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Q&A: Does caffeine really improve athletic performance, or do you just feel more alert?
Posted January 24th, 2008 at 10:15 AM by Jeremy Sussman
Section: Nutrition, Supplements, Health & Fitness, Exercise
In endurance events, the first cause of fatigue is loss of muscle sugar, so athletes do whatever they can to preserve sugar levels. Caffeine causes the body to produce large amounts of adrenalin, which causes fat to be released from fat cells and float in the bloodstream.
This extra fat is taken up by the muscles and used for energy, thus preserving the body’s limited stored supply of muscle sugar. When muscles run our of sugar, the athlete requires more oxygen to do the same job, slows down, fatigues earlier, and has difficulty maintaining his performance.
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TFS Review: Timex IRONMAN Sleek iControl™ Watch
Posted November 15th, 2007 at 9:30 AM by Jimmie R. Markham
Section: Gear & Apparel, Gadgets & Acces., Miscellaneous, Motivation, Music, Product Reviews
If you’ve ever had to fumble with your iPod to try and find a song or crank up the volume while on a treadmill, elliptical trainer, stationary cycle or – especially – running, you’ll appreciate the Timex IRONMAN Sleek iControl™ watch with its Play, Pause, Track Forward/Reverse and volume-control functions.
According to the Timex website, “the iControl™ watch transmits signals seamlessly to your iPod so you can control your music in a heartbeat. Designed to work with your body and coordinate with your iPod, the iControl watch is sleek and comfortable to wear - with all the features you need for running around the track or traveling around the world.”
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Quote of the Day: 6/26/07
Posted June 26th, 2007 at 6:39 AM by Andrew Goodman
Section: Motivation, Famous Quotes
“Let your personality type define what you get involved in; it’ll help you find an activity that you can be really passionate about.”
- Brendan Brazier, former Ironman Triathlon Champion and premier vegan athlete
Podcast 55: JIM MACLAREN
TFS’s June 2007 Success Story and the Epitome of Courage
Posted June 7th, 2007 at 1:30 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: Motivation, Success Stories, Columns, Success Stories, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
TFS is proud to present our monthly Success Story award to individuals who have overcome tremendous obstacles, changed their own lives and/or the lives of others through running, sports or fitness. Past award recipients have included female running pioneer
Kathrine Switzer, former Arkansas Governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, and double amputee runner Oscar Pistorius.
I am proud to announce that TFS’s June 2007 Success Story and my guest on Episode #55 of The Final Sprint Podcast is The Epitome of Courage: Mr. Jim MacLaren.
Jim, a former Yale University All-American football and lacrosse player, was hit by a bus at age 22; an accident that forced doctors to amputate his leg. However, Jim persevered, beat the odds and became a marathon runner, Ironman triathlete world record holder and earned the title: “The Babe Ruth of Amputee Athletes”.
Eight years later, Jim was once again the victim of a tragic accident; hit by a van while competing in a triathlon and left as a quadriplegic after sustaining serious spinal injuries.
Never the one to give up, Jim once again proved that his spirit was strong enough to surmount even the most unthinkable of adversities. Jim has gone on to become a motivational speaker, founder of the “Choose Living Foundation”, and as Oprah said at the 2005 ESPY Awards in presenting him with ESPN’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award, Jim has “given new life to those around the world who need it most”.
Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you
Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Jim MacLaren
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 18.5 MB
Length: 27:05
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
Book Review: “Thrive” by Ironman Triathlete (and vegan) Brendan Brazier
Posted May 22nd, 2007 at 9:50 AM by Katie Drummond
Section: Motivation, Books, Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Vegetarianism, Special Features, TFS Reviews
Ironman triathlon champion, overall elite athlete … and vegan? Anyone who still thinks a vegan lifestyle can’t support intense athletic training hasn’t met Brendan Brazier. A professional athlete who consistently places at the top in international Ironman triathlon events, Brazier is a formidable example of the potential for a plant-based diet to yield impressive athletic results.
In his bestselling book, “Thrive: A guide to optimal health & performance through plant-based whole foods”, Brazier goes beyond merely guiding readers through the world of vegan nutrition, and instead offers an entirely new way of seeing food: as the fuel necessary not only for sports, but for overall wellness.
Brazier argues that stress – whether physical or emotional – has a powerful connection to eating, exercise, and attitude. According to him, stress can be beneficial; the right balance of exercise can strengthen the body, clear the mind, and promote natural healing. However, Brazier rightfully points out that the North American lifestyle is a magnet for negative stress: from our unhealthy eating to our sedentary exercise habits, Brazier offers studies that support what so many already know – Americans are overworked and unhealthy, and our bodies and minds are suffering as a result.
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Podcast 49: Interview with double-amputee triathlete Scott Rigsby
Posted May 16th, 2007 at 4:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: Motivation, Success Stories, Columns, Success Stories, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
TFS is proud to present our monthly Success Story award to individuals who have overcome tremendous obstacles, changed their own lives and/or the lives of others through running, sports or fitness.
I am proud to announce that TFS’s May 2007 Success Story and my guest on Episode 49 of The Final Sprint Podcast is Scott Rigsby; the first double leg amputee to ever complete an Olympic distance and half IRONMAN triathlon on prosthetics.
Scott now has his sites set on becoming the first double amputee to complete a full IRONMAN triathlon and furthering his passionate efforts to motivate other physically challenged athletes.
In the interview Scott talks about the tragic accident that led to the amputation of both of his legs, how he is lucky to be alive, and his courageous battle to regain a competitive and active lifestyle.
Download the podcast to hear Scott discuss these topics, as well as, the unique challenges faced by amputees in endurance and multi-sport events, his opinion on Oscar Pistorius (who appeared on the front page of the NY Times on 3/15/07), the Achilles Track Club, and much more!
Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to you
Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Scott Rigsby
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 19.9 MB
Length: 00:29:07
Check out every episode of TFS’s Podcast in iTunes!
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
Book Review: Dr. Ruth Heidrich’s “A Race for Life”
Posted May 16th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Katie Drummond
Section: Motivation, Books, Special Features, TFS Reviews
For many athletes, getting up at the crack of dawn for a daily jog can seem like a daunting task under even the most mundane of circumstances. Now imagine contemplating a six-mile run, three days after a double mastectomy. Seem impossible?
Not for Dr. Ruth Heidrich, who, after being diagnosed with breast cancer at 45, transformed her life with a vegan diet and an intensive training regimen. In A Race for Life, Heidrich combines her own incredible story with frightening facts about the current health crisis threatening North American culture, and wise advice for everyone from the novice exerciser to the seasoned athlete.
Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com
Podcast 44: Interview with triathlete and coach Luc Morin
Posted April 29th, 2007 at 12:44 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: Running & Training, Cross Training, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts
As the number of amateur runners interested and emerging in multi-sport events, such as triathlons and even IRONMAN events, continues to increase; The Final Sprint and I have begun receiving a large number of questions from our readers about training for these events, the transition from being a runner, as well as inquiries about professional triathletes.
With that in mind I decided to contact and was delighted to be joined on Episode 44 of The Final Sprint Podcast by Luc Morin; one of Canada’s most dominate triathletes over the last decade and an experienced coach of athletes around the world.
In the interview Luc talks about going from a professional soccer player in Europe to an elite long-distance triathlete, battling back from the injuries he sustained after being hit by a car in 2004, the greatest moments thus far in his career and racing goals for the future.
Download the podcast to hear Luc discuss these topics, as well as, his experience as a coach and consultant for ePerformance (and other companies, such as PowerBar), finding time to both work and train, the transition from athlete to coach, his role models as a young athlete, advice for runners looking to make the transition to multi-sport events (and vice versa), and much more!
Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)
[RSS] Add The Final Sprint Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader to have the show delivered to youHost: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Luc Morin
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 11.5 MB
Length: 00:16:49
Check out every episode of TFS’s Podcast in iTunes!
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
TFS Review: Tanita’s IRONMAN Elite InnerScan Body Composition Monitor
Posted February 18th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: Gear & Apparel, Gadgets & Acces., Miscellaneous, Product Reviews, Special Features, TFS Reviews
Product: Tanita’s IRONMAN Elite InnerScan Monitor
Price: $129.99
Rating: Very Good 8.0/10.0
Pros: Surprisingly accurate; easy to use; memory for multiple users; sleek design; quick and convenient
Cons: A bit expensive for amateur athletes; results affected by fluctuation in body water levels
Overall: Considering the prohibitive expense of water displacement tests and the inaccurate results provided by most at-home options, Tanita’s IRONMAN Elite InnerScan is an excellent choice for athletes who want to monitor the effectiveness of their fitness and nutritional regimens.
Tanita’s IRONMAN Elite Series InnerScan is a high-performance body composition monitor. It uses Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to determine your body-fat percentage by transmitting a small electric current through your body(don’t worry, you won’t feel a thing) that measures the resistance of muscle and fat.
The InnerScan measures and calculates weight, percentage body fat, total body water (%), muscle mass, visceral fat (which can indicate Type-2 Diabetes and heart disease), metabolic age, physique rating, and Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). BMR is the amount of energy (aka calories) that your body needs to function properly at rest. This indicates the caloric intake that is required to support your body’s basic systems.
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TFS Review: Timex IRONMAN Bodylink GPS System
Posted February 15th, 2007 at 12:30 PM by Paul Petersen
Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Gadgets & Acces., Product Reviews, Special Features, TFS Reviews
Product: Timex IRONMAN Bodylink System
Price: $275.00
Rating: Very Good 8.3/10.0
Pros: Accurate; stable GPS; good battery life; intuitive and easy to use; great watch features; good value
Cons: Data-logger & PC upload functionality not included; GPS external from watch; HR monitor unstable at times
Overall: This device is effective because it is easy and it works. GPS initialization is fast and reliable; GPS connection and accuracy is very stable. It’s best for runners who want to hit the road quickly and view results immediately. Analysis and mapping junkies may want to defer to a GPS unit that automatically comes with computer linkage - but otherwise, when it comes to reliability, value and simplicity, the Timex Bodylink is hard to beat.
Out of the box, the Bodylink comes with a beefy manual, the performance watch, the heart rate sensor, the speed + distance sensor (GPS), and an adjustable strap for the mounting the GPS on your arm. Despite neglecting to read any of the ample instruction manual, I had the watch and GPS figured out within minutes and was out the door. Before I even hit the road, the primary strength of the Bodylink System was evident: it’s ease of use.
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The Final Sprint
On March 15, 2010
SDrunner said:
Great review, I wrote one on the Ironman Road Trainer HRM, which is similar to this one, without the...