Wow — long time, not a lot of posts. Fortunately, it’s because I’ve been cranking out a ton of other stuff, and that’s what this post is about.
To start, here are a few quick updates about what we’ve been working on for the past month, before getting to even more updates about some great events that are coming up. Lots of news to share today, so get cozy!
Podcast: Doug and I have recommitted to NMA Radio, and for the past month we’ve published 1-2 episodes every week! (Now if I could just get to that frequency with blog posts we’d be in good shape.) With so many new episodes, I decided to stop putting posts about each one in the blog feed. So, you can either subscribe in iTunes to get new episodes automatically, or visit our new podcast archive to check for new episodes if you prefer to listen on-site.
Recent guests have included Badwater winner Harvey Lewis, Micah Risk from the cover of the October Runner’s World, Christy Morgan (the Blissful and Fit Chef), and #vegrunchat founder Brandon Frye. NMA Radio is back; give it a listen!
Running groups: Here we go, the real reason for so few posts recently! (Also the reason my kids have mostly forgotten what I look like.) But all the time it’s taken is worth it, because seeing these groups get started makes me happier than anything else I’ve ever done with No Meat Athlete.
I plan on writing a blog post soon to highlight what these amazing, plant-based running groups are up to, but for now, know that there are 70 (!) of them across the U.S. and the world, and many have already held their first group runs (followed by some vegan eats and drinks, of course).
Here’s a shot of last night’s inaugural Austin, TX run, organized by fearless leader Jonathan Garner:
If you live in or near a big city, chances are there’s an NMA group there — and if not, I put together a manual to help you start one. Check out our listing of groups and join yours here!
And now, some stuff that’s in the works …
Join Me on the 2015 Holistic Holiday at Sea Cruise!
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be a special guest on the 2015 Holistic Holiday at Sea, better known as “the vegan cruise,” for 7 days from March 14th to 21st.
For those who haven’t heard of it, it’s exactly what it sounds like — a cruise with a fully vegan menu (also an oil-free vegan menu option, and I think they even cater to omnivores). But as exciting as the prospect of vegan dining on a cruise ship is, it gets better.
I’m talking about schedule onboard. The reason I’ve always wanted to go on this cruise is that it’s not just a normal cruise that happens to serve vegan food; it’s a cruise that’s entirely about healthy lifestyle. So the onboard activity list is replete with cooking classes (including some with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and Chef AJ), daily yoga and meditation, fitness sessions with people like my buddy Robert Cheeke, and courses on integrative nutrition, mind-body medicine, and relaxation.
Finally, the program is anchored (yeah, cruise pun!) by a series of lectures and talks by a “who’s who” of vegan doctors — T. Colin Campbell, Caldwell Esselstyn (both of Forks Over Knives fame), Neal Barnard of PCRM, and Michael Greger of nutritionfacts.org.
Where does the cruise go?
Does it matter? Okay, I guess it does. The ship leaves from Miami, and stops in Jamaica; the Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico, and the Bahamas, before returning to Miami seven days later. Better destinations than any cruise I’ve ever been on, and I’ve been on my share … but I spent most of my time in the casino, so I didn’t get off the boat much. (Here’s hoping for my family’s sake that there’s no casino this time.)
Want to come?
While I’m not presenting (at least, not yet), I’ll definitely do a No Meat Athlete meetup and run, either onboard or at one of the destinations, so let me know if you’re coming and I’ll loop you in on the plans as I make them. My wife and children are joining me, and we’re really looking forward to hanging out for a week and meeting new friends — many of which, I hope, are No Meat Athlete readers.
If you’d like to join us on the cruise this year, check out my page there for lots of info, including pricing. You’ll save $50 if you mention me (Matt Frazier or No Meat Athlete) when you register for the first time — see the page for details.
(By the way, I’m not compensated in any way when people sign up and mention me. My family and I get to go for free in exchange for promoting the cruise, and I suppose if I refer a lot of people I’ll be more likely to be invited back next year, but that’s the extent of the arrangement — no commissions or anything like that.)
Also, it’s important to note that there’s an early bird discount going on right now, but it ends October 15th. Details here.
Here’s a video so you can get a better feel for the cruise … hope you can join me and the fam!
Other places I’ll be soon!
In order of soon-ness:
1. Runner’s World Half Marathon and Festival — Bethlehem, PA, October 17-19, 2014. I left incredibly inspired from RW’s Heartbreak Hill Half and Festival in June, so I’m pretty pumped to join them again for the fall version in a few weeks. I’m running the 5K and 10K on Saturday, along with a fun bunch of other bloggers including Doug Hay, NMA Radio co-host. (There’s a half marathon on Sunday, but I won’t be there for that one.)
If you’d like to come run one, two, or all three races, you can save 10% on your entry free with these discount codes:
5K: blognomeatathlete5K
10K: blognomeatathlete10K
Half Marathon:blognomeatathleteHalf
Both 5K and 10K: blognomeatathlete5&10
All three races: blognomeatathleteHat
2. Healthfest 2015 — Marshall, TX, March 27-29. I don’t have all the details about this one, but I’ll speaking as part of an amazing lineup including T. Colin Campbell, Rich Roll, Miyoko Schinner, Gene Baur, Victoria Moran, Chef AJ, Christy Morgan, and many more. I’m pretty sure I’ll be speaking at least twice and possibly doing a workshop. Registration isn’t open yet, but you can still see details on their website.
3. Vegano Italiano Tour — Amalfi Coast, Italy, July 18-25, 2015. This is still a ways off, but it’s a biggie. I’ll be co-hosting a week-long vegan travel tour in Italy, along with artisan vegan cheese chef Miyoko Schinner. We’ll be staying at B&B’s in Cilento, Italy, where the traditional diet is largely plant-based and organic. The tour is limited to only 22 guests, which I think makes it pretty darn special. Here’s a PDF with details and booking info (about not just my week but also three other weeks with different hosts, all put on by Tierno Tours and Green Earth Travel). I’ll be writing more about this one soon.
Whew! Told you I had a lot of announcements. I’d love to meet you at one of these events, so if you’re coming to any, absolutely do let me know.
That’s all for now … in the meantime, don’t forget to check out the NMA running groups!