understands from these experiences what it feels like to be on the road and not with family.

So Amy got in touch with Steph and asked if we could stay at her house for a hot shower, good southern food and new friendships. After thinking for about 2 seconds, Steph replied with a “YES PLEASE” and we were off after another double marathon day, to their amazing home here in North Carolina. Amy even spread the word to some more friends who stopped by to share in Amy and Bill’s southern hospitality! Thanks Amy, for the great rain shower (massive shower head from above), grits I now crave and for believing in our cause.

I must also go back to earlier this week, November, 25th to be exact and fill you all in on another incredibly special school we visited in Hertford, North Carolina. Another “local hero”, 5th grade teacher, Karen Copeland Pritchard was in touch with us a few weeks ago wondering if we could visit her school? After making some route changes we were able to get to Herford Grammar School before their Thanksgiving break? And was it ever worth it! O yea!

The energy, engaged, eager spirits from almost 500 students and teachers was so inspiring for Steph, Simon and I. We felt like mini rock stars as we asked, “who wanted to come up and take the Action Challenge”, and were met with screams so loud, I thought Miley Cirrus must have entered the room! It was our Action Challenge though, which really rocked. My cartoon character, “Ed” had fun too, picking out “sparkly peeps and pee-ettes with sparkly Stephanie” to help with our presentation.

Newsletter Sign Up

Enter Your Email Address

R41P Actions!

* Actions Taken = 8257
* Miles Run = 5,627
* Dollars Raised = $63,470

Take the action challenge

Donate now
Run For One Planet Blog
Monday, December 1, 2008
Run off the Road in North Carolina
Filed under: Uncategorized — @ 11:23 am Edit This

Some of them even went door to door around the neighborhoods getting pledges filled out! After our presentation, we were blessed to spend another awesome hour receiving pledges and sharing goofy, Ed, Matt, Steph and Simon times, snapping pictures and making lasting memories. We even found ourselves taking part in the schools after school program, just so we could spend some more time with these amazing kids!

It’s these continued energizing and inspiring times we get to spend with kids that confirm for us, this is truly where we should be and where we need to continue for the duration of the tour. And when we return, build the tours Legacy of Action primarily around inspiring and teaching kids to be the change we need and to “teach their parents and teachers, well’er”. Sorry grown ups, this is a secret tip #10 we have with our mini-peeps and peep-ette’s. For you, it still remains to, “teach you children well”.

So long from rain soaked North Carolina, with a fresh coffee brewing at another sponsored KOA campsite.