Bio
By Michael
Where were you born, where did you grow up?
I was born in Livingston, New Jersey in January 1977.
I grew up in northern NJ/suburbs of NYC. I spent my summers at the Jersey Shore.
Where do you live now?
Right on the Westchester/Bronx boarder in New York, very close to Van Cortlandt Park.
Married/Children?
I married my wife Victoria in February 1999. We have 3 children:
Sam is 9, Nancy is 8, Charlotte is 4
My Height:
5' 4'' (I should mention that the greatest runner of all time Haile Gebrselassie), is the same height!)
My Weight:
My regular training weight is about 120-122lbs.
When I am training at higher levels during during peak racing season my weight is between 118-120lbs.
What's your profession, what do you do all day?
In the late 90's when the internet was taking off I started an online business/e-commerce business in the jewelry trade.
My business grew as I put more time and effort into developing our own unique software systems, which is the backbone of our business today.
We have a bunch of web/software related business models and projects that now employ over 25 full time people.
It's been a big rush seeing it all grow, but it's also a huge responsibility to manage.
Your best feature? Your worst feature?
hmmm, I think my best feature is my determination, I pretty much don't ever give up when I want something.
I've learned to handle discomfort quite well too from all my ultra endurance training.
My worst feature is procrastination… funny how the 2 best and worst features are related… I'm a mess on a bad day and superman on a good day… 
Favorite Author, Favorite Books/Magazines?
Dr. Douglas Graham, his books on natural eating changed my life.
Dean Karanazes, he's a great author and athlete, he really inspired me to take my training to the next level.
Anne Osborne, her book 'Fruitarianism, The Path to Paradise' inspired me further. Her book distilled me to higher levels.
Essie Honiball, her book 'Live on Fruit' is another early pioneer of Fruitarianism
Arnold Ehret, I've only read a few books/writings and he certainly blazed the first trail of natural health and diet.
I read the following magazines UltraRunning, Rock + Ice, Kiteboarding, Runner's World, Gems and Gemology
Favorite Movie, Favorite TV Show?
Some of my favorite movies include:
Star Wars, The Matrix, The Shaw Shank Redemption, Space Balls, Endurance (Story on Haile Gebrselassie), Forever Running (The life of Yiannis Kouros),
Rocky series, It's A Wonderful Life, The Sound of Music,
Some of my favorite TV shows (I almost never watch TV though):
Curb Your Enthusiasm,
What's on your Ipod? Favorite music?
If I want to get hyped up for a workout anything with a good beat, trance techno is my favorite. I also like classic rock, Led Zeppelin, Eagles, etc.
I really enjoy Classical, Opera and even Classical Organ music when I want to relax.
What kind of car do you drive?
I only run! No seriously I really do run to most places that I need to go. If it's a family outing we take our Chevy Express van.
Hobbies?
Running, Visiting farms, Nature Preserves – anything that surrounds nature and being outdoors.
Mountain climbing, winter mountain climbing, triathlon, hiking, snowshoeing
Spending time with my wife and kids, sitting by the fire place with a blanket with snow falling outside
Favorite vacation destination? Where do you dream of going?
The big island of Hawaii is one of my favorite spots on the planet.
I also absolutely love the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Mt. Washington is an incredible place!
Canadian Rockies – Icefield's Parkway, Lake Moraine and Valley of the Ten Peaks is epic!
Favorite time of day and why?
Early morning for sure, yet I very very rarely see this time of day.
My absolutely best hope and goal as I mature in life is to learn how to get to sleep early – which automatically means I will get up early to meet the day.
I can run a 100miles but I can't seem to get to sleep by 8:45/9pm and rise at 5am with the sun…
Most prized possession?
My Health. It's all we ever have!
Greatest Fear?
Not having my health, my loved ones being hurt or in pain.
Favorite Quote?
"Do or do not… there is no try" ~ Yoda
"A day without training is a day without value" ~ Will from VO2MaxOut.com
"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" ~ Ben Franklin
"An apple a day is not enough" ~ Michael Arnstein
Pet Peeve?
People talking loud on the phone (while on the train or in public)
Any form of 'yelling' unless it's is for a happy occassion.
Running PR's
400m: 55 seconds (In High School)
800: 2:08 (In High School)
1 Mile: 4:36 (In High School)
2 Mile: 9:44 (In High School)
5K: 15:46
10K: 32:47 (2009 in Central Park)
1/2 Marathon: 1:10.55 (2010 NYC 1/2 Marathon)
Marathon: 2:28.29 (2010 Boston Marathon)
60K: 4:32 (2008 NYC Knickerbocker)
50 Miles: 5:50 (2009 JFK 50)
100km: 7:27 National Championships 2010 Madison, WI
Triathlon:
4 Time Finisher Hawaii Ironman (PR 9:43)
4 Time Finisher Lake Placid Ironman (PR 9:38)
Why do you run and continue to challenge yourself?
To prove that I am alive!
Future goals?
Get to sleep early so I can wake up early!
Set new running PR's from the Mile to the 100Mile all in my 30's!
Stay injury free!
Continue on my Fruitarian Diet
Spend more time with my family
Climb Mt. Everest
Hi Michael,
I am a writer with Men's Journal magazine. I'd like to talk to you about The Fruitarian. Can you please contact me at my email or at *********. Thank you.
Kevin Gray
Wow, Mike, this was FUN and INSPIRING to read!
It was nice to meet you at Western States training camp! See you in 3 weeks for the race!
Mike your website is so inspiring, I can't wait to show my son. He is 15, he went thru puberty early and the doctors said that he will only get to a max height of 5’4” – 5’5”, this has been very depressing for him since everyone around including his sister are very tall (except for me). I keep emphasizing that his height works in his favor as his muscles will show off better, and he is very muscular. My son eats healthy and loves fruits and veggies, I know when he reads your story he will be so inspired, thank you for being so honest in your posts. I have just started incorporating more fruits in my diet, I eat mostly vegetarian, but it is hard for me to get enough veggies in since I am not a huge fan of them, but I love Fruits, before I found your site I never even considered that my diet could mostly be fruit, I am so excited to start making some changes.
Thank you
Hey Michael hope everything is well. I just started running 1 year ago and im addicted just started fritarian diet im having a hard time with it any suggestions or is it all mental like running just lost 45 pounds i am also 5'4"
Hi Michael,
I'm just wondering about running to most places part… Do you run at expressways? Because I am thinking of running back home from my office every evening and it's quite a bit of a distance to me…
FYI, I was motivated to follow a fruitarian diet after watching your videos.
Thanks in advance!
Jayme
Hi, you are truly an inspiration for me, I am vegan and practice sport (taekwondo), I wasn't sure if the fruitarian diet could be ok for doing sports, but after I read your interview I know that it is possible.So I will try ASAP to become fruitarian.
Thank you very much and a big CIAO from Italy
I've been wondering about all fruit diet for ages. Sick to know you can just eat fruit.
Mike, thank you.
This information is priceless to me.
Today, I have started a fruitarian diet.
My life is good now and I'm looking at a fantastic future.
Keep inspiring people through your amazing physical accomplishments.
There are no limits,
Mike
I am young, only 19, but I have already come to understand that the "normal" American diet is terrible for health. It makes me sad because so many people I love are victims of misinformation and will not listen to me about nutrition. They will continue to eat delicious but toxic junk food, but I have been gradually improving my diet. No dairy or wheat, except for the occasional slip up, and not much meat, mostly fruit and vegetables. It is amazing how much better I feel and operate on this type of diet !! But enough about me, I want to thank you for posting your videos. Your enthusiasm has encouraged me to go the extra mile and become a full out fruitarian. Since I am starting at an early age I hope to reach new levels of health that I never knew possible!! With fruitarianism I will live to be 150 years old !!
Hello just wanted to say thank you for your videos. I have the anne osbourne book and you inspired me to read it from cover to cover. I would so like to be fit and healthy. Thanks for all your effort in getting this information across and the clip where you put fruit into the boot of your car is a classic. All the best!
Hi Michael. I love your work and am so inspired by you and Durianrider. Just wish you used the word vegan, as fruitarian diet is basically a vegan diet. Do you buy organic fruit?
I tend to eat more fruits now thanks to people like you. And I feel better. In my area raw organic fruits are expensive… I know you don't live in my area, Toronto, but where to get cheap organic fruit?
@Michael Lanfield
I have to include conventional fruit in my diet for the sake of variety. Otherwise I am stuck with citrus, apples, pears, bananas and dates for most of the year.
The most important is to make sure that the fruit is completely ripe and tastes superb.
You should be able to find place where you can buy a box of organic bananas – they are probably the cheapest organic fruit by calorie.
hey mr fruitarian..
cool site…excellent vids,youre a real inspiration!!
im in the process now of starting this way of life, just sourcing some quality organic fruit out,but jeez its so deer!!! im living in ireland and i reckon the fruit here is the most expensive around:( i used to live in south africa and the fruit was dirt cheap and plentiful and good quality….might just go back just for the fruit oneday.lol….
when i talk to people about this way of life, they look at me like i'm bonkers at first….probably cause they think its only eating apples and oranges.lol….they forget theres millions of fruits around…..some of which most people dont even know are fruits (e.g tomatoes,cucumbers,avos etc etc)….before i start properly debating with people, i always mention a whole list of fruits to broaden there horizon:) …
once i become a proper fruitarian, walking the walk,my goal will be to turn random meat eaters into fully blown fruit eaters in 10 minutes….lol…..pay it forward:)
keep up the good work:)
Hi Michael,
I'm been searching the web for a while and it is disheartening to see so much negative with the positive. I'm angry because I don't know what to do. Both sides have valid points. Fruitarianism seems great, wonderful and easy. Just pick it up and eat it. No prep, no wait time. I love that. Then there's all this advice on how it's bad to eat just fruit… lose muscle blah blah blah…
Makes me want to ask you about your physique. You look really skinny; and I dare say almost concentration camp skinny. Comments? What do I do If I wanted more muscle on me? Will fruit and veggies be enough? Would all I have to do is consume more and more?
Hey Michael~
I've been linking food to my emotions/health issues for several years now (i'm 28) and have known it's definitely some sort of spiritual path. I went raw but got ill from all the heavy nuts and oils, etc in the "gourmet" stuff. I've been pretty much at a loss until I saw your website and started reading about 811 diet. I was so confused because some raw foodists say not to eat a lot of fruit because there is "too much sugar" that amplifies candiida. It's true that fruit makes me a bit bloated when I eat it but it just seems so much more natural to me. Plus I think my body will need to adjust to it. You are lucky you have a supportive wife. I feel so lonely being on this path because not many people get it. Most guys I meet are still in the sexual mindset and don't understand my "diets" although they aren't diets to me they are lifestyles to health and spiritual growth. Anyway, it gives me hope to read about websites like yours! And also I'm excited to have the energy to start up running again. Been out of commission for about 3 years, but love to run. Okay thanks, bye
@Rico
I am a long distance runner – I need to be skinny to perform my best.
It all depends what’s your training is like.
Lift weights and you won’t be skinny.