CURRENT MISSION

having a grand life through trail and ultra running in beautiful natural (sunny, mountains, green, ocean) places. Sharing these running experiences with my friends around the world through photography and group running excursions

ABOUT ME

I love trail and ultra running in beautiful natural (in sunny mountains, near green and oceans) places!

I also love sharing these running and life experiences with my friends around the world through photography and group running excursions that adds to our happiness and well being.

I just left Holland again and currently spend my time between Seattle, California and Arizona in the United States.

I love my home country, culture and people; and, I also knew from a young age that the world would be my playground and mission locale.

After finishing high school and college in the Netherlands, I set out to travel the world and have spent most of the years in the United States creating difference making organizations for young people, of which the main one was the Phoenix (Soccer) Development Program in Seattle between 1997 and 2007.

My newest chapter is guiding active lifestyle oriented individuals from all over the world to have epic trail running experiences in the most beautiful locations on Earth.

I love my runs, my friends, my family, my life!

PHILOSOPHY

I believe I am a unique individual raindrop in the sea of everything. I believe life on Earth is a unique experience that, within a framework, allows for anything to be possible that our minds, hearts and creativity can come up with. I believe that a good life is based on mindfulness, compassion, happiness, peace of mind, creative expression, deep connections and service - in each and every moment

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I have connected with the Couchsurfing community for many years now; sometimes through events, sometimes as surfer and other times as host.

People with a Couchsurfing traveling and hosting mentality are like family to me.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I love the variety, options and freedom Couchsurfing provides. Sometimes I can host, other times I surf, and other times I find Surfers in the place I am for joint fun activities.

My last couple of Couchsurfing experiences were with my girlfriend (through her profile)

Being able to stay with a family in Flagstaff, Arizona before and after my girlfriend and my first Grand Canyon run was wonderful. The hospitality, the stories, meeting several generations of family members.

Hosting Couchsurfers is fantastic, too. I love their stories and each of them is on a mission to do something special and worthwhile with their lives.

Interests

* trail running
* ultra running
* mountain running
* soccer
* coaching
* training
* consulting
* mountain biking
* sports
* traveling - meeting new people and cultures
* great (mostly vegetarian) healthy food - great company
* outdoors
* young people's empowerment coaching
* health and wellness
* fitness
* spiritual development
* living healthy beyond 100
* hot springs
* history
* positive psychology
* heart-based relationships
* learning new languages
* making new friends
* building teams

• culture
• photography
• dining
• vegetarian
• fitness
• running
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• cycling
• trail running
• sports
• soccer
• history
• languages
• psychology
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

my latest favorite music: the bluegrass, Appalachian, blues, African rhythms and electronic fusion of the Rising Appalachia sisters.

my latest movie: Frozen - enjoying the gorgeous digital visual ice crystals and basic values story of love and challenge between two family members.

Fiction: my Pre-December 21, 2012 book: In the Courts of the Sun, by Brian Amato

Latest Non-Fiction: the light fare inspiration of Shawn Achor's positive messages in "Beyond Happiness"

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

* one hour of private time inside the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid
* spending multiple days exploring Machu Picchu; the land, the energy, the history and the people connections
* running the Grand Canyon from one side to the other and back (44 miles/70 km)
* completing a 100 mile race in less than 30 hours
* being back in Nederland to see my little niece right after she was born
* helping my mom make a peace initiative trip to Japan possible that was 70 years in the making

Teach, Learn, Share

people on a worthwhile mission. People who take life's challenges and rise above them with grace, compassion and a positive life outlook. People who are real. People who are playful but are not afraid to go deep. People who love to travel, explore. People with a solid moral compass.

I want to learn to be a good person who maintains my integrity towards myself and others and shares a love of life, hope and inspiration with anyone I come in contact with!

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands, United States

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