TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

Lead Stories: Saturday, September 6, 2008

TFS Review: CLIF Bar

Posted May 26th, 2007 at 12:36 PM by Paul Petersen

Section: Nutrition, Product Reviews, Vegetarianism, Special Features, TFS Reviews

Product: CLIF Bar
Price: Retail $1.39 to $1.69 each, $15 for a box of 12
Rating: Excellent 8.8/10.0
Pros: Enjoyable taste, inexpensive, easy to digest, many flavor varieties, vegan/vegetarian friendly, 70% organic ingredients
Cons: Texture is not immediately appealing
Overall: CLIF Bars offer the best bang for your buck in the world of energy bars. Not only is the taste tolerable, but most flavors are actually very good, although like many bars it suffers from a peculiar texture. CLIF Bars are great to consume before and after races and workouts, with few digestion problems. In addition, they contain no animal products, and are filled with soy protein and carbohydrates.

I remember my first experience with energy bars, well over 10 years ago. I recall being somewhat curious and even a little excited about this new concept. I thought to myself, Will it boost my performance? Will it give me boundless energy?

My eager optimism crashed as soon as I began it to eat it. I managed to scarf down the dense, chewy mass, and proceeded to get a gut bomb that lasted the duration of my run. In the early days, some of those bars were terrible!

Then I discovered CLIF Bar. Conceived as an idea in 1986, debuted in 1992, and incorporated in 1997, CLIF Bar has chewed its way to the top as a leading maker of energy bars.

It is now ubiquitous in bike shops, grocery stores, and race goodie bags. Along with its rich history, CLIF Bar upholds many environmental, health, and social ideals via its philosophy and operations, and also through support of numerous outside organizations.
Read the rest of this entry »

One comment, add yours | Permalink

Keflezighi strikes two-year deal with PowerBar

Posted April 4th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

As Meb Keflezighi gets ready to make his first appearance at the Flora London Marathon on April 22 he’ll, have plenty of energy bars to fuel his muscles, thanks to a two-year deal he has signed with PowerBar.

The contract names PowerBar as the exclusive energy bar sponsor to Meb, one of the company’s more than 30 sponsored athletes.

“I feel honored to have the support of PowerBar in my pursuit of another Olympic medal,” said Keflezighi in a media release.
Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink

VEGA’s “Real Food. Fast” Sweepstakes: You could win energy bars and more!

Posted March 14th, 2007 at 12:49 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Supplements, Special Features, Sweepstakes

March is beginning to fly by; hopefully signaling the end of bitter cold temperatures and snow storms.

It also means that our mileage is on the rise, spring marathons are drawing near and proper nutrition is more important than ever. However, with time at a premium it can be a real challenge to properly fuel our bodies.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with VEGA to keep you going strong with “Real Food. Fast” . During this three week sweepstakes you’ll have a chance each week to win high quality nutritional products and other items from Vega.

This week we’ll be giving away: a box of VEGA’s berry flavored Whole Food Energy Bars, the VEGA deluxe water bottle and a copy of IRONMAN triathlete (and VEGA formulator) Brendan Brazier’s book: “Thrive: A guide to optimal health & performance through plant-based whole foods” .

TO ENTER: All you have to do is comment on this post with an explanation of what you look for in an energy bar and why. Please remember to also enter your name and email address in the appropriate boxes.
Read the rest of this entry »

40 comments, add yours | Permalink

Crunch Time: Optimum nutrition for runners

Posted January 25th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Christopher Jack

Section: Running & Training, Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Race Prep & Recov

Find yourself dragging through those morning runs? Your 10k pace not where you want it? Sprinting toward the porta potties on race day? There could be an easy fix and it all starts with your diet.

Every runner’s training regimen, regardless of experience level, should have a focus on proper nutritional maintenance. When and what you eat can significantly affect your workout and performance will suffer without the proper balance of nutrients.

A common mistake made by runners, especially those early morning warriors, is running before fueling up. Without the proper nutrients in your system, your body will suffer from lowered glycogen and blood-glucose levels; depriving the body of essential energy and sustenance.
Read the rest of this entry »

3 comments, add yours | Permalink

TFS Review: Vega Whole Food Energy Bars (Berry Flavor)

Posted December 9th, 2006 at 3:36 PM by Jenna Sumara

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Supplements, Product Reviews, Vegetarianism, Special Features, TFS Reviews

Below you’ll find TFS’s review of VEGA’s Whole Food Energy Bar. Vega is made by Sequel Naturals and was founded by Ironman Triathlon Champion and vegan athelte, Brendan Brazier.

Product: VEGA’s Whole Food Energy Bars (Berry)
Price: $2.95 (each)
Rating: Very Good 7.7/10.0
Pros: Clean and green; high in fiber & essential fatty acids; no refined sugars or oils; gluten free; easy to digest
Cons: Acquired taste, grainy consistency, too expensive
Overall: These bars took some warming up to and can be costly, but overall they are a very good choice for athletes, dieters, vegetarians, vegans and/or anyone looking for a healthy, all-natural supplement bar.

The berry flavored Whole Food Energy Bar by Vega is the most popular variety. The bar also comes in chocolate and natural flavors. These bars are not just the run-of-the-mill supplement bar; setting themselves apart by using 100% plant-based ingredients.
Read the rest of this entry »

4 comments, add yours | Permalink

VEGA nutritional products: Leading a healthy revolution

Posted November 23rd, 2006 at 4:00 PM by Jenna Sumara

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Supplements, Vegetarianism

In a world of fast food, poor eating habits and vitamin deficiencies; VEGA, a new line of nutritional product from Sequel Naturals, aims to provide a well-balanced line of vitamins, bars and shakes to increase health and overall well-being. They call it, “Real Food. Fast.” Created by Ironman Triathlete Brendan Brazier, Vega products are a result of Braziers own personal difficulties with nutrition and his successes with these home-grown recipes.

After being told he couldn’t maintain a plant-based lifestyle and still be a premier althlete, Brendan began a long and difficult trial and error approach to nutrition; often feeling hungry, constantly needing to eat, reduced energy level’s and a decrease in athletic performance. Finally, after creating his own plant-based, vegan diet; Brazier has become a professional Ironman triathlete, author, public speaker and the founder of Vega. Read the rest of this entry »

10 comments, add yours | Permalink

What’s the Deal with Nutritional Bars?

Posted November 18th, 2006 at 4:00 PM by Jonathan Faccone

Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Supplements

Trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle while simultaneously managing all of the stresses in your life can seem like a daunting task. This is the main reason why many people don’t even try, or quickly give up on, eating frequently throughout the day. They believe they just don’t have enough time to prepare, or even think about, five or six moderate meals. However, as an increasing number of studies point out, this type of nutritional lifestyle can significantly benefit your health, your waistline and even your mood.

Everyone is short on time, but as I mentioned in my Healthy Eating Guide (Parts One and Two), there is a solution: SUPPLEMENTS. Supplements provide you with an already made, no cooking required mechanism for eating small, nutritious meals throughout the day. The most popular and effective means of supplementation for people on the go are nutritional bars.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that “Not all bars are created equal” . There are a plethora of nutritional bars; each claiming to help with a variety of nutritional goals: adding muscle, losing weight, staying fit, gaining energy, etc. It can be quite arduous trying to figure out what’s best for you and/or what nutritional ratios fit your personal needs. That’s why I’ve put together this brief guide about what to look for and some of the best bars for your particular goals: Read the rest of this entry »

Comment on this post | Permalink