WOW, What an Event!!!

Once in awhile, you hear someone speak who is so motivational, so right on, and so EXACTLY in line with what you're going through & what you need to hear that you feel your life take a dramatic turn for the better, just for having heard them speak. Attending Tim VanOrden's talk on Diet and Peak Performance was just such a time for me. If you weren't in Bellingham on Sunday night for Tim's talk, I can sum it up in 2 words: UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING! AWE-INSPIRING! MOTIVATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL! Ok, that's more than 2 words. But it was SO informative and he blew the lid off what I thought I knew about raw, nutrition, the human body and what to expect when going raw. I REALLY liked Tim's down-to-earth attitude, spontaneity, honesty and forthrightness. He was every bit the amazing speaker, educator and entertainer we've all come to know and love on the Running Raw videos.

We learned about how to take personal responsibility for our lives, our diets and our bodies, what and when to eat to get peak performance in athletics, and how SO many body systems work. And it was explained in such fun, easy-to-understand language that kids as young as 8 were both spellbound and cracking up.

Sponsors gave away 17 prizes from gym memberships to CD's to raw chocolate cakes to far infrared sauna sessions and chiropractic adjustments. Plus everyone enjoyed the raw food I made quite a lot, which is always good. I always love successful catering! We started out by serving everyone a small green smoothie before Tim spoke ~ best to keep people's tummies full so they can pay attention. The smoothie consisted of nectarines, peaches, blueberries, pineapple, kale, water and bananas, and the kids were coming back and asking for 2nds and 3rds. (Some adults were, too.) Then Tim gave his amazing talk, we drew numbers for the prizes, and everyone had appetizers. On the menu was:

• Sun-Dried Tomato Flax Crackers with Sharp Macadamia "Cheese" rosettes on them
• Cacao and Cacao-Orange Truffles
• Sweet & Tangy Broccoli Salad.

Fortunately we had enough food for everyone (I hate to run out), and people signed up to join the new raw support group I'm starting in Bellingham. And afterward, people got a chance to buy Running Raw DVD's and T-shirts from Tim. Also, Kaleah's new CD was available for sale. (She's a raw foodist who sings like an angel.)


Tim stayed late to answer all the questions every single person had, despite the fact that he'd been traveling, going on only a few hours' sleep a night for weeks, AND had just run up the Columbia Tower in Seattle that morning. He placed 4th in that race, by the way, out of over 6,000 people! Not bad for being on tour, under-slept and overworked.

I gotta tell you: when I asked Tim to come to Bellingham last year, I thought it would be a good, educational, fun experience -- which is why I invited him. But I did not expect such a genuine, kind, helpful and humble guy with SO much amazing information. His energy and presentation FAR exceeded my expectations! If you are ever within 500 miles of an event he's speaking at, make the time to go to it.  He is beyond worth it!

I got so involved in the "running the event" end of things, by the way, that I freakin' forgot to take pictures!  How's that for special?  So sorry about that.  BUT ... Tim has already agreed to come back and present in Bellingham again soon (which is good, because people are already asking for him again), and I know it'll be great then too.

And I don't know about you, but I'm inspired. I'm inspired to change my diet, change my life and change the planet!