63. Go dog sledding in Alaska

I'm not planning to compete in the Iditarod anytime soon. Being pulled around by a former Iditarod participant and his dogs for a few hours outside of Anchorage was more than enough adventure for me. This man, a transplant from, of all places, Italy, was passionate about his dogs. And you have to be, since they depend on it, you depend of them. I was surprised at how much the dogs, Alaskan Malmutes, loved the cold. In fact, they needed it to prevent overheating from running so hard. Malmutes love running so much, that they become very hot, and need to roll around in the snow to recover. They were not pretty dogs, but they were smart, strong, loyal and hard working. I now have a new appreciation for the entire past time of dog sledding, and will watch the Iditarod with fervor, from my couch under a blanket, in the warmth of my house.

Eric and Jenny with Alaskan Malmutes

93. Run the LA Marathon in Under 5 Hours

8 Months
750 Miles
10 Pounds
2 Pairs of Running Shoes
2 Toe Nails
$145 Entry Fee
Countless Power Bars
Countless Gallons of Water
Immeasurable drive and determination
LA MARATHON......... CHECK!

I started a 16 week training program in August, 2012, and after I completed a 26.2 mile run in December 2012, I turned around and started the training routine again in January, 2013. I wanted not only be sure that I could complete a marathon, but do it within a time in which I could be proud. By January it was clear that I could easily complete the marathon in 4 hours and 30 minutes, and that became my new goal. I worked on sprints during the week when I ran my shorter runs, and on my long Saturday runs, I focused on keeping a consistent pace, and not giving up because I was bored or uncomfortable. The training schedule kept me focused on my goal, and allowed me to eat literally anything I wanted. I still lost 10 pounds--super awesome.

The training also challenged my mind, and helped me confront my negative thoughts. They say that running is all mental. I applied this theory several times during my training, and can attest to its truth. One 6 mile run, I set the goal to finish in 48 minutes. That's a pace of 8 minute miles-- pretty quick and painful for 6 miles straight. By about mile 3 1/2, the negative voices started in my head, "Slow down, it's no big deal if you accomplish your goal, no one will know. Just relax. Walking would feel much better right now." I tried to ignore and just push on, but the voices didn't stop. "Seriously, it doesn't matter." And it didn't. Why did I have to run so fast? The voices were beginning to sound more logical than my ridiculous goal. 52 minutes is also a good time. However, I dug deep, and reconnected with why I wanted to set the goal in the first place. I am very often brought down in many areas in my life with negative thoughts, and this was a clear way to challenge them. I began fighting back with positive thoughts, "I can do this, I can do this. Come on Jenny, keep going." I became my own cheerleader, and it literally took every ounce of energy to keep the positive thoughts coming and not cave into the negative ones. By the last mile, I only had the energy to repeat, "I can, I can..." And sure enough, I arrived back at my house in exactly 48 minutes. I cried I was so happy, proud, shocked and exhausted. It was a battle, and it highlighted just how effective my thoughts are in affecting the outcome of a goal. I would say that they are 100% accurate every time. Whether I think I can or I cannot, I am right.

As the marathon approached, I started to get nervous. It was my first big race and I wasn't sure what to expect. The logistics of pre and post race were overwhelming, so luckily I had my boyfriend with me who is a seasoned pro at races. He planned all the pre and post race transportation. We stayed overnight in Downtown LA so we could pick up our bibs and race pack the afternoon before the race. Then we carbo loaded at an Italian restaurant, that evening. I didn't sleep at all the night before, and was exhausted when we got up at 4:30 am to catch the shuttle to Dodger's Stadium and the start of the race. On the way, I ran into a high school friend, Andy Kastor. We ran Track and Cross Country together. He was always one of the top runners in the state, while I struggled to finish the 3 mile race in under 30 minutes. It's funny to me now, with all this milage under my belt. It was not surprising to find out that he is now a trainer of elite runners. His wife, Deena Kastor is the US record holder in the marathon, and won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics in Greece. She picked up another 3rd place finish at this marathon.

The start of the marathon was exciting, and the positive energy made me want to sprint. The first two miles disappeared in what felt like seconds. I had a huge smile on my face, and was having a great time. The music, the fans, the volunteers were so supportive that I couldn't help but get a little teary eyed. After all, 8 months of hard work had finally paid off. I was actually doing what I had been training for for almost a year, and the sense of accomplishment was starting to set in. As I ran through Downtown LA, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, and Olvera Street, I passed several inspiring runners-- men and women in their 60's and 70's, runners with special needs, missing limbs, runners who were running in memory of those who have passed on. By the time I arrived at Echo Park and Silver Lake, and put miles 6, 7, 8 and 9 behind me, the smile began to fade and I started to slow down. It wasn't a particularly scenic part of the route, so I put my head down and pushed on at a comfortable pace.  I was running with my boyfriend, who was pushing me harder than I would have pushed were I by myself. Miles 9, 10 and 11 were fun because they were on Hollywood Blvd, and there were a lot of cheerleaders. I also liked running on familiar ground. LA is so nice without all the traffic, peaceful even. At mile 13, I planned to meet my friend Colleen who was cheering us on at a cafe on Sunset Blvd, so I wanted to look solid and healthy at that point. By mile 14, however, I could no longer keep up with my boyfriend. We were running a 9:20 min mile, and on pace to finish in 4 hours and 5 minutes, but I was in pain, and knew that if I kept that pace, I would eventually stop to walk. My two goals were to finish in 4 hours and 30 minutes, and to run the whole time. I took that quite literally. I did not even walk when I grabbed water from the volunteers. It made swallowing difficult, but I knew if I stopped, I wouldn't reach my goal of 4:30. I loved the transvestite cheerleaders in WEHO at mile 15. They put the smile back on my face, and got me through the next few miles. Beverly Hills and Century City were painful. It seemed like I would never make it to the finish line, and I started to think, "Is running this marathon more or less painful than having a baby?" Funny thing is, I can't remember what it felt like to have a baby. Maybe it will be the same with a marathon. At mile 19 I swore I would never run another marathon if I could just get through this one, but who knows If I'll forget the pain over the next few years and change my mind. When I hit mile 20, I got a small surge of energy--mental and physical. The end was within sight. It was going to be the toughest 6 miles of the run, but at last it was the last 6 miles. Running through Brentwood was beautiful, but long. When I got to mile 23, 24, 25 I began to speed up. I could barely move my feet, but I knew the torture would be over within minutes. Others around me felt the same, because everyone's energy picked up along with their speed. When I entered Santa Monica and hit mile 26, I really picked up speed. I realized that not only would I finish this race (alive), I'd do in under 4:30, and without stopping once.

When I finally crossed the finish line at 4 hours and 22 minutes, I was surprised at how anticlimactic it was. I simply crossed the line and stopped running. No tears of joy (or pain) no hugs from fellow runners, no stopping to kiss the ground, no running around with an American flag on my back to the cheers of thousands of fans. It was over, and I wasn't sure how to feel--numb and disoriented mainly.  One thing was for sure, the pain did not stop when I ceased running. I found my boyfriend wrapped up like a potato in an aluminum blanket, collected our medals, and made our way home. When I regained the mental capacity to process what had actually happened, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude fell over me. I reflected back to the day before when I was on the train in Downtown LA and I witnessed a drunk man who fell on his face and could not get up. I felt grateful for the physical health and emotional strength to achieve this goal when so many people are not capable of it. I felt lucky and blessed to have the determination and drive to participate in something as challenging and rewarding as a marathon. A month later I've already forgotten the pain of this marathon and am looking forward to beating my time in the next one.

82. Go vegetarian for a month

I first began thinking about what food I was putting in my body about 5 years ago when my father was dying of cancer. His doctors had prescribed a strictly plant based diet to compliment their rigorous regimen of poisonous medicine used to fight his disease. Since he had colon cancer, we can be sure that diet played a large role in contracting "the big C" in the first place. And my dad would be the first to admit that his lifestyle was tremendously unhealthy--he ate a steady diet of donuts, soda and candy bars, chased by red meat and what ever the "roach coach" was serving at his job site. He loved bbq meat, dried meat, cured meat, lunch meat, meat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meat from cows, chickens, turkeys, pigs, lambs, deer, bear. You name it, he loved it, and he put little thought into what it was doing to his body. Even with imminent death staring him in the face, he could not give up meat. 

After my father died, and for the next three years or so, I convinced myself that I was healthy because I had completely cut out red meat. I ate few carbs, kept sugar to a minimum and drank eight glasses of water a day. The meat I did eat was lean and a good source of protein. I was in great shape, and had no reason to change my routine. I often thought of the doctors' recommendation to my father to eat a plant based diet, but concluded that it was an extreme choice for me given how young and healthy I was. The amount of meat I consumed seemed appropriate for my activity level, and at the time, the most important factor in choosing my diet was my appearance, not health. And I certainly had never considered the moral implications of the food I consumed. My relationship with food was based solely on the effect it would have on my looks.

In early 2011, as I was preparing for my trip to India, the connection between God, meditation and diet began to open up to me. I had immersed myself in Hindu culture and learned that strict Hindus practice vegetarianism, so going meatless for the trip seemed appropriate. I found that it improved my meditation, and I soon lost my craving for meat altogether. It was complimentary to the yogi lifestyle I was adopting, and made me feel calm and peaceful. I lost weight, my skin looked fantastic and I had a new found inner serenity. From the beginning I was sold. After the month was up, and my goal was achieved, I had the freedom to return to a meat based diet, but not the desire. I began understanding the global impact of eating a vegetarian diet. And just as important, I was homing in on the very profound reasons why I not only preferred this lifestyle but have a responsibility to it. My reasons for being a vegetarian can be broken down into three categories: Health, Ethics and Spirituality. 

I don't think I need to spend a lot of time discussing the reasons to eat a vegetarian diet from a medical point of view. It is well known that people who eat a meat based diet are 20 times more likely to contract heart disease and cancer--both of which are very prevalent in my family's medical history. Another health risk associated with eating meat, and not often discussed, are the antibiotics given to the animals to prevent infections, and hormones that are fed to them to make them bigger. The animals are kept in such unsanitary conditions, and are at such risk of developing infections that they are loaded with antibiotics which we then consume when we ingest their meat. Our bodies develop a resistance to these antibiotics so when we become sick and need the drugs, they are ineffective. Ingesting meat with hormones that we do not need can also cause our bodies harm. Over-secretion of estrogen has been linked to cancer in women, and over-secretion of adrenaline has been linked to heart disease in everyone. Not to mention meat has more calories, more cholesterol, and more sodium than non meat based foods.

The ecological reasons behind choosing a meat free diet, were much more surprising to me. Here are some facts for you to chew on:

• It takes 16 pounds of wheat to produce one pound of meat. This wheat is fed to the cows who are later killed for their meat. However, it takes only one pound of wheat to produce one pound of bread. So if we use our wheat to produce bread rather than feed it to cows in order to make hamburgers, we could feed sixteen times as many people. 
• An acre of land can grow 40,000 pounds of potatoes. That same acre can provide less than 250 pounds of beef if it is used to grow cattle feed. 
• If everyone were to reduce their intake of meat by 10% (this means they would still eat 90% as much meat as they do now) we could feed every one of the 50,000 people who die of starvation daily. 
• Every day 40,000 children die of starvation. Every day the US produces enough grain to provide every person on earth with two loaves of bread.
• Globally, cows raised for meat and dairy spew more greenhouse gasses into the air than all of the cars currently on the road.
• Since 1967, one acre of American forests is destroyed every five seconds in order to become grazing land for animals that will become man's dinner. If this trend continues, this beautiful country will be stripped bare of all its forests in 50 years. 
• Meat costs ten times as much to produce as wheat.
• The production of one pound of beef takes 2,500 gallons of water. The production of wheat takes 25 gallons of water.  

Why are we wasting resources we cannot afford to waste and selfishly ignoring those who suffer when we have the responsibility and ability to help. 

The connection between spirituality and food was one I had never made. I assumed that I was at the top of the food chain and therefore had the right to eat whatever I pleased. It was easy for me to go to the grocery store and purchase meat in clean packages, labeled veal, poultry, mutton, pork, beef, etc, and deceive myself into thinking that this food was not once a living creature. It is easy to forget that the hamburger patty between two sesame buns was once someone's child, mother, sister, etc. We ignore animals' capacity for pain and fear which they endure throughout their lives as they are separated from their mothers, forced into cramped, unsanitary conditions, beaten, chained, force fed, until they are finally slaughtered and shipped to a store for us to buy, cook and eat. It makes no more sense for me to eat a pig than it does to eat my pet cat. They both feel pain, pleasure, fear, loneliness, frustration and motherly love. I have a moral obligation to take this into consideration before making the choice to be complicit in their murder. 

When I began my month as a vegetarian, I had no idea that it would become a permanent lifestyle choice. Two years later I am still a strict vegetarian, and a much more informed human being. My choice has no doubt had a long term impact on my health, my karma, and Mother Earth as a whole. I have no plans to ever return to a meat based diet, and in fact, pledged my commitment to eat meat free for my guru Swamiji Chidinand Saraswati's 60th birthday. While I admit it is at times difficult to find enough good sources of lean protein, and create enough variety in my dishes, I do not have any craving for meat. I look great in my skinny jeans, I'm reducing my risk of cancer, and I'm helping the planet. While this lifestyle works for me, and I enjoy it, I in no way wish to force it on others. My boyfriend and son, still enjoy their meat, but both have reduced their consumption of animal products by at least 50% simply because I have introduced more veggie options.