This group is to promote fun, interesting and challenging Ultra trail events (biking/hiking/running/orienteering/adventure racing/travel) and low to no cost cross-training and adventure racing events, entry level to advanced. Some of our events will be fundraising events for Wounded Warrior Project ($632) (Total $ amount as of 03 May, 2011) and Stop Hunger Now ($103) (Total $ amount as of 16 Aug, 2010). Most folks have done a street run or biking event. Welcome to the next level!
"Exercise will feel better if you do it with some good pals, according to a new study just published in the Royal Society’s Biology Letters." http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164265.php It doesn't matter at what level you are! LET'S GET IT STARTED!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqV7DB8Iwg
We will attempt to match trail runners and hikers with similar skill levels for events similar to how our Mountain Cousins http://www.meetup.com/Blue-Ridge-Trail-Runners categorize their trail runners/trail runs. We will provide a suggested gear list and racing tips for those interested in participating in the unsupported running/hiking/mtnbiking events. We will also offer beginner and advanced wilderness medical and outdoor skills training, allowing you to be safer when you go out there to recreate in the backcountry. This training can include but is not limited to paddling clinics, bike repair clinics, wilderness and frontcountry first aid classes, CPR/AED classes, wilderness and frontcountry lifeguard training, skin diving and rescue swimmer classes, swim lessons and stroke improvement clinics, adventure racing clinics, navigation clinics, search and swiftwater rescue classes, dog & cat first aid, Leave No Trace outdoor ethics education and other classes and clinics that we decide on as a group to hold.
The Run-Forest-Run Run (RFRR) is our inaugural main event that took place in Big Island, VA, Saturday, 24 October, 2009 . We hosted a suggested donation Run/Hike/MtnBike/Camping/Music Autumn event with proceeds going to Stop Hunger Now http://www.stophungernow.org/ (benefiting directly the Tarahumara People of Copper Canyon Mexico). Dr. George Wortley, MD, Dr. David Horton, PhD, Susanna Greever, Larry Watson, and others have been on travel missions to help bring food/medical aid to drought victims in the extremely remote region of Copper Canyon, Mexico. Click on Larry Watson's photo and check out some of the photos of people and the beautiful wilderness of Copper Canyon! Doc Wortley has been doing mission work there for over 11 years now. Long before the award winning book "Born to Run" was published. http://youtu.be/P55RlFLWIOU
The proceeds from the RFRR will also be shared with the Wounded Warrior Project (helping our U.S. Troops). http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
(There will be no charge for any wounded warriors who may wish to participate in any of our runs, camping, and concerts!)
The "Run-Forest-Run Run" Run/Bike/Cave/Hike all day on the trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains, was conceived of, and has been coined the "Run-Forest-Run Run" by some expedition level adventure racers during semi-lucid moments in the middle of a race. Saturday night there is a "Stone Soup" style dinner where everybody just brings something to share including BYOB. Camping, Maps of suggested trails, live music, and reminder wrist bands (Lance A. type) with the "do something!" logo are available for a single suggested donation fee of $20.
The Run-Forest-Run Run begins at 8 am-ish and ends at 5 pm-ish on a Saturday. You lose points if you are late for the party!
A few local band members have offered to donate their time and talent to play music for the causes. Tidewater VA local favorite guitarist extraordinaire and hiking/camping instructor trip leader guide Tom Stanley, has brought his bonfire unplugged guitar sounds to both the 2009 and 2010 Run-Forest-Run Run events. Rock On Tom!
Camping is available both Friday and Saturday nights, and we usually watch Forrest Gump together on Friday night as a motivator for the next day's activities. Dates and times in Autumn and what movie we actually watch is always subject to a vote! and dependent upon what other movies you bring with you.
I am sharing some quotations from strong individuals that have made a positive impact on my life and am hoping that these quotes will help to motivate you also:
I once had a Military E-7 say to me:
"There are folks who make things happen...
There are folks who watch things happen...
and still others who ask, 'What Happened?!?',
Which one are you gonna be?"
My boot camp drill instructor once told us:
"Every day's a holiday...
every formation's a parade...
every paycheck's a fortune...
and every meal's a feast...
keep that attitude, and you'll do fine in the service"
You may wish to think of these runs as a holiday parade with a feast where we are making a fortune for good causes.
One more quote that I enjoy is from the book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall http://www.cnbc.com/id/30947007 "It's a book about the Tarahumara Indians of the Copper Canyon in Mexico, who are called the world's greatest distance runners. The narrative gets into how they got this way, why you've likely never heard of them and what the author went through to get close to these people who don't respond to our Western culture.":
"It reminded me of a proverb attributed to Roger Bannister, who, while simultaneously studying medicine, working as a clinical researcher and minting pithy parables, became the first man to break the 4-minute mile: "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up,” Bannister said. “It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."
What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger... you can do more than you think you can. This group is about becoming that lion or gazelle. Become a fighter. http://youtu.be/4TbSYq-x0TE
The organizers and trip leaders of this group are seasoned outdoorsmen & outdoorswomen. We are outdoor educators who have been educated by and/or worked as instructors with groups such as Wilderness Medical Institute of National Outdoor Leadership School, Wilderness Medical Society, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Scouting and Explorer Scouts, Various US Military schools, American Canoe Association, Virginia Department of EMS, National Association of Underwater Instructors, American College of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, American Red Cross, volunteer interpreters and workers at Aquariums and Nature Museums, etc... We will promote and follow Leave No Trace environmentally sound principles whenever possible.
Suggestions for this and upcoming events are welcome! If you'd like to lead a "Follow Me" multi-disciplinary training event or fun run, let me know so that I can post it. This group will always be looking to participate in awesome local and far away events that help ourselves, the environment and others with a hand up... not a handout.
One more thing! Volunteers at our events are always welcome, needed, and appreciated!
Come "do something!", help folks locally & globally and have fun. Support Our Troops! Rah Virgina Mil! and Semper Paratus! Hooyah!
-Larry Watson, do something! co-Organizer
Please feel free to contact me directly with comments and suggestions at: larryfwww@yahoo.com , http://www.facebook.com/Watson.Larry , http://www.facebook.com/something.do
We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.
- Emil Zatopek
"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page."
- St. Augustine
Travel Advice: http://www.wimp.com/traveladvice/__MEETUP_B...
Trip abroad Universal Packing List: http://upl.codeq.info/
wimr/WFR Trng, Daily, Anywhere, USA
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