Ignore the Impossible
by Kindra Gordon, field editor, Angus Journal
RAPID CITY, S.D. (Dec. 4, 2013) — "Realize it is amazing what you can do when you just ignore the impossible,” Dane Rauschenberg told those attending the Range Beef Cow Symposium in Rapid City, S.D., Dec. 4.
Dane Rauschenberg
In 2008 Rauschenberg did what many would consider impossible: He ran 52 marathons on 52 consecutive weekends. Today, he continues to run long distances — 350 miles in seven consecutive days, as an example — and for the last several years he has also been an advocate of lean beef as part of a healthy diet.
He told the audience, “I love steak.”
Rauschenberg shared his history of becoming an athlete. He originally had a love for swimming, then started running track in high school. He called himself an average runner. In college, his dream was to play football. When that didn’t happen, he changed course and played rugby.
After college, he went on to law school and decided his sports career was over. As his fit body turned to flab, he decided to start running. Early on, he made various attempts at running marathons, without great success. Eventually he was running longer distances and trying more outlandish things, which eventually led to his goal of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks.
When he completed the last race of his one-year mission, before he even rested up from the marathon, he did an interview with BBC in which he was asked, “What’s next?” Since then, he has really tried to savor “what’s right now,” he said. “We are often looking too far ahead instead of living in the present.”
Serendipity intervened with Rauschenberg’s life after 2008 when he met Darren Williams with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Williams asked Rauschenberg if he’d be willing to be a spokesperson for beef, and he has been doing so ever since.
Rauschenberg shared, “All the time I’m asked what do you eat? How do you stay uninjured?” Rauschenberg credits his health and ability to several things, including what he eats.
“My diet is high in lean beef,” he said. “It’s one of the things I eat constantly.”
He added, “The silent majority of athletes eat beef, but they let the vegans talk.” He is trying to counter some of that by being a voice for beef.
Much of Rauschenberg’s recent efforts combine running events with stops at schools to talk about eating well. He said he aims to continue sharing his message.
He also encourages others to think positive and likes to promote the thought, “I get to,” as opposed to, “I have to.”
He gave the example that some people might say, “I have to go for a run,” but Rauschenberg prefers to look at it as, “I get to go for a run.” He suggested it’s not just with athletics. He concluded by encouraging the audience to look at all aspects of their life from the “I get to” perspective.
Rauschenberg spoke Wednesday at RBCS XXIII. Visit the Newsroom at www.rangebeefcow.com/2013 to listen to his presentation.
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The RBCS is a biennial educational symposium offering practical production management information. It is sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Service and animal science departments of the University of Wyoming, South Dakota State University, Colorado State University and the University of Nebraska.
Comprehensive coverage of the symposium is available online at www.rangebeefcow.com. Compiled by the Angus Journal editorial team, the site is made possible through sponsorship of LiveAuctions.tv and the cooperation of the host committee.
Editor’s Note: This article was written under contract or by staff of the Angus Journal. To request reprint permission and guidelines, contact Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, at 816-383-5270.
