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Lead Stories: Friday, August 29, 2008

Nick Symmonds: Nutrition
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #6)

Posted February 11th, 2008 at 2:30 PM by Nick Symmonds

Section: News & Results, Nutrition, Track & Field, Elite Athlete Blogs, Nick Symmonds

Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds. For more information about Nick please visit: www.nicksymmonds.com

It’s Sunday morning here in Eugene which means I have a long run to complete. During my base phase I will run as far as 14 miles for my weekly long runs and though i know these training sessions are extremely important, I don’t really look forward to them. That is why I generally procrastinate all day and usually head out in the afternoons. This allows me to actually enjoy a relaxed morning with a large, calorie rich breakfast.

Today, as I was fixing my usual Sunday morning, pre-run meal, I got to thinking about what I eat. Some of the most common questions I get about my training are in regards to nutrition. There are some athletes who are a bit neurotic about what they eat, and I guess I would have to say that I am not one of them.
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Low Blood Sugar Causes Mental Fatigue During Competition

Posted November 23rd, 2007 at 3:45 PM by Martha Jones

Section: Nutrition, Race Prep & Recov, Health & Fitness, Exercise

Athletes can expect to feel fatigued when their blood sugar levels drop. Researchers at Loughborough University, UK showed that athletes who did not take sugar during soccer competition lasting 90 minutes felt more tired, had less competitive desire, and had far lower blood sugar levels than athletes who took a sugared drink every 15 minutes during their game (Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, October 2007).

Your brain gets more than 98 percent of its energy from sugar in the bloodstream. However there is only enough sugar in the bloodstream to last about three minutes. The liver must constantly release sugar into the bloodstream, but there is only enough sugar in the liver to last eight hours during rest and far less than that during exercise. So athletes who do not take a source of sugar during events lasting more than an hour can suffer the psychological effects of low blood sugar levels what include a mental feeling of fatigue and lowered competitive desire.
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Reese’s “RUBIK” romance

Posted August 23rd, 2007 at 6:45 AM by Martha Jones

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

In addition to owning the world’s top shot put in 2007, reigning world indoor champion Reese Hoffa evidently has other mad skills in his repertoire.

The bio on Hoffa’s web site, www.reesehoffa.com, describes some of Hoffa’s many hobbies. Among them: “He loves any sort of puzzle and his specialty is solving Rubik’s cube (he’s lightning fast … see the video http://www.reesehoffa.com/ASF_0001.ASF of him solving the Rubik’s cube in 55 seconds).

Hoffa’s Rubik’s mastery has earned him admiration from his teammates in Osaka, who now greet him and cheer for him with “RUBIK!”
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Are soybean products
healthful or harmful?

Posted January 13th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Health & Fitness

All plants contain chemicals that are healthful and chemicals that can harm us. Fortunately for us, our ancestors learned which plants are edible and healthful, and taught us to avoid those that are poisonous. However, if you eat very large amounts of one food, you can poison yourself, even though reasonable amounts are harmless or beneficial.
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This New Year’s Resolution:
A Healthy Heart

Posted January 1st, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Megan Hueter

Section: Health & Fitness, Exercise, Weight Loss

Eat too much this holiday season? You’re most likely not alone. However, eating too much on a daily basis takes a toll on your body, especially your heart. Make this New Year’s resolution a healthy one for you and your family.

You can start by checking out some different online opportunities, including the Discovery Health Channel’s National Body Challenge, and the American Heart Association’s Choose to Move program.

Programs such as these have been established due to chronic public health problems in the United States associated with poor diet and lack of physical activity. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death for all people in the United States, currently affecting nearly 12 million people.
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Other stories of interest: December 28, 2006

Posted December 28th, 2006 at 4:00 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results

From time to time TFS will try and highlight other stories that you might find of interest:

Out of Lance’s Slipstream, a Trainer Reinvents Himself — NY Times

10 training rules for running/walking a marathon — Gary Moller Online

Sell still chasing Olympic dream — Washington Post

Quick, Do You Know Your B.M.I.? – NY Times

El Guerrouj to support Madrid bid for 2016 - Borneo Bulletin

What do you know about supplements? Take the quiz — That’s Fit

Should you eat before you run? - Just Your Average Joggler

Running Logs and Calendars – RunAthena.com

A Late Starter Finishes Ahead — Washington Post

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Running in the AM: Five Good Reasons to Be an Early Riser

Posted October 18th, 2006 at 4:00 AM by Trish Monks

Section: Running & Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise

Trish Monks, writing all the way from England, is a wonderful addition to our team. Although Brits might speak a little differently and make us laugh from time to time - we still love them and we love Trish’s writing. Enjoy!

There are many reasons why I wish I were a morning person, but the main one would have to be my running. If I could do most of my training before going to work, my life would be so much easier.

I have managed it a few times over the last couple of years, most memorably while I was training for the Paris marathon in 2004.

I vividly remember arriving home after an early morning training run, with my hair frozen solid and the sun still not up! At the time, because of other commitments (i.e. life!), it was the only way I could fit my increasingly heavy running schedule into my day, and for many, that’s a day-to-day reality.

5 reasons to run first thing in the morning: Read the rest of this entry »

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