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Daniel Reintjes

@veganpoweredathlete

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🌱 Happy World Vegan Day! 🌱

Today we celebrate compassion, connection, and the incredible power of choosing kindness, not just in what we eat, but in how we live, train, and show up for the world around us. 💚

A huge thank you to every Team VPA athletes who proudly wears VEGAN across their gear, races with purpose, and continues to inspire others through action. 🏃‍♀️🚴‍♂️🏊‍♀️

Every mile, every race, every conversation helps plant the seed that compassion and performance go hand in hand.

Here’s to all of you leading by example, proving that strength is fueled by plants, and the future is powered by kindness. 🌍✨

Today is the final day to apply to join Team VPA 2026. Don’t miss out!

#WorldVeganDay #TeamVPA #VeganAthlete #PlantPowered #CompassionInAction #VeganEndurance #VeganPoweredAthlete by @veganpoweredathlete

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a year ago

Email 🚨 Alert 🚨

Congratulations — you’ve officially been selected for Team VPA 2026! 🎉

We’re beyond excited to welcome you to a community of compassionate, vegan powered endurance athletes representing every discipline — triathlon, running, cycling, hyrox, and more. Together, we’re proving that compassion and performance go hand in hand.

🌿 What’s Next

✅ Select Your 2026 Team Bundle
To validate your membership and secure your spot, please select your bundle by Friday, November 15th.

🧢 Returning Members: Bundle purchase is optional but highly encouraged to show your Team VPA pride and access upgraded benefits.
🌱 New Members: A bundle selection is required to validate your membership for 2026.

✅ Bundles will ship early/mid January
✅ Private community - You will be invited into our private FaceBook group by December 1st.

We’re so grateful to have you as part of the movement. Every time you wear “VEGAN” on your gear, you spark conversations, plant seeds of compassion, and show what’s possible when fueled by plants. 🌱

Welcome to Team VPA 2026 — let’s make this our most powerful, united, and inspiring season yet. 🌍💪💚

With gratitude,
Daniel by @veganpoweredathlete

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a year ago

A weekend full of connection, compassion, and a whole lot of hay! 🌱💚

Team VPA’s meetup at @farmsanctuary this past weekend was truly heartwarming. Watching team members meet for the first time and connect so naturally reminded us how special this community is. When you share a passion for vegan living, the conversations just flow.

On Saturday, everyone came together for a full day of volunteering, helping with one of the farm’s biggest projects before winter: moving hay bales into the barn lofts for winter feedings. We also enjoyed extra time petting the animals and learning about their daily routines during our farm tour. A heartfelt thank-you to the Farm Sanctuary staff for making our visit so memorable. 🐮🐷

From vegan breakfasts on the farm to dinners in Watkins Glen, and our nightly Ben & Jerry’s vegan ice cream stops, there were so many moments to enjoy. Seeing everyone in their VPA gear, embracing our mission, made it even more meaningful.

We even fit in a group hike along the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen State Park. Nature is spectacular! 🍂

So grateful for @genebaur for creating such a magical place and starting a movement 40 years ago. Inspired by @team.vpa this community, and the chance to make a difference for the animals. Can’t wait for the next one! 💚

#TeamVPA #FarmSanctuary #VeganCommunity #Vegan #VeganAthlete taken in Farm Sanctuary Watkins Glen by @veganpoweredathlete

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8 days ago

70 miles of gravel and my first gravel race in the books!

This one wasn’t originally on the calendar. After the Leadville 50 Mile Run was cancelled because of the fires, @leadvilleraceseries gave us the option to defer or receive a refund. I decided to take the opportunity to do something I’d been hesitant to try and deferred my entry into @theraddirt The Rad Dirt Fest.

I’m so glad I did.

What a fun day on the bike. Perfect weather, incredible gravel roads, beautiful scenery…and some VERY steep, punchy climbs. One of the things I’m most proud of is making it up every one of them without having to “hike-a-bike.” There were definitely a few moments where that felt questionable. 😂

Sometimes having the original plan fall apart opens the door to something you might never have tried otherwise.

Grateful for the opportunity, grateful for a strong body that let me ride 70 miles at 7000 feet and really grateful for a weekend spent with @thriveenduranceathletes athlete Laura and @team.vpa athlete Karyn.

First gravel race complete. I have a feeling it won’t be my last. 🚴‍♂️⛰️

#GravelRacing #GravelBike #TeamVPA #VeganPoweredAthlete #VeganAthlete taken in Trinidad Lake State Park - Colorado Parks and Wildlife by @veganpoweredathlete

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20 days ago

@veganpoweredathlete 's most memorable running moment? His first 50-miler — run completely solo during COVID.

@team.vpa founder + leader Daniel Reintjes on the @runnerspodium podcast 🎙️🌱

Episode 8 is out now.

🎧 Spotify | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | ▶️ YouTube by @veganpoweredathlete

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a month ago

Is it okay to say something is hard when you don’t finish it? Can you have a sense of accomplishment in failure?

I’ve received so many messages of encouragement after my 52-mile DNF at the Leadville Trail 100. “Incredible.” “Amazing effort.” “Inspirational.”

But I didn’t accomplish what I came to Leadville to do.

And that’s okay.

This race is HARD. It took me somewhere I’ve never been before.

At 50k I was already negotiating with my mind to purposely miss the cutoff so I wouldn’t have to continue. Instead, I fought physically and mentally to make it.

Leaving Twin Lakes, I felt good. I ran toward Hope Pass, passing runners along the way. But on that climb, I have never felt so physically depleted. My hips tightened and my legs simply wouldn’t move. The buffer I thought I had for Winfield disappeared.

Suddenly, I was racing the clock.

I bombed down the backside toward Winfield feeling great—smiling, running hard and passing people. A volunteer even asked, “Why are you smiling?”

Because despite everything, I was having an incredible day.

With three miles to go, I had less than an hour. At the final turn I heard, “Winfield, 3/4 mile down the road.”

I pushed as hard as I could.

Then I looked at my watch.

6:50 p.m. The cutoff.

No tears. No anger. No sadness.

Just acceptance.

I had given everything I had that day. Even knowing my race was over, I kept running toward Winfield as hard as I could. 3 minutes too late.

I dug deep. I never gave up.

That’s Leadville.

I’m incredibly grateful for my crew and pacers who gave their time to support this crazy goal, and for my Team VPA family. Watching three teammates battle their own races and cross that red carpet was incredible.

Thank you to the entire @leadvilleraceseries family for an unforgettable summer.

Did I accomplish what I came here to do? No.

Am I proud of what I accomplished? Absolutely.

Sometimes giving everything you have doesn’t get you to the finish line. Sometimes it gets you 52 miles.

Leadville still scares me.

This story isn’t over.

Keep moving forward. by @veganpoweredathlete

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2 months ago

This weekend, four Team VPA athletes will stand on the starting line of one of the most legendary ultramarathons in the world: the Leadville Trail 100 Run.

Bryan. Daniel. Abby. Sarah.

Four athletes. Four different journeys. One hundred miles through the Colorado Rockies.

The Race Across the Sky is more than just 100 miles. Starting and finishing in Leadville at over 10,000 feet, the course climbs into the mountains, crosses Hope Pass, and asks athletes to keep moving forward through altitude, darkness, fatigue, doubt, and whatever else the day brings.

For Team VPA, having four athletes on that starting line means something special.

It represents countless early mornings, long training days, sacrifices, setbacks, comebacks, and miles when nobody was watching.

It represents a community that believes you can chase enormous endurance goals while living with compassion.

And it represents exactly what Team Vegan Powered Athlete is about: showing what is possible when plant-powered athletes are willing to dream big, put in the work, and keep moving forward.

On Saturday morning, Bryan, Daniel, Abby, and Sarah will each begin their own 100-mile journey. Their races will unfold differently, but they’ll all be carrying the same Team VPA colors through the mountains.

We’re incredibly proud to have four Team VPA athletes taking on the Leadville 100.

Now it’s time to Race Across the Sky.

Let’s go, Bryan, Daniel, Abby & Sarah!

#TeamVPA #Leadville100 #PlantPoweredAthlete #VeganAthlete #UltraRunning taken in Leadville Race Series by @veganpoweredathlete

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2 months ago

Team VPA showed up BIG in Leadville this past weekend!

Bryan and Daniel took on the Leadville Trail 10K — the highest 10K in the world — and got another taste of those thin-air Leadville miles. But if you’ve been following along, you know the 10K was just one more step toward the BIG one this weekend: the Leadville Trail 100 Run.

For Bryan, the weekend was even bigger. He completed the Leadville Trail 100 MTB on Saturday before turning around and tackling the 10K on Sunday! This marked his 4th Leadville event of the summer as he continues his pursuit of the coveted Lead Challenge Axe.

And now… it’s 100-mile week.

This weekend, Bryan and Daniel will toe the line for the Leadville Trail 100 Run, joined by fellow Team VPA athletes Abby and Sarah.

Four Team VPA athletes.
100 miles.
One legendary course through the Colorado Rockies.

Team VPA is showing up BIG in Leadville, and we couldn’t be more excited to see what this crew can do.

Follow along this weekend as Bryan, Daniel, Abby, and Sarah take on the Race Across the Sky!

Plant-powered. Mountain-tested. Keep moving forward.

#Leadville100 #PlantPoweredAthlete #VeganAthlete #UltraRunning #TrailRunning by @veganpoweredathlete

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2 months ago

I don’t think I’ve been this scared of something since my first triathlon.

As I packed up and started the long drive to Leadville, the emotions hit hard. Tears streamed down my face. I felt a level of panic I haven’t felt in years. Fear, excitement, doubt, anticipation, all of it at once.

Never say never.

I once said I would NEVER do a full Ironman. I also said I would NEVER run 100 miles.

And yet, here we are.

Two years ago, I came to Leadville to pace Bryan at the Leadville 100 Trail Run and fell in love with this race and community. I planned to do it last year but didn’t get in. Looking back, that was probably for the best. I spent much of last summer lying on my back because of the back and abdominal pain I was dealing with.

The pain is more manageable now, but getting here has meant going down a deep rabbit hole: bladder surgery, trigger point injections, an epidural, a colonoscopy, and dozens of doctor appointments searching for answers.

The strange thing is, the pain usually doesn’t bother me once I’m moving. The hardest part is getting moving.

My body hasn’t been the same since getting hit by a car in 2022. Add in being 52 with low ferritin and cortisol, borderline low testosterone, and training for this race hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. Building the volume needed for 100 miles has been a challenge and recovery has been difficult.

Right now, 100 miles feels completely impossible.

Maybe that’s part of why I need to do it.

If it doesn’t scare you, is it really pushing you far enough outside your comfort zone?

I’m incredibly grateful for all the adventures and amazing places endurance sports have taken me. Just 13 years ago, I didn’t even know a life like this existed.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to stand on a starting line without knowing for certain that I can reach the finish.

I’m grateful for the chance to push toward a limit that feels impossible.

Fear comes from the unknown, and 100 miles is very much unknown territory for me.

But there is one thing I do know:

I will give it everything I have.

T-minus 10 days until the unknown becomes known.

Let’s do the thing. by @veganpoweredathlete

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2 months ago

Almost 2 months in and we are just getting started. 🌿

The Team VPA Summer Solstice Challenge is rolling and this community has shown up in a big way — from sunrise runs to long weekend rides to open water swims. Every single mile has mattered.
And together, we’ve raised $2,000 for @farmsanctuary. 🙌

That’s vegan powered athletes putting their money where their miles are. Incredibly proud of this community.

We’re still in it — Solstice to Equinox means you’ve got time to log more miles, climb the leaderboard, and finish strong. Whether you’re chasing Finisher, Thriver, or Elite, the work isn’t done yet.

🏃 Running — 1 mile = 1 mile 🚴 Cycling — 3 miles = 1 mile 🏊 Swimming — 0.25 miles = 1 mile

Haven’t signed up yet? Sign ups are open all summer long. Want to support without racing? Every donation goes straight to Farm Sanctuary. 🌱

Link in bio to join, donate, or log your miles. 👆

Let’s finish this summer strong. Solstice to Equinox. 💪

#TeamVPA #VeganPoweredAthlete #PlantPowered #PlantBasedAthlete #VeganAthlete by @veganpoweredathlete

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3 months ago

The miles are stacking up. Is yours logged? 📲

We’re deep into the Team VPA Summer Solstice Challenge and 11 athletes have already crossed the 100-mile mark. 🎉 That’s incredible — but the leaderboard only counts what you log.

If you’ve been putting in the work all summer, make sure it’s showing up where it counts.

🏃 Running — 1 mile = 1 mile 🚴 Cycling — 3 miles = 1 mile 🏊 Swimming — 0.25 miles = 1 mile

Every run. Every ride. Every swim. Log it all.

And if you haven’t joined yet — there’s still time to jump in and make the rest of your summer count. Registration is open all summer long, and 100% of proceeds go directly to @farmsanctuary . 🌱

Link in bio to log miles, sign up, or donate. 👆

Let’s go team. Solstice to Equinox. Every mile matters. 💪

#TeamVPA #VeganPoweredAthlete #PlantPowered #PlantBasedAthlete #VeganAthlete by @veganpoweredathlete

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3 months ago

Your nutrition strategy needs to evolve with the temperature.

The same foods that fueled you in April aren’t going to cut it when it’s 90 degrees at 7am and you’re still logging miles.

The good news? A whole food plant-based diet is naturally loaded with everything hot-weather training demands.

Here’s what to focus on this summer:
🍉 Cooling foods — watermelon, cucumber, coconut water, mint, leafy greens. High water content, easy on the gut, genuinely cooling.
🧂 Sodium awareness — plant-based athletes often under-consume it. In summer heat that matters more. A pinch of quality salt in your pre-workout meal goes a long way.
⚡ Lighter carbs during effort — your body’s ability to digest is reduced in the heat. Save the heavy meals for recovery windows.
🫐 Anti-inflammatory foods — berries, ginger, turmeric, tart cherry. Heat plus training equals elevated inflammation. Load up.

We also put together 4 summer recipes built specifically for plant-based endurance athletes:
🥤 Watermelon Mint Electrolyte Slushie 🍜 Cucumber Avocado Cold Noodle Bowl 🫐 Tart Cherry & Beet Recovery Smoothie 🥭 Coconut Rice & Mango Power Bowl

Full blog and all four recipes at veganpoweredathlete.com — link in bio.

Tag us in your summer training meals. We want to see what you’re fueling with. 🌱

#teamvpa #veganpoweredathlete #plantbasedathlete #summerfuel #veganendurance by @veganpoweredathlete

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3 months ago