I just back from a fantastic weekend in Toronto speaking at the 28th Annual Vegetarian Food Festival. The largest of it’s kind in North America (over 40,000 attendees last year!), it was an honor to be invited to participate.
I am touched and overwhelmed by all the people that turned out to see me speak (the 300-seat theatre sold out on Saturday and they had to turn away a ton of people!). Strong testament to the growing force that is this plant-based movement. We are on the verge of a Malcolm Gladwell-type “tipping point” when it comes to people’s perspective on food, diet nutrition and athleticism, and it is incredibly exciting to play a small role in this ever-growing trend to change and improve lives.
I won’t soon forget all the conversations I had and am beyond moved by the countless who took the time to reach out, share your story with me and connect (oh and thanks Brock and Marta from FitForTwo.tv for the above interview!). Thank you to all. Toronto, you rock.
Added bonus? Getting to meet and mingle with some of the best & brightest in the plant-based world — people devoted to changing lives like Dr. Michael Greger of NutritionFacts.org (if you are not visiting this site daily you are missing out on an incredible wealth of information), authors Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, Isa Chandra Moskowitz of Post Punk Kitchen fame & Terry Hope Romero (the Vegan Latina), celebrity trainer John Pierre (trainer to Ellen, Flea, Joaquin Phoenix and others), local celebrity raw chef Doug McNish, plantpowered pro hockey player Mike Zigomanis (who incidentally has a Stanley Cup on his resume from his tenure as a Pittsburgh Penguin) and vegan activists Joseph Pace & Shannon Kornelsen, who were amazing hosts, taking care of me all weekend.
Overall it was a phenomenal event hosted by an incredible city. A city I enjoyed by foot each morning on my daily runs out along the Eastern Beaches on the broad shoulders of the great Lake Ontario. Can’t wait to get back.
Next up?
Tomorrow (Wednesday, September 12) I will be speaking at the UC Irvine University Club for an organization called Inside Edge. I know it’s last minute, but if you happen to read this, are in the area and want to check it out, click HERE for details.
Then it’s all about CNN Fit Nation ! Sanjay Gupta and his CNN crew arrive in Malibu tomorrow for the final chapter in their 2012 Fit Nation program. Over the course of the past year, 7 Gupta-selected athletes have been getting fit under the tutelage of the good doctor Sanjay, coach April Lea Gallatly and guest coach Chrissie Wellington. And the time has arrived – they are ready to partake in their very first triathlon this weekend — the Nautica Malibu Sprint Distance Tri.
It’s an honor to play a very small part in the program, and I am super excited to be working with Chrissie and April on Thursday, when we will be hosting an open-water swimming workshop and pre-race strategy tutorial for the athletes. Pretty cool, right?
Not to mention the fact that I am thrilled to announce that I will be on CNN with doctor Gupta, Chrissie, April and others LIVE on Saturday morning as part of his Human Factor Program, talking about health, fitness, eating right and Finding Ultra*. If you miss it, it will air again on Sunday morning.
Then next week I’m off to my hometown of Washington, D.C. for DC VegFest !
Peace + Plants,
Rich
*Disclosure: Books and products denoted with an asterisk are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Looking forward to seeing you in DC. I am working the event with Vegan Treats bakery and we are always swamped but I will def break away to hear you speak. As a vegan athlete looking to do more endurance events your book was beyond inspiring.