I’m Going to Jackson (Wyoming, that is)

Rehearsing, Recording and Running at Altitude

By Bobby McCullough

Despite being home for only five weeks following a two-month tour, I was already leaving NYC again.  

I woke up to see the Challenger space shuttle being ferried by a 747 in the sky over NYC, an event I had been looking forward to all week.  

I, too, had my own flight to make that day, as I would be heading to Jackson for a two-week recording session with Benyaro.

My travels got off to a shaky start after having a heated conversation with a cab driver.  When I arrived at the airport and boarded my plane, the girl next to me got sick multiple times before we even took off!  That only marked the beginning of what would be a very turbulent flight. 

After I landed in Denver for my layover, however, I met and chatted with singer/songwriter Brett Dennen, and since then things have been going better.  

Our recording session is for a new record of cover songs.  This week will be spent arranging, rehearsing and making demos of the songs in preparation for the recording session.  Next week, my good friend Sonny will fly in to be the sound engineer on the project. He and I will move into a house in the nearby ski resort village where the recording will also take place.  

One of the best parts about coming to Jackson is getting to enjoy the Grand Teton Mountains and the surrounding landscape. And what better way to cover some ground than by putting some running shoes on!  

Ben lives close to a community pathway where I usually run—the view is perfect:  the snowy mountains on one side and beautiful plains on the other.  Though I haven’t seen any moose yet on this trip, I did run into some deer on Saturday while on the path.

With Jackson Hole’s elevation being 6200+ ft., it was initially a little more difficult to keep up my usual running pace.  After a few days, however, I didn’t notice too much of a difference.  Also, I have to drink lots more water before and after I run to stay hydrated because of how dry it is.  

With that said, I am excited to be running here in the final weeks before my very first half marathon race!  I know that the more I train in these conditions, the stronger I will feel running on the East Coast, closer to sea level. 

Next week the house we are staying in will be right at the foot of the mountains so I hope to get in some good trail runs and mountain hikes.  Cross your fingers that I get to show Sonny his first Moose!

Bobby McCullough is a touring musician living in NYC, who has recently refocused much of his energy on healthy and happy living. For more information about Benyaro, go to http://benyaro.com.   

Cycling Champion Mike Zagorski

Cheribundi Ambassador living life to the fullest

by Janine Frank

What does a two-time national cycling champion have in common with an architect, a construction engineer, a Scotsman, a surfer and a new dad? It's not the beginning of a weak joke; it's a description of Mike Zagorski. He's a very busy man who is about to become even busier.

With his first child due in September, Mike is trying to squeeze in a lot of cycling these days. The 32-year-old lives on O'ahu in Hawaii, where he's currently training and competing in BMX events. Although his national champion status comes from track racing, Mike says the BMX training this year is helping him hone specific muscles he'll need when he gets back on the track next year.

To stay in top shape and add variety to his fitness regimen, Mike also enjoys hiking and surfing. In fact, he says he finds it hard not to fall into a daily surfing habit.

When he's not outside exercising, Mike has a full-time job as an engineer for a construction company. He recently received his architect license and is now working toward a Masters degree in Construction Project Management.

Although Mike admits that it's often difficult to balance his career with such an active and demanding athletic life, he makes it work because cycling is his lifeblood. Since the age of 10, he remembers taking off on his mountain bike in the Scottish Highlands, where he was born and raised. These “epic” rides introduced him to the enduring thrill of cycling. He and a friend once rode their bikes to a World Cup event where they got to ride the course after the race and meet many of that era's top riders. After that, he was hooked.

These days, Mike shares the BMX track with many cyclists far younger than himself. He's been competitive for 17 years, which is just about as long as some of his competitors have been alive. Mike says that eating well has helped him maintain a competitive edge. Because he lives in Hawaii, fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood are plentiful. He's often able to forage wild grown strawberry guava on the roadside during training rides. 

Because it's so warm in Hawaii year-round, Mike is very conscious of staying properly hydrated. He drinks Cheribundi tart cherry juice during rides, along with a lot of water. He says the cherry juice adds variety to his fluid intake and also helps reduce muscle inflammation.  He adds that he also drinks Cheribundi on rest days to help speed up his recovery time. He says, “You don't put regular gasoline into a Ferrari and the same can be applied to athletes. Junk in = junk out.”

One of Mike's favorite sayings that helps him keep achieving his goals despite his busy life is, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” To that end, Mike has big plans for this September. Not only will the new baby make her appearance, but he's also been invited to fly with the Blue Angels. He will be enjoying the exhilaration and some really fast-moving scenery from the back seat of the #7 jet during their performance in Kaneohe Bay.

Here at Cheribundi, we're glad that Mike is constantly challenging himself to reach higher and go farther and faster, not only on his bike but also in his professional life, home life and his spare time. Keep living the dream, Mike! Cheribundi is happy to be part of the ride.

Janine Frank lives in Lafayette, Colorado with her husband, two sons and golden retriever. She writes about fitness, natural products and the great outdoors.

Guest Blog—Yogathon to Benefit Kids

By Lori Flynn

Full Circle Yoga

This Saturday marks the return of the Wellness Initiative’s Yogathon in Boulder, Colo.  


Participants in the event pledge to complete 108 Sun Salutations—either as individuals or as part of a team—to raise money and awareness for the organization's commitment to providing yoga, meditation and mindfulness programs to youth in low income school systems.

Why the need for yoga in schools?  Yoga has been recognized for providing many benefits beyond the obvious stretching and flexibility so commonly associated with it. 


Yoga is often credited with providing improved memory function and learning efficiency, increased well-being and self acceptance and increased social skills, concentration and attention.  

A recent study conducted by Purdue and Indiana Universities in conjunction with Yoga For Kids in Central New York concluded that, “YogaKids Tools for Schools has a significant positive effect on the academic achievement, general health, personal attributes and relationships of students in Kindergarten through 5th grade.”  


The kids liked it too, as evidenced in their comments following the study:

I think behavior in the class has changed. It has improved after yoga because we are calm, relaxed and ready to learn.

When I get stressed out, I right away find a quiet spot and listen to music and then do Yoga. It has also made me more calmer [sic] and more patient. In school. I find that I am paying attention more and also raising my hand. Yoga has really not changed my life but is has helped my personality. I feel my confident about myself.

I don't just, out of the blue, scream at someone, I stay calm. I am getting better grades and I participate more. It helps me when my teacher made a Yoga zone in our room because I can go there during free time and silent reading time too.

If you are in the Boulder/Denver area, consider participating in the Third Annual Yogathon this Saturday. If you are not in the area, you can still participate by donating to the Wellness Initiative. 


Cheribundi will be there, with bottles of juice for all of the participants! To register, donate or simply learn more, please visit http://www.wellnessinitiative.org/. 

Namaste!

Lori is a musician, yoga teacher and gypsy currently residing in Lyons, CO. Visit her on Facebookor at FullCircleYogaOnline.com.