rich roll

Click HERE to check out this piece on me in Outside Magazine’s online blog. Thanks Heidi Volpe for the great writeup!

So pumped to break public on our collaboration with biochemistry & human physiology guru Compton Rom and his LA-based start up wellness entities Ascended Health and Ascended Living on the development of a line of nutrition & wellness products for the endurance athlete and everyman alike. A line we call…Jai Power!

In conjunction with Compton and his team, Julie and I have been fine tuning a variety of concoctions over the last 6 months, trying to nail down the ideal combination of ingredients to bring to market a line of never-before seen organic and entirely plant-based endurance, nutrition & wellness products designed to energize, fortify and repair the body with top of the line rare ingredients sourced from all over the World.

Believe me when I say that these products break the mold when it comes to not only wellness in general but to fueling the daily training and recovery required for top flight athletic performance. These are not artificially manufactured gels & powders, but whole food elixirs. All ingredients are 100% plant-based and organic; extracted from organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, & teas, then brewed and fermented.

We’ll be making our official debut hopefully in mid-March, synching the launch of the line with EPIC5 and our cookbook. And we are still honing and fine tuning the line, so I don’t want to get too detailed here. But in general terms we will be coming out initially with a DAILY ELIXIR (for every day use), an ENERGY BOOSTER ELIXIR (pre-workout) and a RECOVERY ELIXIR (post-workout).

The 3 initial products contain a specifically designed combination of ingredients scientifically proven to enrich and repair the body while supporting overall wellness, longevity, disease prevention and proper functioning and balancing of all muscular, organ & endocrine functions.

Fortified with locally grown organic fruits and vegetables, marine phytoplanktons, a variety of adaptagens, enzymes, anti-inflammatories and very powerful and pure antioxidants including the purest forms of quercetin and resveritrol, these are a far cry from anything EVEN REMOTELY available on the market, brimming over with products sourced from all over the Planet from South America to Asia. Absolutely no artificial ingredients of any kind. Zero chemicals. Zero coloring or flavoring. This is the real deal people — brewed entirely by hand and individually packaged.

I can hardly wait to share with everyone what powered me through my Ultraman training and race performance. Stay tuned for updates as we approach our product launch!

Until then, stay Plant Strong!

5 Ironmans. 5 Islands. 5 Days.

Yeah baby!

In just 8 weeks from now, Jason Lester and I will embark on a journey to do something that has yet to be done in endurance sports (something that is becoming increasingly rare these days!). We will attempt to complete 5 ironmans in 5 consecutive days on the 5 islands of Hawaii. On March 17 we will start on Kauai, then Oahu, Molokai, Maui and finish on the Ironman World Championship course on the Big Island.

We call it EPIC5.

This is an adventure that Jason has been working on for about 3 years. Over the last year he has been nailing down the route, logisitics and support, both ground and air. I have known about his quest for some time, but it has always been “his thing”. The idea was that Jason would attempt this solo. I planned on supporting him, possibly even crewing for him.

Then 2 weeks ago he asked me to join him. To do it with him. Together. Wow. How could I pass something like that up? Then I looked at my belly. I had taken 6 weeks off. Absolutely no training. I was getting progressively more and more out of shape and this thing would be when??!?! In 2 months!?! Good God. I have to do it and yet panic set in. There just isn’t enough time to get back in shape for something like this. I need at least 6 months!

Then Jason reminded me of THE crucial fact about EPIC5 – it’s a journey, not a race. Its about doing it together and experiencing the islands. Its not about time or place or anything remotely resembling competition.

I took a big breath in and smiled. I had found my next challenge and suddenly swelled with that sweet and rare excitement that tingles the spine when you know – really know – you have found the next thing that captures your imagination.

Stay tuned. Jason and I will both be hitting you with more info, updates, videos and blogging soon. Its going to be quite literally EPIC!

So what’s my next challenge you ask? EPIC5 that’s what! Below is the press release, which just went live on the PR wire today. I think I better start training — only 8 weeks left!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2010

EPIC5 CHALLENGE: ENDURANCE TO THE LIMIT IS BORN IN HAWAII
Five Islands. Five Days. Five Ironman Challenges… EPIC.

This Spring, lauded endurance athletes Jason Patrick Lester and Richard Roll will attempt the impossible – 5 ironman distance triathlons in 5 consecutive days on 5 Hawaiian Islands.

The brainchild of Lester, EPIC5 is an unprecedented athletic and spiritual odyssey that begins March 17, 2010 on the island of Kauai before traveling on consecutive days to O’ahu, Moloka’I and Maui and concluding in Kona on March 21st. Each day will entail a full ironman-distance triathlon — 2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26 mile run.

Never previously attempted, EPIC5 raises the bar as a challenge of unparalleled endurance that promises to task the limits of limits of mind, body and spirit while capturing the hearts and souls of the public.

EPIC5 started three years ago as a vision of Lester. Despite the total paralysis of his right arm due to a catastrophic accident suffered in his youth, Lester is not only a tireless veteran of several Ironman & Ultraman competitions, he is an inspiration to countless people worldwide. A motivational speaker and youth advocate on behalf of his Never Stop Foundation, Lester catapulted into the mainstream consciousness last year when he was awarded the coveted ESPY Award for Best Male Athlete With a Disability. A resident of Kailua-Kona for the last several years, Lester conceived EPIC5 as a gift to his beloved Hawai’i; a competitive offering that uniquely links all the islands. “After I won the ESPY, there was no doubt that I wanted to give back to the islands for blessing me. Without the votes of the people of Hawai’i, I wouldn’t have won the ESPY” says Lester.

A former world-ranked swimmer from Stanford University, Roll was named one of 2009’s “25 Fittest Men in the World” by Men’s Fitness Magazine alongside such athletic luminaries as Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal and LeBron James. At 43 years of age, Roll recently competed in the 2009 Ultraman World Championships – a 3-day double ironman distance race that circumnavigates the Big Island of Hawaii – where he led the entire field by 10 minutes after the first day of competition before suffering a bicycle crash during the Day 2 170 mile bike leg. Injuries aside, Roll nonetheless completed the event in 6th place – an inspirational feat lauded by the triathlon world as one of the most courageous accomplishments of the year.

Equally captivating, both Roll and Lester are also completely vegan and are staging to push the message that anyone can achieve the highest measures of an ultra-endurance athlete by adhering to a plant-based diet. “EPIC5 provides an ideal advocacy platform for the message of long-term wellness, disease prevention and environmental consciousness through whole food plant-based nutrition” says Roll.

An integral part of the EPIC5 team is Cory Faulk, 14-time Ultraman competitor, who masterminded this challenge by laying out the logistics of each course on each island for Lester and Roll. Together this EPIC5 team will tackle the task of completing this inaugural event for generations to come.

A strong advocate for providing opportunities to children, Lester created the Never Stop Foundation whose primary focus is on encouraging youth to achieve their full potential through athletics. The goal of the Never Stop Foundation is to help those in their formative years find their own true voice, help them build their confidence, improve their communication skills and learn the values of discipline, trust, compassion, self-reliance, and respect.

Proceeds from this and all future EPIC5 events will fund the Never Stop Foundation’s vision of developing a Performance Center in Kailua-Kona.

For more information on Jason Patrick Lester, please visit:

http://www.jasonplester.com

For more information on Richard Roll, please visit:

http://www.richroll.com

If you would like more information on this event, for sponsorship information, or to schedule an interview either with Jason Lester or Rich Roll, please contact:

Ann Ravelo
808.351.7171
annrav@hawaii.rr.com
www.EPIC5.com

Back from Texas!

What a cool trip.

I arrived last week in Austin, where I had the pleasure of meeting with Phil Hills and Doug Ulman of LIVESTRONG. It was an amazing experience to be in the vortex of the yellow band HQ – a modern converted warehouse more akin to an art gallery than office space. Phil (Executive VP of Development) and Doug (CEO) talked cancer, fundraising, plant-strong nutrition, endurance sports and the ultra world. Sorry to disappoint you, but I did not get any inside info on Lance’s designs on Ironman. Then again, I didn’t ask:) This meeting alone was worth the trip and I am looking forward to finding some ways for us to collaborate on some projects. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on that. After the meeting I was treated to a groovy tour by Livestrong staffers Colin Wallis and marketing guru Adam Butler. It was awesome.

Afterwards, I hooked up with Gold Medal Mel Stewart at one of Austin’s landmarks — the flagship Whole Foods. We caught up on swimming, the US Swimming Foundation, and life in general. Mel is a great guy and has done swimming a great service by not only raising money but through his devotion to promoting the sport through Swimnetwork and his vlogs & blogs Here’s a little ditty Mel threw together from the visit – enjoy!

The next day I was picked up bright and early by Romain Fournier — a Frenchman relocated to Austin — and we headed out to College Station for the Zen Triathlon Base Training and Nutrition Camp. I’ll dispense with the blow by blow, but suffice it to say that it was an amazing time to spend a few days with a group of people focusing on nothing other than training, nutrition and having fun. We worked out and swam at the nearby Texas A&M Natatorium, which is simply mind-blowing. The site of multiple national level meets including the NCAA Division I Championships & US Swimming Nationals, it is truly a world-class facility. I had the pleasure of doing stroke work / evaluations with the campers, which was great. The camp was hosted by famous Zen And The Art of Triathlon podcaster extraordinaire Brett Blankner and his lovely wife Emily (and their son Kai) and buttressed by the wisdom, experience and enthusiasm of NY based pro ironman triathlete John Hirsch and his girlfriend Christine Lynch (aka @holisticguru on Twitter) who were amazingly forthcoming and gracious with all of their training, racing and nutrition knowledge. Check the Zen Triathlon BLOG for copious blow by blow reports and videos from the camp.

As a group we ran trails, rode the central Texas prairies, ate, laughed and simply hung out. It was really fun and I think everyone left not only having learned a great deal, but enriched by the experience and new relationships. It was my first experience not just teaching at a camp but even participating in one and I left unable to wait for my next camp experience. I feel many more coming soon!

I will upload some pics and videos from the camp soon.

Anyway, I made it home safely to LA, greeted with torrential rainshowers. Back to work, implementing my goals for 2010!

Wow. Its been a while since I posted. Lots up and so much to say but feelin the need to tie up some loose ends and make sure things are totally official before I start blabbing all over the Internet…I will be in touch soon. In the interim, enjoy this video. Never thought I’d share screen time w/ Steve O, Andy Dick, Eli Roth, Chester Bennington, Mike White & a Karadshian, so I guess you just never know what God might have in store for you.

Watching this video is more than worth it just for the Andy Dick clip.

Here’s the final video Jason made recapping his Ultraman experience with some nice footage from his crew captain Odie, some still shot slides, cameos from Julie and all 4 of my kids and topped off with some cool video at the end of the Zen House pad Jules and I rented for a couple days of post-UM relaxation with the kids. Enjoy!

To pick up where things left off, when I finished the Day 2 / 170 mile bike, I was sprawled out on the grass at the finish line, being tended to by Julie and a doctor, trying to determine the extent of my injuries caused by my bike crash. Honestly, I was just glad I had finished the day. I had not yet begun to entertain the prospect of the Day 3 52.4 mile run.

Julie, Alan and the boys hoisted me into our van and we followed Jason Lester and his crew Odie and Annette to the house in Hawi we rented for the night. They helped me unload and hauled me into a bath to clean my wounds. What I didn’t expect was a 2 story house — what were we thinking? I could barely make it up the steps — my legs were shot, my knee was aching, I could barely lift my left shoulder and worst of all — I was winded!

I cleaned up, forced some food into my system and bid goodbye to Jules, who headed back to Kona for the night. I told Jason that I really didn’t think I was going to run the next day. I couldn’t fathom it. He just shook his head. “Dude, you’re running.” My head sank. I knew I had to show up but with my knee barely mobile, how was this going to work?

I forced myself to submit to the punishment that is the ice bath, which served to numb my legs out sufficiently so I could ignore the pain for a bit. Then straight to bed. I’ll just see how I feel in the morning. I was out in 2 seconds.

The 4:30 alarm went off and I gingerly raised my body out of bed, flexing my knee and rotating my shoulder. There was pain for sure, but not enough that I could scratch the day with my head held up. I was going to have to show up and give it a go. As I walked downstairs I saw Jason, his head sagging in his cereal from exhaustion. “C’mon bro! Are we doing this or what! Get up! We got work to do! Let’s get to the office!” The motivational rant was more for me than for him, but it seemed to do the trick. he looked at me like “Who is this guy and what happened to Roll-dawg?”

We quickly fed ourselves and were out the door late on the way to the start. More rain, but that’s early am in Hawi. I knew it was going to be hot today.

We arrived at the start with a flurry of tension as we were the last to arrive. Julie, Alan, Mike Field and my stepson Trapper thought I had decided to bag it!

I rushed to the forming ritual prayer circle that commences the run each year. This is a beautiful ceremony that epitomizes Ultraman. As the competitors all held hands as elder blessed us, the Island and our journey with a culminating blow on the sacred conch shell, I began to well up in tears. This was not the plan. But I felt a deep growndswell of emotion — of the commitment to be here that was shouldered by my family. Of the pain I had suffered the day before. Of just how much this experience meant to me. Win, lose, finish or not, I had to give this day an honest try without excuses.

I shoved the pain away, lined up on the road and focused. Today is it. The conch shell sounded and we were off. Ribeiro, Kotland, Le Roux, Kregar and company shot off like it was a 400 meter dash. I honestly couldn’t believe it. Spinting away on a 52.4 mile run!?!? On the other hand, I began to jog very gingerly to ascertain how the knee would hold up. Some swelling and pain, but I think its going to be OK. For now.

I found a comfortable pace running in the cool pre-dawn alongside Shanna Armstrong, whose happy-go-lucky chatter kept me entertained for the first 8 miles or so as I continued to warm up and monitor the knee. I still couldn’t really move the left shoulder, but I found a way to make it work. I was feeling more comfortable with each mile, which was a great relief.

My goal going into the race was to run 7:30. I big leap from last year’s 9:00 effort. I knew I could do it, but didn’t think today was the day – it was going to be about surviving in the wake of the accident. That said, I knew Shanna had run around 8 hours in 2008 so if I could keep pace with her I would be OK. The original plan was a progressive walk run — 10 miles run / 1 mile walk, 8/1, 7/1, 6/1, 5/1 and then 4/1’s to the finish. But today I would need to modify and improvise according to how I felt.

At 8 miles I knew I could get in 10 comfortable before the first walk. I picked the pace up ever so slightly and began to push past Shanna. And when I hit 10 miles I was feeling very fresh and light. The knee was ginger but the running actually seemed to loosen it up.

Julie expertly navigated the van and provided amazing encouragement as my paddler Mike Field was on nutrition handoff duty today. I took in my water and CarboPro 1200 on the walk and embarked on the next run segment. Feeling good at the half-marathon mark as the sun came up I finally and for the first time felt like I could actually finish the run. I was holding a steady 7:45 pace without any issue, which I would have been very happy with under the best circumstances.

The greatest joy of this experience was having my family crew for me. To have my wife by my side as well as my stepsons was not something I originally felt was in everyone’s best interest, but in retrospect I would NEVER have it any other way. In so many countless ways that defies words, it unified our marriage and brought me closer to my boys in so many ways. Today was my 13 year old Trapper’s big day to shine. As he paced me on and off throughout the day by running alongside me, I experienced a bonding and a joy by having him with me that is difficult to describe.

Mike did the heavy lifting running alongside me and kept my mind off the pain by telling me the history of every rock formation, every hill and every beach we passed. It was like a moving documentary! And before we knew it, I was already at 26.2, clocking a cool 3:42. Not bad considering the copious walking and the fact that I actually felt like I had just warmed up. At this pace, I could still hit my 7:30 mark!

At around this point began an odd and rather unexpected sort of cat and mouse game with Rip Oldmeadow, who I had caught after his fast start. For quite some time he ran just ahead of me. A couple times he slowed but everytime I made a move to pass him he would surge. I couldn’t play this game. Even though he was my closest competitor (with a minute lead on me I believe in the overall) and the one guy I needed to be focused on, I just couldn’t let him dictate my pace or how I would run. With hours to go, I was not in a position to “race” – I had to just maintain my pace, run my run. Either he was going to blow up or he wasn’t, but it would have been unwise to get caught up in tactics. When I reached a “walk” phase, he pulled away. I figured I would either catch him down the line or I wouldn’t. Turns out I wouldn’t see him again. C’est la vie.

Then things started to unravel. The fatigue from Day 2 and the trauma from my crash started to catch up to me with about 15 miles to go. Commencing the run after a walk phase became increasingly difficult. My legs were seizing up. My feet felt like I was running on hot coals. The intense lava field heat was beginning to take its toll. Every hill felt like a mountain. Mike continued to pace me (he must have run 20 miles that day!) but my cadence slipped and I was running now more in the 8:30 range. Not the plan. The amazing Kathy Winkler passed me. Just….Keep….Going…

Once the airport is in sight, a delusion overcomes you that you are almost done. But looks can be deceiving. On the lava fields you can see for miles and miles. And once past the airport there is still about 9 brutal last miles to go. I had to narrow my focus and remove all distractions just to stay upright. Just to keep the legs moving. My 4/1 strategy turned into 2-3 miles with 1/2 mile walk in between. But everytime I slowed to a walk, returning to run became almost unbearable.

By way of background, back-half running is my strength. I may not be that fast, but I am one of the last guys to slow down. I negative split basically every training run over the last year — including my 2008 Ultraman run. This means my second half is faster than my first half. I pride myself on this ability to finish strong. I train for it. I love it. But on this day? It ain’t happening. The wheels were falling off the wagon.

As I shuffled passed the airport, a mysterious body appeared out of the bushes. It was Jochen Dembeck of Germany. This is not a guy I expected to see as he had an amazing Day 2 and is known for his running strength. He was suffering from some intestinal issues. He was not happy to be back with me, as he had been up in 4th place for most of the run. But again, that’s Ultraman. “C’mon Jochen — run with me. We’ll finish this together.” He matched my stride and we ran alongside each other for the next couple miles. But as we passed the Marina with the final turn in sight, I had to stop for a moment — the legs were really giving out. I waived Jochen off. What I didn’t realize is that he only had a couple minutes on me in the overall. If I could beat him by a couple minutes then I would place higher. Not that it matters or that I could have done anything about it — he was off ahead and I wasn’t going to catch him unless he needed another adventure in the bushes.

The last 4-5 miles is the most suffering I have ever felt on a run. In retrospect I actually can’t believe that my legs were able to keep going. The mind really is an amazing thing — I was very in touch with just how much more we can do than we think we can. The mind is the barrier — not the body.

I checked my Garmin and realized that I still had a shot to finish under 8 hours. If I could do this, the day would be more than successful. But its hard to trust the Garmin as the clock stops when my pace falls below a certain pace (i.e., when I walked) so I was not sure exactly where I stood. For all I knew I was well above 8 hours. Plus its not like the brain was working all that well at this point anyway.

As I made the descent from the Queen K towards Old Airport for the final stretch, I was literally elevated off the ground by my wife, by Mike Field, Trapper and Alan — all cheering wildly for me. I began to tear up (again!) — the emotion of this moment was almost unbearable. All the sacrifice. All the pain, early mornings, extremely long training days, time away from my kids and Julie — it was all cascading down on me. For this moment I had perfect clarity. Not just a sense of personal accomplishment, but a clear idea of a mission, of a life path, of a calling. Not just for myself but for so many others out there I know I can help. I know I can inspire.

As I rounded the last corner I could see the clock. 7:51. Not bad. Not bad at all.

But the best part was the embrace of all my kids and Julie at the finish line. Words cannot express my love for this woman. My admiration for a strength that exceeds mine tenfold. Without her I am nowhere. Without her I would probably be drunk in an alley somewhere. Without her I can assure you I would not have been here. She not only pushes me and challenges me out of my comfort zone on a daily basis, she inspires me in every minute of every day to aspire to greatness — not just physically but more importantly spiritually. To think outside the box. To live life fully beyond the constraints of what society dictates. To tap into my intuitive self. To trust the God within. To follow my heart in the face of obstacles and dissuasion. To pick myself up when I fail. She is my partner in all things, my rock, my guru, my greatest love. She is the real deal. Let’s give credit where credit is really due. She is the true Ultraman.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. It was a perfect race. A perfect experience. A perfect journey. I reached the highest of highs and sunk to lows I didn’t think I could recover from. But together — as a family — we persevered. As a unit marked by the shared love between us, we came together and completed what seemed like an insurmountable task, coming out on the other side stronger. More bonded together. More in love.

5th, 6th, 7th place — whatever. It is meaningless. The value is in the experience. In the journey. In the demons faced and overcome. In the communal effort of my family working together. Without any reservation I can say it was a perfect 3 days. I experienced everything that Ultraman is about — the Aloha and Ohana of my fellow competitors and crews. The Island in all its beauty power and glory. The suffering, the victories and defeats. It was a beautiful thing, and I wouldn’t trade one minute of it for anything in the World.

What an honor! EverymanTri.com just announced that I have been awarded as one of the top 10 best Endurance Blogs of 2009. Quite an honor to be listed alongside the (now very famous) Fat Cyclist, the amazing Bree Wee and many other talented athletes and writers. Very humbled!

But if you have enjoyed this blog, gleaned any insight, inspiration or helpful information, it would mean a lot to me if you would take just a moment to vote for me, as they have now opened up the voting to determine the top 3 blogs. To vote, please click HERE.

Much appreciated!

Day 1 ended with a walk in the clouds. But on Day 2 I found out what I was really made of. I found true meaning. I found purpose.

To recap, on Day 1 of this year’s Ultraman, I handily won the 6.2 mile swim and held my lead all day on the 90 mile bike up to Volcano National Park to win the day outright, finishing with almost a full 10 minute lead on the entire field. It was truly a dream come true.

I knew that it would be close to impossible for me to hold my lead when the Day 2 / 170 mile bike was done. With multiple UM champ Ribeiro (Brazil) fast on my heels, followed by LaRoue’s (Australia) fierce bike skills, Kotland’s (Czech / USA) unrelenting pace and Kregar’s (Slovenia) mad experience, it was an order beyond tall.

My realistic goal was to hang on to the lead pack for the initial torrid draft legal 20 mile descent down Volcano and then manage my effort in an attempt to limit the damage to about 20-30 minutes. I felt this was a reasonable goal and if I could achieve it, I could finish the Day top 5. Best case scenario top 3.

Things don’t always go as you plan. At least not my plan.

As the competitors lined up on the road in the dark, the gunners jockeyed their bikes for front position amidst nervous chatter. I have never seen anyone as serious as Rip Oldmeadow, who placed himself in the very front, wound like a spring ready to explode on his ferocious black P4. It was more than clear that he was going to blast it straight off.

When the gun sounded, all the top guys lept like jaguars. It was a velodrom match sprint, all endeavoring to establish a quick lead and form an organized front peloton. I made the drastic error of not warming up before the start and thus was caught completely off guard by just how fast the pace would be straight off the line. Rookie mistake. I did my best to get into the pack, but my legs quickly bloated with lactate and I simply was unable to hang on to the back of the pack without risk of exploding. The pace was so fast that even the experienced Kotland looked over at me and said “What the hell are they doing!?” But the difference between him and me? He made the jump into the group and I didn’t.

This left me slowly falling off the back of the lead group right from the outset. Scurrying alone in no-man’s land. In the rain on slick wet pavement. Feet soaked from the start. In a draft legal situation, the last thing you want to do is get caught alone. The lead pack slowly pulled away and yet I was far in front of the next pack. This meant I was left with a choice. Either work the descent (while most could coast in the comfort of an enveloping draft and thus save precious energy), or slow down and wait for the next pack to pick me up and blow some time. I chose the former, pushing the descent alone all the way to the bottom, hitting an average pace in the 40-45 mph range. That meant I was already exerting more energy than most right off the bat.

The lead guys (with Oldmeadow blasting a fierce lead off the front) had about a 90 second – 2 minute lead on me by the bottom of the long descent. Ce’st la vie. But again, this was about minimizing damage, not doing something stupid and expending too much energy too early in a 170 mile ride.

At the bottom of the descent I made the hard right turn south as the sun struggled to come up and warm my frozen wet body. But unlike last year, the rain not only continued, it accelerated. In fact, it pretty much poured rain all day long. Hardly my favorite thing. I don’t mind the rain so much, but I can’t stand wet feet. Should have put rain covers on my shoes. Too late now.

Riding alone, I couldn’t see anyone either ahead or behind me until I passed Gary Wang, changing a flat on the side of the road. He would go on to suffer multiple flats that day. What a bummer.

But I was finally beginning to feel warmed up by the time I made the turn onto the “Red Road” – a stretch of terrain along the south-east corner of the Island that is some of the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen anywhere. This section is the one part of the entire course that is “off limits” to crew support. For 15 miles, you are on your own. Should a mishap arise, you are likely left to fend for yourself.

Little did I know this would be my plight.

As I turned onto the final very bumpy stretch of the Red Road (which is actually red), the downpour increased, with nobody in sight either in front or behind me. And like that, I hit a bump. My left hand slipped off my wet handlebars, I lost my balance and before I knew it, my body was sailing over the front of my bike. I went down. Hard and alone. Sprawled on the pavement with crumbles of Red Road now quite literally coursing through my bloodstream, I slowly ambled to my feet and surveyed the damage. Blood was running down my left arm from my shoulder and elbow due to some pretty severe road rash. My left knee was also battered and bleeding. Then the bike. A broken left pedal. Damn. I could probably live with some blood and swelling. But I can’t ride 140 more miles with a broken pedal.

My race was over.

Seeing no need to rush, I gingerly got back on my bike and began to pedal with my right leg. Slowly making my way about a mile to the end of the Red Road where an array of crew vehicles awaited their riders.

I rolled up and disembarked. “Its over. My race is done.”

Julie came to my aid and before I knew it, I was surrounded by crew members from the various competitors, all scurrying to help. Peter MacIntosh, crewing for Kathy Winkler, asked what type of pedal I needed and before I could blink returned with an identical Look Keo. Peter, Vito Biala and a host of others (its all a blur) tended to my wounds and worked on my bike with rapid fury. It was like Johan Bruyneel himself had suddenly appeared in the Astana Team Car as a crew of people I either barely knew or hadn’t even met worked on me and my bike like it was an Indy 500 pitstop. In case you missed it, this is the true epitome of the Ultraman spirit. The meaning of “Ohana” in action. Its what this race is all about.

“You’re not done. Get back on your bike and get it done”. The words of Peter MacIntosh.

But that switch had flipped. I would later thank my wife, Peter and Vito for the encouragement, but at this moment I actually wanted it to be over. Physically and mentally I had decided I was done. It had only been about 15 minutes or so since I went down, but I had already adjusted to this decision. In fact, I was feeling relief. I didn’t want to continue. I was glad I had an excuse to call it quits.

But this was no longer an option. Yeah I was in pain. But my bike seemed to now be operable. How do you turn the switch back on? I looked into Julie’s eyes. Forget about all my training. I thought about how much she and my kids had sacrificed to get me to this point. There was no way I could quit. But how was I going to get back into it? I could barely lift my left shoulder and my knee was quickly beginning to swell. But the bigger issue was adjusting mentally to the idea that I now had to ride hurt for another 140 miles in the rain after losing so much time. All the verve had drained from my body and spirit.

Time to meet your maker.

I did what I had to do. I turned off the mind. I got back on the bike. Yeah it hurt. And yeah I was slow. It was minute by minute. Second by second. I just tried to stay in the moment and dispense with the pity party. But in truth, it ended up being a long hard sufferfest of a day. I just wanted it to be over like never before.

As I managed to get through Hilo and head north up the Eastern seaboard, I struggled with slipping gears. My bike derailleurs were seriously out of alignment and I was having difficulty not only shifting but preventing the gears from slipping all over the place. Then to add insult to injury, Shanna Armstrong appeared out of nowhere looking fresh as a daisy as she handily rode by me with Swiss ultra-sensation Trix Zgraggen right on her wheel. I won’t get into the details, but let’s just say I am a material witness to some of the most egregious drafting I have ever seen. I warned her off. Shanna’s crew warned her off. But Trix hugged Shanna’s wheel tight for the next four hours as I tagged a coupled hundred feet behind, closely observing the ongoing transgression. The fact that she was not disqualified for her behavior is beyond me.

Shanna is an amazing athlete and an amazing spirit — not once did she complain or say a peep about it, going on to crush the Day 2 bike record. But that’s Shannon.

As for myself, my heart continued to sink, as during last year’s Ultraman I rode with Shannon through this very same stretch of landscape. Despite countless hours working on my cycling over the last year, I was right back in 2008. I didn’t realize she was riding 45 minutes faster than she had in 2008. And I didn’t want to credit my crash for my position.

As you head towards Waimea, you are faced with a long climb that was more than enough to crush my dying spirit and soaking wet body. It took everything I had to stay focused. Just keep pedaling. Just get this day behind you. As I headed into town I was greeted by increased downpours but a welcome descent before the final backbreaking 6 mile climb up the Kohalas. There was no attacking this climb. Only toleration. As I crested the mount, I just prayed that the pavement would be dry for the final very fast and wicked 15 mile descent into Hawi. I could not afford to crash again at a high speed. My prayers were answered as I mustered a final push to cross the finish line.

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t fast. But I got it done. From 1st place on Day 1, I dropped to 6th.

As I collapsed on the ground seconds later, I realized that as much as my Day 1 victory meant to me, today was far more meaningful. The fact that I was able to complete the day at all, boosted by the love of my wife, children and crew member Alan will hold a memory far more palpable. Far more resonant. And far more lasting.

I promised that should I win Day 1 I would do everything in my power to use what was given to me to inspire others. In the wake of what has happened since my return home, I can only now appreciate that what transpired on Day 2 would prove far more inspiring than what occurred on Day 1. Like I said, careful what you wish for.

If God had spoken to me directly and said: “OK dude. Here’s the deal. I’m gonna give you some glory on Day 1. But you’re gonna have to pay for it on Day 2 by going down hard. Then you’re gonna have to pick your sorry butt up and finish the job.” I’m fairly certain that I would not have signed that contract.

And therein lie the beauty of Ultraman. And in point of fact the beauty of everything. God’s plan is ALWAYS better than my plan. That is a fact.

I can truthfully say in retrospect that I don’t regret a minute of Day 2. I would not change one thing about it. Because I know that by being forced to meet and overcome some unexpected demons I am that much stronger. And that much more capable of carrying a powerful message for others. Isn’t that what the Ultraman journey is truly all about? And wherein lie the value of a journey if not fraught with unforseen and seemingly insurmountable obstacles?

In short, it was a perfect day. Absolutely perfect.

But as I was tended to by the medical staff and subsequently carried away by loving wife to our rented cottage up in Hawi, the day’s adrenaline was quickly wearing off. I could barely walk, let alone move my left arm. As my knee was quickly swelling, the prospect of running a single mile the next day, let alone 52.4 miles was quite gravely being called into serious question. Guts alone would not be enough….My plan had already been derailed. The only question that remained was what God had in store for me.

Until then…

Its official!

I’ll be heading down to Aggie country (college Station, TX) do participate in the Zen Triathlon Base Training & Nutrition Camp, January 15-18.

For more information and to sign up, click HERE!

Its going to be an epic experience — great training, amazing nutrition and excellent camaraderie. I’ll be hosting a swim clinic at one of the world’s most amazing aquatic facilities at Texas A&M, will be working with holistic health expert and food guru Christine Lynch on nutrition tutorials and training along with the campers and pro triathlete John Hirch.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to blend fitness with nutrition in a beautiful setting. Spots going fast so sign up now!

Here’s some info:

ZenTri Training and Nutrition Camp will focus on building base endurance and nutrition for four continuous days. This is like four days of epic workout cake layered with special-saucy classes on how to perform at your very best. We will have a pro, a nutrition expert, a medical expert, Rich Roll and Brett Blankner leading workouts and classes (listed below) that will turn you into the smartest tri-geek around. Join us at this quiet, small-town retreat and get away from it all to learn to conquer this sport for good!

When:

January 15th – 18th, 2010. This is MLK weekend, so many people will already have that Monday off from work.

Where:

College Station, TX. Rolling, mellow terrain and temperate winters make this the perfect training ground. Add in the world-class Texas A&M swimming pool and endless country roads to make this place unlimited in potential. Average temperatures for January are highs in the 60’s and lows in the 40’s.

Who:

Well, YOU, of course! And pro triathlete John Hirsch (also a coach and another camp host), myself, and holistic health expert and food guru Christine Lynch. Nurse Emily Rhodes (LVN) will also be on hand to teach and help with medical issues.

Cost:

The training camp fee is $265, to be paid via PayPal to texafornia@gmail.com. If you fail to show up, you only forfeit $100.

Special skill building events:

How to eat like a triathlete. Too many of us train like triathletes, but eat like something else. Maximize your potential by eating right.
Bike fitting like a pro. Biking shouldn’t hurt! John and I will go over your bike fit to help fix many common issues.

Minimalism in triathlon. Learn how to do without many things that overcomplicate the sport.

Periodization and strength training. John will detail how periodization works best and how to build core strength.

Grocery store tour. The very first day, Christine & Rich Roll will take you through a grocery store and teach you how to pick out healthy foods. Learn what is truly healthy and what isn’t.

World famous “Push Runs”. Master how to integrate essential core workouts right into your runs to get you lean and ripped quickly. This strength makes endurance events a piece of cake!

Zazen. Learn the traditional Japanese method of meditation to clear your mind and live your best life.

Base – how to build it. Going long takes patience and pacing. Learn the tricks to keep from blowing up in all three sports.

Daily Cooking classes for the best triathlon foods.

Proper bike gearing for long events. Practice pedaling the right way to make sure you can run your best when you get off the bike.

How blood sugar works. What causes you to put on fat, how energy gets to your muscles, and how to prevent bonking.

Common triathlon injuries and medical issues and how to treat them. Our medical expert will tell you when to take asprin vs. tylenol, how to treat road rash, how to prevent blisters, and much more.
Fear. That swim got you freaked out? What fear really is, how to overcome it, and how to use it for your benefit.

Hill training. Hills are your friend! Learn how to use them to make you faster.

Swim technique evaluation. Figure out in five minutes what others may not in a lifetime.

And more! We will be taking lots of long bike rides and runs, which are great opportunities to ask questions and get answers.
Special notes:

This is ZEN training camp, so we will TRAIN. There will be no fluff, no extra, just pure and simple triathlon. When washing dishes, only wash dishes. When training triathlon, only train triathlon!
College Station? Exactly. Should we get in some real training or should we waste time in traffic in a big city? You bet we have a real airport, used on a regular basis by past and sitting presidents and other world leaders, so you should be fine. It is listed as CLL, or Easterwood Field.

OK, I promise I will be uploading my Day 2 and Day 3 Ultraman Recaps this week, but please bear with me. After being in Hawaii for a month I am quite backlogged on my responsibilities to my legal clients so I need to put my focus there for a bit. So updates coming soon.

In the meantime, below is a reprint of the piece that’s currently up on the VEGNEWS MAGAZINE website.

Dedicated, hard-working, and completely ripped, this ultra-endurance, veggie-fueled athlete is competing in the name of health, fitness, and the animals.

Appearing in the pages of Men’s Fitness, Rich Roll was deemed one of the world’s 25 most fit men in the world. A devoted husband, father, full-time lawyer, and personal coach, Roll recently completed his training for the 2009 Ultraman World Championships —a grueling race comprised of a 6.2-mile swim, a 261.4-mile bike ride, and a 52.4-mile run. “Fit” might be an understatement. An unwavering work ethic combined with Roll’s balanced, vegan diet helped Roll finish the November race in an impressive sixth place overall. While it seems like the superhero-like athlete wouldn’t have a moment to spare, he found a way to fit in some quality VN-time for a closer look at his successes, challenges, and upcoming projects.

VegNews: Do you now consider yourself a professional athlete, or is practicing law still your “day job”?

Rich Roll: Although I have an array of very supportive product sponsors, to date I have never been paid by a sponsor or to compete. I am working towards a more professional approach to my mission, but I am currently very much an amateur despite the fact that I train a bit more than most, putting in an average of 25 hours weekly. I make my living as a full-time entertainment attorney, managing a boutique law firm I founded several years ago here in Los Angeles.

VN: In your coaching, do you encourage clients to adopt a plant-based diet?

RR: I find that preaching is counter-productive and therefore I focus on simply sharing my personal experience—what has worked for me, what hasn’t, and why. I encourage experimentation with a plant-based whole food regime, but the extent of the encouragement often depends upon a client’s openness. I’m happy to say that I have played a small part in helping a variety of people transition away from animal-based foods.

VN: What’s the most rewarding thing about your life as an athlete? The most challenging?

RR: What has been most rewarding is the unexpected response I have received. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people have contacted me, sharing the intimate details of their health struggles and thanking me for the inspiration and the motivation to change. The most challenging is balancing the training regimen with not only my professional obligations, but my role as a husband and father of four children. It has forced me to become very organized and efficient in all my affairs, excising all non-essential distractions from my life.

VN: How does veganism affect your training?
RR: What I find most striking is my ability to recover very rapidly between workouts. Despite a very heavy volume of training, my appetite does not spike, which I attribute to the high nutritional value of the foods I am eating.

VN: What projects are you currently working on?

RR: My wife and I are finishing up the first edition of a self-published cookbook entitled Jai Seed, which will be available for purchase through my website this month. I am also working on a longer biographical/inspirational book, and I have a television project in development. It’s an inspirational reality-based program where I help others actualize their health, nutrition, and fitness goals.

VN: Tell me about your company, Jai Ultra Multisport Training Camps, Retreats, Nutrition Products & Garments. Do you already have camps or are they coming soon?

RR: Prior to the births of our two daughters, my wife and I produced high-end yoga retreats in five-star international locations with well-known LA-based yoga teachers. This spring, we are re-launching as “Jai Ultra” and will be offering retreats and training camps that will entail plant-based nutrition, cooking, yoga, healing, and multi-sport training. My wife is also experienced in the garment industry and had a line of high-end women’s attire many years ago. With her experience, we are developing some simple, branded garments, including t-shirts, and running, cycling, and yoga sportswear, which we intend to slowly roll out by mid-2010.

VN: What role does veg activism play in your life?

RR: Over the last year, I have begun to educate myself on issues ranging from factory farming to greenhouse gas emissions and animal rights. This is slowly translating into advocacy, including a video interview with PETA. I think this is a wonderful time—an unprecedented period in our history when people are more responsive than ever, ready to not only hear the message but willing to implement change.