Running for Sanctuary

Richard Adams found Farm Sanctuary on somewhat of a whim. While visiting Watkins Glen with fiance Amy, they decided to stop by and checkout the place dedicated to protecting farm animals and promoting a vegan lifestyle.

At the time, the 27-year-old Irondequoit resident wasn't much of an animal activist nor was he extremely meticulous about what he put in his body.

By the time he left he was both.

"I adopted my cat from a shelter, but outside of that I wasn't an activist or anything of that magnitude," he said. "But the place had a huge impact on me. You hear the story of the animals they rescue and see them up close. It hits home and when I left I was a vegan."

Adams admitted that he had been searching for a new diet to help combat some stomach issues he was having, and the health ordeals were a big part in his decision to give up all animal products, but still, the organization remained close to his heart.

He decided that it was the perfect place to help promote with his other passion of running.
Adams recently completed the Ironman Lake Placid Triathlon - a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run in order to raise awareness for his recently discovered cause.

"I talked to them about how I was going to run the Ironman and how I would like to promote them in the process," he said. "They helped me out a lot and it felt good to be able to give back. It was more than just about me."

Adams raised close to $1,000 through donations for the non-profit from friends and complete strangers who heard what he planned.

Raising the money was the easy part for the LeRoy High School graduate. This was his first Ironman competition and by far the most grueling race he had ever competed in.

Adams wasn't always a big runner, let a lone an Ironman competitor. Some self-reflecting on the need to get in shape after college got him into running, and he enjoyed what he was taking out of it.

After getting into better physical form, Adams started running 5K races and eventually 10K distances.

"I found that I really enjoyed distance running and my body was more suited for some longer distances," he said. "I have never been looking for incredible times or finishes, rather more for personal satisfaction."

He worked his way up to running some 20K races. He also started riding his bike and progressed from a mountain bike to a road bike.

"At that point it was kind of a natural progression for me to try more things," he said.
It led him try his first 1/2 triathlon in 2008. He enjoyed the experience and has done one each of the past three years around the northeast.

This year's full Ironman was his first. He used the motivation of Farm Sanctuary to help get him through.

"They had signs on the course powering me through and all the people that donated and supported me were in the front of my mind," he said. "It really was an accomplishment and my greatest accomplishment."

He trained for close to nine months for the event mostly seven days per week. He would swim at 4:30 a.m. and run and bike after work with weekends reserved for distance running.
His full vegan diet helped him not only with his stomach ailments, but in his long training process.

"It was a fantastic choice and one that has helped me tremendously," he said.

Adams said the race was very hard and taxing on his body, but he finished with a time of 12:52.02.

"I was really smiling the whole entire time," he said. "I cramped up pretty bad during the run but kept telling myself to stay positive and not get upset for walking a bit. The whole thing was a great experience."

Adams said he will probably do another when he gets the itch, but is focused on his wedding coming up this month.

"I had a lot of support in this process, including from my fiance and I couldn't have done it without her."

Adams hopes that he also did his part to help raise awareness for Farm Sanctuary.

"These animals don't have a voice so we have to make sure they are taken care of and not taken advantage of," he said. "They do a fantastic job there and I am proud to be able to work with them and help support the cause."

For more information on Farm Sanctuary, visit their website at www.farmsanctuary.org.