Ep. 76: Robbie Balenger - Running with Robbie Across the US of A
PLANTSTRONG Podcast
Rip Esselstyn
4.8 • 2.3K Ratings
🗓️ 25 March 2021
⏱️ 55 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This week, we’re digging into inspiration and exploring your personal limits with a major dose of true grit!
In March 2019, Robbie Balenger set sail with his sneakers from Huntington Beach, California to run across America all the way to Central Park, New York in just 75 days. He was relatively new to running as well as to a PlantStrong lifestyle. So, why on earth would he do something like this? Well, as it turns out, the earth had EVERYTHING to do with it.
Environmental issues, fitness, and plant-based nutrition had become so important to him that he wanted to spark more conversation and spread his message across the country. And what better way to do that than by setting the physical example for what can be done. And - spoiler alert- He DID IT!
Today, we look back at this incredible “feat” and dig into his value-driven life, which has only grown stronger since his successful trip across the country just two years ago.
In fact, just this past weekend, Robbie did it again! He broke the record for the most number of consecutive loops run in Central Park during open hours with 16 loops and over 100 miles. Now THAT is some PLANTSTRONG peak performance.
Episode and PLANTSTRONG Resources:
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PLANTSTRONG Rescue 10x - Visit the site to register for the upcoming Spring session
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PLANTSTRONG Meal Planner - use code: STARTFRESH for a 14-Day Free Trial. Yes, you have to enter a credit card - but you won’t be charged if you cancel before the trial ends and that’s a click of a button. Enjoy the test drive and get cooking!
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I went into it thinking, okay, I'm gonna show that you can persevere through an effort like this and be based. |
| 0:09.0 | But through the experience that I learned is like, it was probably my superpower. |
| 0:13.0 | Like, that was the thing that actually got me through it. |
| 0:16.0 | You know, like, I'm consuming all this clean food that's building me up instead of breaking me down. |
| 0:21.0 | When you're pounding on your legs for that many hours every day, inflammation is something you gotta worry about. |
| 0:26.0 | Well, if you're not putting inflammatory foods in your body, then you don't have to worry about that inflammation. |
| 0:31.0 | Consuming 8,000 calories a day, that can be a little really laborious on your system if you're eating a lot of animal products. |
| 0:37.0 | Not eating those animal products made that digestive process that much easier and therefore gave my legs that much more energy to keep going. |
| 0:45.0 | Season 3 of the Plant Strong Podcast explores those Galileo moments where you seek to understand the real truth around your health and dare to see the world through a different lens. |
| 1:05.0 | This season we honor those courageous seekers who are paving the way for you and me. |
| 1:12.0 | So grab your telescope, point it towards your future and let's get Plant Strong together. |
| 1:24.0 | Hi, I'm Rip Eselston. I want to welcome you to the Plant Strong Podcast and you know from listening that we are all about arming you with the education, science, and the research on all the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. |
| 1:41.0 | Just last week we talked brain health with Team Shurzai, Dr. Sdeen and Isha. |
| 1:48.0 | And the week before, cardiologist Brian Aspill discussed sweet potatoes over stents. |
| 1:55.0 | Well, today we're switching gears and digging into inspiration and exploring your personal limits with a major dose of true grit. |
| 2:06.0 | In 2019, Robbie Ballinger set sail with just his sneakers from Huntington Beach, California to run across America. |
| 2:16.0 | That's right, from California to New York by foot. |
| 2:21.0 | And he was relatively new to running as well as to a plant-strong lifestyle. |
| 2:27.0 | So you might be asking why on earth would he do something like this? |
| 2:33.0 | Well, as it turns out, the earth had everything to do with it. Environmental issues, fitness, and plant-based nutrition have become so important to Robbie that he wanted to spark more conversation and spread his message across the country. |
| 2:50.0 | And what better way to do that than by setting the physical example for what can be done. |
| 2:57.0 | And a little spoiler alert here, he did it. |
... |
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