Running the Cohos Trail to benefit the Cohos Trail Association

Hello all!  Temperatures are soaring, the snowfields are melting out and the rivers are flowing rich and heavy with the waters of a changing season.  It's time to start looking forward to summer and autumn projects.  As such, I'm VERY excited to announce Humanity Running's next fund-raising and awareness effort:

In late July of this year, I (Rob Rives) will attempt a fast-packing style thru-run of the 165-mile Cohos Trail in northern New Hampshire.  This effort will be to benefit The Cohos Trail Association (TCTA), the fine folks who dreamed up this ambitious trail and continue to improve, build and maintain it (and all the shelters and campsites along it) to this day.  The trip will likely take four to five days, and will be supported through personal food/gear caches as well as occasional aid at road crossings.  If this current plan is successful, I will set a new FKT (fastest known time) for the Cohos Trail and a benchmark for future trail-running and fast-packing enthusiasts to shoot for.  In running the Cohos Trail I aim to raise awareness of the stunning beauty and value of the Great North Woods, the rural region of New Hampshire that lies north of the well-traveled White Mountains.

Near the beginning of the Cohos Trail, looking south from the southern flank of the Presidential Range.  From here, the trail heads north to the Canadian border and passes very little human habitation along the way.

We have chosen this particular journey, and TCTA as the benefactor of the effort, because it is deeply connected with the core principle of Humanity Running - to take on unique endurance challenges that will both inspire and directly help the community and environment in a certain place.  The Cohos Trail is not simply another American long-distance trail; it is a pathway through a region that lies far from urban sprawl and influence, and it endures through its ability to humbly sustain itself via natural resources, farming and tourism.  The Great North Woods, as the region is known in its broader range across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, is the largest area of unspoiled land in the Eastern US that is also used by humans in sustainable manners.  Many argue that outside pressures are being felt that could potentially alter the region permanently (see this article on understanding the implications of the Northern Pass Project), and we feel that this is a time to do our part and highlight the natural wonders and importance of these areas, so that they may remain that way.  The Cohos Trail is a regional attraction that will help bring more outdoors enthusiasts to the northern reaches of New Hampshire, and by documenting a thru-run of this trail we hope to aid in this inspiration.

If you are interested in supporting this journey and The Cohos Trail Association, here are some ways you can do so:

• Visit the "How You Can Help" section of TCTA's website.  If you are lucky enough to be a resident of the Great North Woods, this is where you will find information on how to directly help in sustaining and improving the Cohos Trail through volunteering and TCTA membership.
• Donate directly to TCTA.  Funds, building materials, trail-work equipment - if it seems like it might help the trail in any way, it probably can!  All of the above (and more) are thankfully accepted as donations to The Cohos Trail Association.
• Volunteer with Humanity Running at Cohos Trail work days.  Shortly, TCTA will announce its summer maintenance and building projects for the trail and its structures.  We will be participating in a few of these work days throughout the summer and highlighting the amazing work of TCTA volunteers, so come join us!  Dates to come.
• Join the Friends of the Cohos Trail Facebook page for news on trail updates and frequent photographic inspiration from areas located on the trail.
• Sharing information about this effort and The Cohos Trail Association with friends and family and through your own social media.  

Stay tuned for updates!  We will hopefully have more stickers for sale soon (or as gifts for donors to The Cohos Trail Association), and more news concerning Rob's training for the run and dates that we'll be volunteering with TCTA.  Run happy!

-- Rob Rives, May 6th 2015

Running for the Karma Project: Final Numbers

Hello friends!  Our first effort, a 150-mile run to benefit the Karma Project of Sibuje Village in Nepal, was a huge success!  We still have a couple of in-person donations coming in from friends close to Glen Young, Karma Project co-founder, but our combined totals are going to reach near the $900 mark.  That might not seem like a large sum, but it will go a long way in helping the people of Sibuje Village to sustain and improve their way of life through education, medical training and the eventual goal of a reliable, sustainable tourism economy to the region.  Ultimately, what is done with our raised funds will be decided the next time that Karma Sherpa and Glen Young meet with members of Sibuje; we will post updates as soon as this happens!

A couple of weeks ago, we had the honor of presenting Glen with a donation check that included all of the online-collected donations, which totaled $560.00.  The remaining 300+ dollars have all come from offline, in-person donations. 

We can't say this enough; thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your support of the Karma Project and Humanity Running!  We are so excited to see this amount of response and interest in our dream of helping human and environmental causes through inspiring feats of endurance.  You are all a part of the foundation that elevates these goals and dreams into the realm of possibility, and together we create a momentum that will see us into an enduring human future.

But we're not done yet!  We will never be done.  There is much running to come, and so many ways for running to inspire and help in worldwide issues.  We already are laying plans for the next Humanity Running effort, and an announcement will be made soon.  Here is a sneak peak at what is coming next:

- Robert Rives, April 2015

Who Needs REM Sleep Anyway? A 150-mile Success Story for the Karma Project!

150 miles.  That's 792,000 feet.  Or 316,800 average human steps.  Slightly more than the width of the state of Indiana.  Half a tank of gas for a non-hybrid vehicle.  And the length that I ran/walked, in circles, in 47 hours, with no real sleep.

Suffice it to say: WE DID IT.  Myself, along with a stellar group of crew and pacers (referred to from here on as Team Humanity Running, or Team Amazing), succeeded in Humanity Running's first effort: to complete a 48-hour run and rack up as much mileage as my body would allow.  Adding extra fuel to the motivational fire was the knowledge that each mile I completed meant an extra dollar would be added to the community purse of a small, rural village in the mountains of Nepal to aid in the sustainability of their culture, way of life, and quality of life.  In one week, we will close the online donation portal for this effort, but donations can still always be made to the Karma Project in their support of Sibuje Village.  Later this year, members of the Karma Project will meet with the Sibuje community and collectively decide on the most pertinent use of the most recent rounds of funds and physical donations; these will either go towards youth education, medical schooling, or towards a sustainable power initiative that will help Sibuje to end their reliance on wood for heating, which has caused deforestation and landslides around the community.  Once these decisions are made, Humanity Running will be posting updates as to where the funds from this effort were used.  Before I dive further into the events of this weekend, I want to extend a huge and hearty THANK YOU to all who supported this effort and the Karma Project through donations, loving words, and time spent keeping me awake, fed, watered and organized.  This was truly, truly a team effort.  Now for some highlights....

Friday, February 27th

• Team Humanity Running saddles up and leaves El Portal, CA after everyone finishes a half day of teaching!  Crew includes fellow outdoor educators Carolyn, Katie, Jade and Carrie (who will be joining on Saturday morning).  We arrive at the start of the Razorback Endurance Race in San Martin, CA with over an hour of spare time before the starting gun (nice driving, Katie!).
• 6 PM start!  Here is a photo with all of the 48-hour competitors (the seventh competitor, not pictured here, is Catra Corbett's running dachshund, named TruMan).  I am second from left.

•  I run on the through the sunset and night while Team Humanity Running goes grocery shopping, eats a Korean BBQ dinner, and beds down in the mini tent-city they have constructed.  They picked up some serious caffeine supplies for the long nights ahead, and arranged all of my nightly needs within easy reach so that I could self-support on night one and they could get real sleep.

Saturday, February 28th

• By daybreak, I have covered 100k (62+ miles).  I manage to keep a good, consistent running pace of 12 minutes per mile all night long.  More importantly, I have succeeded in abstaining from caffeine for this first night - not only will this help me in the latter two thirds of the run, but it is a huge personal accomplishment.  This is the longest I have ever run without caffeine!  Woohoo!  Feeling good with the sunrise and stirring of my crew members.
• Saturday is the big event day at Razorback.  The 72-hour and 48-hour are already going, but every other event starts at 6AM this morning.  These events include the 24-hour, the 100-mile, the 100k, the 50-mile, and the 50k.  I think there might also have been a marathon and half-marathon, but I wasn't paying enough attention.  Needless to say, there were suddenly a LOT more people out on the course!  This was an emotional boost and something to help keep my mind occupied after a long first night.  Here I am at mile 68, just after the other events have begun:

•  Daytime is spent chugging along towards the 100-mile benchmark.  The closer I get to 100 miles, the more dark and ominous the skies become.  Each member of the crew joins me for one of the last four laps leading to 100 - this was such a fun way to "run the 90s" as I call it, where emotions seem to dip low for me (between miles 90 and 100).  Miles 98 and 99 were spent in a downpour with Carolyn, and when I reached 100 we all retreated into the tent fortress for celebratory cocktails (mine was intentionally weak).

•  After a brief attempt at sleep with no real success, my crew roused me at 5 PM to start my journey beyond 100 miles.  The downpour had ceased and sunset was coming; things were about to start getting strange and confusing as sleep deprivation really set in.  The second night out was going to be my hardest time during the race.  
• Through the night, my crew spent many laps with me to keep me sane and make sure I didn't weave around too much.  I began developing stiffness, soreness and swelling in my lower right shin, so I completed the rest of the race with trekking poles and walking.  I attempted naps at miles 122 and 128, but neither gave me legitimate sleep - just enough time with my eyes closed to fool my body into thinking some recovery had taken place.  The temperatures dipped down into the mid-30s, but we kept consistently trucking and putting away miles.  Here are Carolyn and I at the aid station around 3 AM on the second night:

Sunday, March 1st

• Sunrise is heavenly.  Jade, who was crewing and pacing me for the final hours of the night, helps me rally from my last attempted nap to greet the new day and month.  Only twelve hours to go.
• For most of Sunday, I agonize with myself over the possibility of quitting early to start caring for my obviously angry and possibly injured shin.  When Katie paces me, we have a long philosophic discussion about what matters more in this case, and we get analytical with pros and cons until I'm so confused I give up thinking about it.  Katie has had severe consequences from a similar injury in the past, so I'm taking her story into account and trying to be prudent but not too prudent.
• What will eight more miles do to my leg that 142 haven't already done?  Gunning for the finish.  Me and the crew all share strong beers on the second-to-last lap to celebrate the inevitable 150 benchmark!  From left to right, the wonderwomen: Katie, Jade, Carrie and Caro.

•  My final lap to 150 miles is shared with all of my crew and two other extremely inspiring 48-hour participants, Gene and Francisco.  Francisco is about to finish his first 100-miler, and he has fought through two days, one filled with intense knee pain, to do it!  Gene was getting a mileage PR as well, with somewhere around 112-114 miles.  It was so much fun getting to walk across that finish line as a large successful group.  Catra Corbett wrapped up her 72-hour run around the same time (with 172+ miles!), so we grabbed a parting shot.  TruMan covered his own 50k+ with those tiny legs!  Aren't ultrarunners the coolest?

After all the hugs, celebrations, and awards for those few of us still left on the course, Team Humanity Running fled to a nearby motel in Gilroy for some serious shower time and shuteye.  I had been effectively awake for 60 hours, and every member of the team had sacrificed large periods of sleep to ensure my safety and success.  Time to black out. 

Tracy and all of her co-directors and volunteer staff put on a STELLAR multi-day running event, through inclement weather periods and the complexities of running several different events simultaneously.  On behalf of Team Humanity Running, thank you thank you THANK YOU for all of your hard work.  The human spirit endures, in running efforts and in feats of organization, and ultimately in the mutual support that keeps our collective fabric from unraveling.  Stay tuned for final updates of Humanity Running's contributions to the Karma Project, and be well!

-- Rob Rives, March 3rd 2015

Closing In!

Excitement and nerves are running high - we are four days away from Humanity Running's first effort, the Razorback 48-Hour Run!  The month of February has been filled with preparations for the run, word-of-mouth sharing of Humanity Running's mission, and introducing a greater audience to the work of the Karma Project.  Here are some highlights:

• First, THANK YOU to all of the wonderful people who have already contributed to the Karma Project in support of the forthcoming 48-hour run.  We have already raised $250 in advance of the actual race, and we have heard from several potential donors that will be contributing amounts based on Rob's final mileage.  This leaves us the potential of reaching the $750 mark, which will fully fund a year's worth of high-school education for a resident of Sibuje Village!  If we can climb towards the $1500 mark, then we will be one step closer to ensuring that Sibuje villagers have trained, local medical personnel.
• We developed and produced a few stickers to help spread the message of Humanity Running.  Many more will be produced in the future, and we will be trading them for suggested donations towards Humanity Running's most current projects.  Here is a photo of the first batch:

 

• A stunning team of experienced ultrarunners and exuberant enthusiasts has been assembled to assist and crew for Rob at the Razorback Endurance Race.  Stay tuned for photographs and anecdotes from the Humanity Running Team on race day!
• We have partnered with two cutting-edge, sustainability-focused nutritional companies for our first effort: Yumbutter and IceBox Water.  In addition to creating delicious, wholesome foods and beverages, these companies both have a commitment to an enduring human future: Yumbutter through their Buy One: Feed One program, and IceBox Water through joining the One Percent for the Planet campaign and through their recyclable/compostable packaging.  Rob tests the watery goods:

Well, that's about all for now!  This Friday, at 6PM, Rob will begin the 48-hour run and we'll be posting updates to the Humanity Running facebook page.  Thank you all again, and stay tuned for more!

-- Rob Rives, February 23rd, 2015

48 Hours To Benefit The Karma Project

The time is here! I'm very excited to announce Humanity Running's first awareness and fundraising effort:

On February 27th, at 6PM Pacific Time, I (Rob Rives) will begin a 48-hour running effort to benefit the the Karma Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to the sustainability of rural communities in mountainous regions of Nepal.  The run will be done through participation in the Razorback Endurance Races in San Martin, CA, in the 48-hour category.  What this means is that I will be running on a two-mile loop course, continuously trying to rack up as much mileage as my body, mind and spirit will allow within the allotted two-day time period.  Race officials will be keeping track of my mileage as I go, and I will be supported by a well-stocked aid station at the start of each loop.  At the completion of the event, I will donate my total mileage in dollars directly to the Karma Project, in addition to all donations received until the race and immediately thereafter.  If you are interested in supporting this run and the Karma Project, here are some ways you can do so:

• Visit Humanity Running's fund-raising page for this event, and donate online.  The donation page lists two readily attainable financial goals of the Karma Project: providing funds for Sibuje villagers to complete a high school education, and helping pay for the costs of medical courses and certifications for Sibuje villagers, who have no readily available medical services in their rural area.  All funds collected through this portal will be combined with Rob's donation immediately following the race and donated as one lump sum, via check, to the Karma Project.
• If you would like to donate but the internet isn't your preferred method, contact Glen Young (co-founder of the Karma Project) directly for simple instructions on donating directly to the organization.  His email is glen@karmaproject-nepal.org.
• Come out to the Razorback Endurance Races and run with me to show your support!  I am allowed pacers after I reach 50 miles, but I am welcome to have friends and family at the loop's start/finish at any time.  Extra points if you donate a dollar to the Karma Project for every mile you run with me!
• Sharing the information about this run, and about the Karma Project, with friends and family and through your own social media.  Together, we can all have a positive effect on the people of Sibuje Village!

I will be posting updates about fund-raising efforts as we get closer to the race date.  Thank you for reading and supporting Humanity Running and the Karma Project!  Stay tuned for more,

-- Rob Rives, January 29th 2015

Welcome and About Us

Hello all!  Welcome to the launch of Humanity Running.  Throughout recorded human history, feats of physical, emotional and mental endurance have inspired epic legends, heroic tales, and even entire methods of living.  Prior to recorded history, humans developed physiological adaptations to environmental stresses that allowed them to endure and outlast hardship upon hardship.  One could say that endurance is the defining characteristic of the human spirit.  To go on, to live on, to keep innovating and evolving in the face of obstructions, complications and difficulties - this is to be human.

As humanity evolves and grows, we are constantly reconsidering how best to live amongst one another and within the confines of our planet's ecosystems.  We have tried many times, and are still trying, to live outside of our planet's confines by "conquering" natural order.  At the end of each of these efforts, we only find more complications, and we often find that we have detrimentally altered a collective resource.  We must begin to find ways of living within natural order, and within the human community as a whole.

The goal of Humanity Running is to connect the idea of human endurance to our current, problematic state of human affairs.  Our mission statement reads:

"Humanity Running will use the action of endurance running as a symbol for the indomitable vitality of the human spirit, and as a means of increasing awareness and funding for projects related to connecting this spirit with the environment that it needs in order to thrive."  

As endurance runners, we will use the events that we create or participate in to inspire endurance in others, as well as inform public audiences about current issues in human rights and environmental sustainability at local, regional and global levels.

Stay tuned for information concerning Humanity Running's first endurance/fundraising effort, which should come out shortly!