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Lead Stories: Thursday, August 28, 2008

TFS Review: Camelbak Octane 8+ Hydration Pack

Posted September 27th, 2007 at 7:45 PM by Paul Petersen

Section: Gear & Apparel, Miscellaneous, Nutrition, Hydration, Product Reviews, Special Features, TFS Reviews

CamelBak Octane 8+ Hydration Pack It seems that in the world of hydration systems, there is always give-and-take and compromise. The small, light packs may not carry enough water. The bottle-based belt systems require use of hands and often make you stop in your activity during use. The hands-free, bladder-based systems tend to bounce around too much and cause discomfort.

Personally, I tend to gravitate toward the bladder-based hydration systems, such as those made by Camelbak or Ultimate Direction, because I can use them in full stride during my runs. I hate having to stop, pull out a bottle, and then put it back before resuming my run. However, all of the bladder-based hydration systems I had used in the past tended to have a heavy weight, poor center of gravity, and a tendency bounce around. Over the duration of a long road or trail run, this not only proves to be annoying, but can also cause chaffing, discomfort, and alteration of my stride.
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Slow it down … take a hike!

Posted July 19th, 2007 at 8:00 AM by Jessica Galvano

Section: Motivation, Health & Fitness, Exercise

female hiker Life goes by fast.

Sixty miles per hour to the office. Seven miles per hour on the treadmill. Forty-five in a thirty-five to make practice on time. And all after eight cups of coffee.
The jittery, anxiety-inducing schedule of espressos and non-stop “to dos” has, for many, become an accepted inevitability. In a fast-paced society, the natural tendency is to meet the demands of high speeds by downing Red Bull, exceeding speed limits, and attempting to function on a paltry five hours of sleep.

While it may be nearly impossible to control the speed of your work environment, maintaining a relaxed and enjoyable exercise regimen is entirely within reach. Instead of stepping on the treadmill for your usual run, try a hike instead. The texture of an actual trail is, not surprisingly, preferable to a synthetic treadmill and the scenery certainly has more appeal than the cold, gray concrete of the gym.

Read the rest of this article at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com

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Five helpful tips for a healthy, active summer of running and overall fitness

Posted June 25th, 2007 at 9:00 AM by thefinalsprint.com

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Motivation, Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Supplements, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Exercise

The following article was written by TFS guest contributor Dr. Larry Robinson. For more about Dr. Robinson, check out the “About Dr. Robinson” section at the conclusion of the article.

1. Use the summer weather to increase your outdoor activity:

“From running and baseball games in the park to weekend getaways hiking, biking and canoeing, summer’s the perfect time to get in shape without a daily trip to the gym,” says Dr. Robinson. “Use the season to start a new sport you’ve always been interested in that can carry you through the holidays, New Year’s resolutions and colder weather.”

Of course check with your physician first if you have any physical concerns, and always start off easy. If you’re prone to heat stroke or exhaustion, take advantage of dusk and dawn to complete your fitness activity. And, as always, drink plenty of water and don’t forget the sunscreen for daytime outdoor activities.
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Fastpacking: The perfect mix of running, hiking and nature

Posted May 5th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Amanda Black

Section: Running & Training, Cross Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise

Have you ever wanted to fuse the beauty and surroundings of a hike with the face pace of a run? Well, if you did - then your in luck - because that’s exactly what the newest craze, called “fastpacking”, is all about.

Fastpacking is about taking as little gear as possible so you can travel greater distances in the wilderness unhampered. And what gear you do take with you should be necessary camping gear: (sleeping bag and tarp), food, cooking utensils, water, and everything should be durable and light. The total weight of your pack should be around twenty pounds or what you can comfortably run with for a long period of time.
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‘Tis the season for snowshoeing!

Posted February 14th, 2007 at 1:00 PM by Valerie Cerami

Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Miscellaneous, Training Tips, Cross Training

It’s been too dangerous (during this frigid icy spell) to get in most of your outdoor runs. You can always count on the gym (for a treadmill under the air vent), but counting on indoor rubber is like counting sheep.

I miss the fix of fresh air, sans someone sneezing on me. I don’t particularly enjoy the forced eavesdropping of my neighbors cell phone conversation – let alone, the conversation I become a mute-third-party to. I need my daily dose of endorphins pumping, heart pounding, pore and mind opening, oxygen.

And I also enjoy the solitude and brief escape from the electronics that rule the day. During disagreeable weather, there is hope for us all to: get outside – get re-energized – and get a great cross-training hobby - without relying on the boredom of the machines housed in germ-factories of the masses …

What can we die-hard, runners do when it’s snowing?
Simple. Snowshoe.
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Portable electrolyte tablets: What’s all the buzz about?

Posted December 16th, 2006 at 6:19 PM by Jonathan Faccone

Section: Nutrition, Hydration, Race Prep & Recov, Supplements

Since the advent of Gatorade, manufacturers have been in fierce competition to one-up each other with new and better ways to fuel athletes. This has created a very saturated market; one that features a plethora of choices for competitive athletes. As a result, athletes vary greatly, especially in the world of endurance sports, about which option they believe is the most effective.

One alternative that has begun to slowly, pick-up steam in the market is the electrolyte tablet. There has been a lot of buzz surrounding these portable tablets, such as Nuun and Zym, because they are quick and convenient mechanisms for obtaining vital replenishment of electrolytes and other vitamins.
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