AMERICA: Without Gas, the 100% sustainable TV series

INJURY DETAILS

The jarring impact fractured my C-4 (cervical) vertebrae in half, shattered all of the spiny processes attached to the back of the C-4, and severely herniated the disk underneath my C-5 vertebrae.

At the time of the accident I was with a co-worker (and clearly invaluable friend) named Courtney, who noticed my lethargy and pain immediately as I dragged myself from the surf. With no sense of the injury I had suffered, I walked in a daze about two hundred yards from the water to the beach's parking lot, where I laid down to wait for Courtney, who in the meantime was now sprinting in flip-flops to her car, some mile or so away, having agreeing to take me to the ER...

Seeing me spread out in the middle of the park's bike path, an attentive lifeguard and another of my perceptive co-workers stayed with me, making sure I didn't move (however, given the amount of pain I was feeling at the time, it didn't much seem like a good idea anyway). Quick-thinking food service employees who also were present for my company's volleyball tournament quickly went about talking and attending to me as I stared at the sky. All present then helped isolate my spine and place ice under my neck until an ambulance arrived shortly.

Courtney rode with me in the ambulance and even stayed in the ER until the late hours of the evening, when my roommate and close friend Liza took over. The next morning, after many x-rays, a CAT scan and an MRI, I received the bad news about the status of my spine. Still, to the apparent surprise of various hospital employees, I felt no numbness or any signs of paralysis.

On Saturday I underwent over six hours of surgery, both on the front and back of my neck, and groggily emerged from a post-operative stupor in recovery at about 11pm. My brilliant surgeon had not only inserted a cadaver (thank you donors everywhere!) C-4 vertebrae into my neck to replace the destroyed one, as well as replaced the herniated disc in my back with some Star Wars technology version of a normal cervical disc, but also more importantly had (in the front/posterior and the back/anterior) fused my cervical spine from C-3 to C-5 (including, obviously, my new C-4 vertebrae). What this effectively means is that while I do have to wear a neck brace for a LONG while, I don't have to wear any halo-type of device on the outside of my head or neck: the long-term neck support is installed in my neck.

MY GOOD FORTUNE

I am now left with an overwhelmingly strong sense of the tremendous good fortune I've experienced through the events of the last week: I've not only survived what for most is a devastating accident, but I've done so without any form of neurological impairment or paralysis. It wasn't until I had a conversation with the surgeon fellow two days after the operation that the real numbers game of these types of injuries became relevant to me - he gave me the following statistics that raised the hair on my neck (which I'm glad to report that I felt):
- Over 90% of the people who incur the same C-4 injury that I did suffer permanent neurologically impairment (paralyzed from the waist down or worse)
- Over 50% of the people who suffer such permanent neurological impairment from the injury are paraplegic (paralyzed from the neck down) for the rest of their lives
- A great majority of the people who become paraplegic as a result of such an injury die within a few years of the injury due to complications and/or depression

So, again it is with some surrealism and tremendous gratitude for life that I write. I'm now OK, recovering from surgery and informed by my surgeons that they predict I will make a full recovery (although I may encounter some reduction in the range of motion of my neck).

THE FUTURE

Some of you know me in the context of competing in ultrarunning, triathlons or marathons, some know me from various forms of legal and producer work in LA, and some others still might know me through training to run across America as part of the 100% sustainable TV show I am producing called "AMERICA without GAS", the journey for which was to begin in New York City in March 2009.

I've been told that I should expect approximately six months of recovery time, after which I can be active again - and I've made it known to my doctors that I expect to be racing in trail ultras and marathons six months from now. "AMERICA without GAS" will still be produced....with perhaps a slightly modified time line...and I will still be running across America in hopes that I can help more people to become more sustainable in their daily lives. I just have a few more reasons to run now than before...

You can follow the future development of "AMERICA without GAS", the broken neck that preceded it, various aspects of the healing process of the injury and more on the YouTube website that was originally intended only for the TV show:
http://www.youtube.com/americawithoutgas

The show's site itself will be updated in days to come, and it is my hope that through this recent set of circumstances, the message and catalyzing nature of the project will become even more impactful and beneficial to others than ever before:
http://americawithoutgas.com

THANK YOU

I can't adequately express how fortunate I feel to be of complete body, nor the tremendous amount of appreciation for those at the scene of the accident who convinced me to play it safe and take an ambulance ride, and not to mention the gratitude that I feel for the hospital staff and surgeons who helped mend me.

If your finances are anything like mine then you don't have a lot of extra cash with which to play in the stock market. But, if you do some investing now and then (or regularly), take note: according to greenchipstocks.com, stocks in the green sector (those related to alternative energy resources, sustainability, and more) have already built a collective value of more than $226.8 billion.

The website explains that "green chip stocks represent the most important stocks traded today, for one simple reason - these are the stocks that will be the catalyst for the first real social-impacting profit trend of the 21st century."

"Grabbing your share now is like getting a piece of the automobile market back in 1908. And I don't mean just Ford either. I'm talking about the market as a whole. Oil, rubber tires, road construction, etc."

So-called 'green chip stocks' are stocks manipulated by the newest and most influential market in the world, which is being referred to by analysts as the "LOHAS market", an acronym for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability. This infant market is populated by goods and services that appeal to consumers who value health, sustainable living, environmental responsibility, social justice and personal development.

For an insight as to how fast this market is growing, one need only look as far as the fact that (again, according to greenchipstocks.com) nearly every new LOHAS stock that has become publicly traded within the last 5 years has doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled in value. OMG! What's more impressive though, at least for long-term financial analysis, is that the market's growth has been reliably consistent. And, the LOHAS market simply gives investors peace of mind that their money is being invested in goods and services that are good for the Earth and its inhabitants.

Studies have shown that the consumers of LOHAS goods and services represent a segment of the population whose purchasing decisions are based almost entirely on lifestyle, and who maintain such a healthy and moral agenda that they regularly pay higher price premiums on practically all of their purchases. Whether they're buying vehicles, food, green energy, or even cosmetics, they will regularly pay as much as 300% more than conventional consumers.

Here's the best (and most profitable) reason to invest in LOHAS: this is not a trend.

We live in an age where global warming is accepted scientific fact and where we are collectively beginning to recognize that if we don't do something to change our ecologically disastrous course of bearing, we may alter the atmospheric composition and temperature of the Earth for a long, long time (and perhaps longer and hotter than we, as human beings, will be able to survive). What buyers of LOHAS goods and services recognize is that THEY ARE VOTING AND MAKING THEIR CHOICES KNOWN EVERY TIME THEY BUY: they want to participate in preserving the health of the Earth and its inhabitants. They aren't buying LOHAS goods and services in addition to non-Earth-friendly goods and services - they're buying them instead.

Until we've completely altered our bad habits, fixed the almost unsurmountable problem of global warming, and recreated the ecological balance Earth that was maintained for millenia prior to the onset of the burning of fossil fuels only a couple hundred years ago, and as long as the momentum to find solutions to our old habits continues, the LOHAS market will generate an infinite cycle of new consumers with every successive generation. More precisely, children of parents who are LOHAS consumers will also be LOHAS consumers, and their children will be LOHAS consumers, and their children will be LOHAS consumers, and on, and on - even as the LOHAS market and its goods and services continues to evolve and grow.

Ironically, by putting your money in the LOHAS market, you can participate in supporting the growth of health, sustainable living, environmental responsibility, social justice and personal development - just as generations before us supported the TRILLION dollar growth of automobiles and fast food. Wouldn't you rather know that your money is going to aid in the development of alternative energy vehicles, locally-grown and natural foods, and sustainable economies rather than to oil and hamburgers?

THE RUNNING FILM FESTIVAL IS MY KIND OF FILM FESTIVAL!

Specifically designed to coincide with the Olympic Trials taking place this weekend at famous Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon (a/k/a "Track Town USA"), "The first film festival dedicated to the great sport of running" will screen documentaries, narratives and experimental films with a strong running theme (cross country, track & field, road racing, etc.) on July 3rd, 4th and 5th.

I grew up in a little town in Southern Oregon about 100 miles from Eugene, so have spent a lot of time there - not to mention having competed in high school Track & Field events at Hayward Field (cross country State Championships were always held at nearby Lane Community College).

The trials and film festival are definitely two things I wish I could attend this weekend. For those of you lucky enough to be in Eugene for either or both of these great events, I would highly recommend checking out Track Town Pizza for the BEST pizza and suds in town. Appropriate for the whole family too (i.e., little runners) if that's how you roll.

They know how to treat runners right in Eugene - just ask Pre.

See you on the road,
Ryon

New hybrids and clean diesel cars on the market are a great way for car buyers to stretch their gas dollars. But what about drivers who need to stay in their current vehicles? The following routine maintenance procedures will help any car or truck owner improve their overall fuel economy.

1. Check tire pressures at least once a week; more often if there are large temperature fluctuations. Under-inflated tires reduce fuel economy, and the tires will wear unevenly. If the car is running on original equipment tires, the owner’s manual should have recommended tire pressures. If not, look for a sticker on the driver’s side door sill, or inside the glove box. Never inflate tires to the maximum pressures listed on the sidewalls. Most gas station air pumps have pressure gauges, but it’s a good idea to keep one in the car just in case.

2. Change the oil every three thousand miles. Oil lubricates the moving parts inside the engine. It becomes contaminated from air-born dirt entering the engine, and it also breaks down from engine heat. The owner’s manual will list the correct viscosity of oil to use. Some manufacturers recommend changing oil viscosity semi-annually, to adjust for seasonal temperature changes. Synthetic oil costs a little more, but it can make a big difference in high performance cars, where higher engine temperatures can cause oil to break down more quickly

3. Check the air and fuel filters at every oil change. The purpose of the filters is to keep pollutants and particulates out of the engine. But if they become clogged, they restrict air and fuel flow into the engine, so it can’t run as efficiently. The car’s on-board computer can’t “see” dirt in the filters, so it won’t make adjustments to compensate. The same applies to the throttle body housing. An electronic sensor monitors throttle valve position, but it doesn’t look at dirt buildup around the valve. Have the throttle body housing inspected as part of a preventative maintenance tune-up, once every 30,000 miles.

4. Rotate the tires every other oil change, and have wheel alignment checked every 25,000 miles. Wheels and tires are like feet and running shoes: when they don’t track straight, they lose efficiency. Wheels out of alignment also cause premature wear on suspension parts, similar to the way overpronation can cause tendonitis. Rotating the tires every five to six thousand miles will extend tire life even further.

5. Have a preventative maintenance tune-up every thirty thousand miles. Today’s cars have fewer moving parts than older cars. Whereas semi-annual tune-ups used to consist of changing mechanical parts that wore out, today’s tune-ups monitor for performance problems. This includes base timing, engine compression, spark plug erosion, and dirt on the fuel injector tips, none of which are monitored by the car’s computer. While the car may run up to 100,000 miles without a tune-up, gas mileage will suffer. If the car is off warranty, look for a good independent shop where the technicians are ASE certified. ASE certification requires technicians to have several years of field experience, and be well versed in new automotive technology.

6. Replace the oxygen sensor every 60,000 miles. The oxygen sensor monitors the exhaust stream to help the computer determine the proper ratio of gasoline to air going into the engine. These sensors are potentiometers: they rarely fail completely, but they tend to get sluggish over time. When the sensor slows down, the on-board computer can’t respond as quickly to changes in engine load, impacting the car’s overall performance and hurting gas mileage.

7. Have the timing belt checked at 60,000 miles, and replace it if necessary. Over time, the cogs on the belt get rounded off, so the belt can shift when the engine advances and retards timing. Timing out of adjustment reduces gas mileage. If the timing belt breaks, be prepared to be stuck on the side of the road. In some cases a broken timing belt can cause the engine valves to play tag with the pistons: the result, a blown engine.

8. Service the air conditioner every couple of years on a newer car; annually on an older one. Believe it or not, using the air conditioner at highway speeds is more fuel efficient than driving with the windows down, because it reduces aerodymanic drag. Check a noisy compressor as well: if the bearings inside freeze up, it will wear out the compressor belt and put additional load on the engine.

9. Service the cooling system every two years: The term, “cooling system,” is deceptive, because the system also helps the engine to reach operating temperature in cold weather. The period before a car reaches operating temperature is called “open loop.” During those couple of minutes (or more on older cars) the computer doesn’t monitor the gasoline and air going into the engine. The longer it takes a car to reach operating temperature, the more fuel economy suffers. Antifreeze loses its cooling and lubricating properties over time, so it needs to be flushed out and refilled.Wash your car regularly. Engineers spend hours in the wind tunnel trying to minimize a new vehicle’s coefficient of drag. They don’t test dirty cars, because dirt increases aerodymanic drag. Washing and waxing the car on a regular basis stretches gas mileage, and protects the paint from sun damage, road salt, and acid rain.

*** MY COMMENTS ***

While I advocate NOT driving at all and boycotting gasoline (run to your destination! just tell people there's something wrong with your car when you're late and sweaty!), I realize that most people don't have that option - nor the luxury of working from home or walking/running to work.

For those of you who are still turning the ignition over to participate in the daily grind of traffic, I thought you might find useful these tips to save you money at the pump (WHICH INCIDENTALLY ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASING THE GAS MILEAGE OF YOUR VEHICLE).

However, when purchasing your next car, please consider that hybrids are not the solution to our country and world's oil and climate crises - they're merely a Band-Aid on a gaping, gushing wound. We have an obligation to demand alternative energy transportation from our heavily-lobbied legislature and stop the major auto maker and oil company conglomerates from speaking for us and 'conveying public preference' for us. Don't you think you're in a better position to know what's good for you than a Chevron lobbyist?

And by the way - have you ever asked yourself why vehicles in the European Union get much better gas mileage than those in the United States?

IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELATED TO PEAK OIL, SUSTAINABILITY, or ANYTHING RELATED TO THE RUNNING ACROSS THE NATION PROJECT, please feel free to ask me!

See you on the road,
Ryon

Before anyone asks, despite what might appear to be a serious injury in this picture, both of my legs are indeed intact. Here's a little more about me:

I grew up in the woods around Grants Pass, a little town in Southern Oregon, and have been a competitive distance runner since high school. I've competed in hundreds of races and have run many thousands of miles in my lifetime. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2006, I have participated in various long distance races in the area - my current favorite is the Bulldog Run, which takes place in late August every year in the Santa Monica Mountains. I've never raced in a formal marathon, but have run naked on multiple occasions.

After graduating from the University of Washington in Seattle, I spent a few years working as a ‘techie’ in cramped cubicles around the Puget Sound (and spent my weekends climbing the beautiful Northern Cascade Mountains). Not satisfied with my career and with hopes of finding the deeper job satisfaction that I noticed in many of my friends, I decided to go back to school. During my second year (2L) at Seattle University School of Law, I realized that I could turn a law degree into a career as a film and television producer. I immersed myself in the Seattle film community, started my own production company while still in school, and began working with directors to produce short films and commercials.

Since moving to sunny Southern California, I've worked in various capacities for companies such as CAA, Innovative Artists, Intermedia Film, Lionsgate, and IMAGEN Films and am currently developing multiple feature film, documentary and television concepts in association with IMAGEN. My goal as a producer is to create film, television and other media that not only entertains, but informs and enables...and if I’m lucky, maybe makes the world a better place.

I have a ten-year-old daughter named Isabella who still lives in Seattle. I live in Santa Monica with a crazy Bengal cat named Kima, consider most of my neighbors to be my friends, and feel like part of a community in my neighborhood for the first time since leaving Oregon. I walk or ride a skateboard to work every day and hope eventually to live a completely sustainable lifestyle.

See you on the road,
Ryon

One of the challenges that we'll face while trying to minimize our CARBON FOOTPRINT during the long journey across America will be to purchase sustainable and locally-grown food.

Why? Think about it: the farther your food travels to get to you, the more gasoline it took to get there (unless of course you're eating frogs that continue to fall from the sky, but not everyone is so lucky). Every time you see that "Braeburn" or "Fuji" label on your apple, consider the amount of energy that was needed to put it in your hand, and consequently the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere when the fuel to create that energy was burned.

Two great websites to find information about eating locally AND information about where to find the best organic food that is grown close to you are LocalHarvest and 100MileDiet. On LocalHarvest, you'll find - with the help of a map - where all the local farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area are located, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies. And, on 100MileDiet, also with the help of a map, you can find out to where a 100-mile circumferenced border surrounding your extends - and then find out information about all the places within that circle where you can buy locally-produced food.

Happy Eating!

See you on the road,
Ryon

It's official: After miles of extensive training with Till Schenk, founder of TRINITED, the world's fastest-growing online endurance sports and triathlon community, I've decided to officially accept TEAM TRINITED's offer to sponsor me as a competing member. If anyone reading this posting is interested in joining the TRINITED community, please either contact Till or shoot me an e-mail.

Till even features a nice little nature pic of me!

Thank you Dudes of Trinited. :)

See you on the road,
Ryon