$100 for the First 14 Runners!

The first 14 runners to raise $100 between now and March 10th will receive an additional $100 from a VERY generous donor and fellow PETA Pack runner, Lisa Towell!

If you’ve been checking the PETA Pack home page regularly, you probably noticed that over the past two days we flew past $20,000 and at this moment have raised $21,560 (although this will probably have changed by the next time I check)! This is SO fantastic and we should all be very proud! Because of us, the lives of so many animals living in miserable conditions are going to be changed for the better.

Dogs like the one pictured above that live out their lives chained to the ground will receive sturdy doghouses from PETA to help them through brutal winters. Undercover investigators will reveal horrific cruelty happening behind closed industry doors, and PETA will bring the footage to the forefront of the public’s attention. Dogs and cats will be spayed and neutered which will spare hundreds or even thousands of animals from coming into this world just to scavenge hungrily on the street or linger in the barren stalls of shelters, only to be euthanized. Cases of animal abuse will be investigated, animals will be rescued, and PETA will do everything in its power to stop the suffering of innocent animals wherever it occurs.

We’ve raised a lot of money to help already, but we still have $78,440 to raise to reach our goal of $100,000. We’ve just got one month left, so now is the time to start reaching out to everyone you know (and don’t know!) and letting them know that you are running hard every week for the many animals out there that need our need help!

Take a look at PETA’s 2009 End of Year video and this Why PETA video for more inspiration.

Thank you all for your dedication and inspiring efforts! We’ve got 30 days left to reach our goals, and now we’ve also got the help of most generous Lisa Towell, so LET’S DO THIS!!!

Feeling a bit low? Pizza!

I just had lunch with a particularly wonderful PETA Pack member, and she told me that she found herself craving pizza last week. She was feeling a bit tired, took a day off training, ate some veggie pizza, and then had a GREAT run the next day.

Are you feeling more tired than usual? Don’t forget that your body is doing a lot for you right now. Your metabolism is different. You’re burning calories and building new muscle. If you’re feeling hungry…eat! Just eat well.

Avoid potato chips or a double order of fries (which I have been craving like mad lately). Those will give you calories and fat, but not much else. Go for the pizza! A good veggie pizza has more calories than a salad, but not empty calories. You’ll get lots of complex carbs, which you really need right now, and some extra protein and vitamins and minerals from the veggies. Don't replace the fatty cow's milk with vegan cheese--just skip the cheese altogether. Try it. You'll be surprised. If you're eating bread, tomato sauce and veggies you can really fill up. It's the cheese, oil, butter, and other additions that make it deadly.

Other good foods to try: Veggie burgers with pasta salad instead of fries on the side, Coach Darren’s smoothies, tofu-and-vegetable stews over rice (think curry), peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and of course…pasta! Lots of it! You can get wheat-free pasta, or whole wheat, or just plain. Don’t cover it with cream sauces or olive oil. Go with a nice tomato sauce and throw in your favorite chopped veggies (frozen is fine if you’re short on time).

Here’s some more on food. Don’t diet now, you’ll run out of energy, but avoid the fattiest of foods as well. Think carbs! Let me know if you want more tips.

Alex
p.s.
So far I’m winning the war against French fries, and the huge bag of corn chips here in the office kitchen. It calls my name every time I walk by. I’m eating tons of rice and veggies and tofu, spaghetti, boiled potatoes, oatmeal, apples, carrots, and PB&J’s. So much of the good stuff that I’m too full for chips!