Vegan Ultra-Endurance Runner Challenging A Tesla

Vegan ultra-endurance runner Robbie Balenger is set to take on his newest epic physical challenge, which has been characterized as a modern Man against Horse Marathon.

Balenger will face off against a Tesla Model 3 today in an effort to outpace the vehicle’s anticipated range of 267 miles in 72 hours.

Both Balenger and the Tesla will begin their journey around 250 miles outside of Austin, Texas.

The Tesla will go off with a full charge and will be driven until the battery runs out. Balenger will then have 72 hours to cover the distance using the same path.

Difficult Circumstances

The plant-based ultra-endurance runner will go up against not just a Model 3, but also the dry heat, rolling hills, and changing weather that Central Texas has to offer — as well as potentially a few rattlesnakes.

100-mile races are usually finished in less than 24 hours. Balenger’s challenge nearly triples this, and the race unavoidably grows more difficult as breaks, sleep, and the ticking time are factored in.

“As a plant-based athlete, I have two key considerations when it comes to my diet: environmentalism and performance – and Tesla excels at both. Outlasting a Tesla will be the longest single effort I have undertaken. This excites me and terrifies me all at the same time, meaning I must be onto something good,” Balenger said.

Plant-Based Energy 

Balenger is no stranger to testing his body’s boundaries by completing difficult endurance tests. He ran 3,175 miles across the United States in 75 days in 2019 to promote the benefits of a plant-based diet.

“My goal is to inspire people all across this country to start paying more attention to what they put inside of their bodies, and to be an example of someone who has made a radical change and feels better for it,” he said.

‘My hope is that this feat inspires others’

Balenger has even set a new record for the most laps run in a single day in New York’s Central Park. He broke the previous record of 11 loops by doing 16 complete loops in 18 hours and 7 minutes.

“My hope is that this feat inspires others to leave their comfort zones and embrace innovation, be it by challenging their perceptions of their own physical limits, or making lifestyle changes that can have a positive effect on the planet,” Balenger stated.

Source: “Vegan Ultra-Endurance Athlete Embarks On Challenge To Outrun A Tesla” by Plant Based News

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