Welcome to the official blog of top U.S. distance runner Dathan Ritzenhein! Check back every other Tuesday for Ritz’s latest entry at http://dathanritzenhein.thefinalsprint.com/ as he prepares to represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics!
Well, these past two weeks had a few highs and lows. On a high note, we went back to Michigan and saw our folks, Kalin ran the 25k, and we had Addy baptized. On the low note, my training was not progressing like we had hoped, so we decided to withdraw from the Healthy Kidney 10k. I was quite upset, given where I was in my fitness last year, but I have to remember the Olympics are my main focus.
Going back to the Michigan is always nice because it brings me back to my roots. Little things such as grocery shopping, food, meals, and driving all seem so different when I come back. I was reminded of this when I went home to my dad’s house, and noticed how I never thought twice about what I ate until I entered college, and started paying attention about what I put into my body. In his refrigerator I noticed foods that resembled a typical Midwest palate, such as white bread, chicken, canned green beans and so on. If anyone is from the Midwest I’m not trying to offend anyone, I’m simply trying to point out the differences between then and now. I guess we have become somewhat of food snobs, but we try to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, I need to work on my Dad to get some more wholesome foods in there.
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“If you run 100 miles a week, you can eat anything you want.
Why?
Because . . .
(a) you’ll burn all the calories you consume,
(b) you deserve it, and
(c) you’ll be injured soon and back on a restricted diet anyway.”- Don Kardong
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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Do you know that the average Thanksgiving dinner has over 2000 calories?
If you’re not careful, Thanksgiving could be the beginning of a downhill roller coaster of weight gain from Thanksgiving all the way through the Christmas season. If you’re trying to watch your weight gain this Thursday . . .
Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: HesFit.com
Peaksware, LLC, the leading provider of software systems to help motivated individuals and professionals achieve health, fitness and peak performance, today announced that it has released FitnessPeaks. Built on HealthVault, Microsoft Corp.’s newly launched consumer health platform, FitnessPeaks provides a safe and easy solution to monitor, analyze and plan exercise and nutrition information in a single place. FitnessPeaks offers stand alone functionality including interactive meal and exercise plans and also gives users the opportunity connect with health and fitness professionals online.
“Peaksware has built a track record of trust with over a thousand endurance coaches and the athletes they serve around the world through our TrainingPeaks product line,” said Donavon Guyot CEO of Peaksware, LLC. “By combining our existing systems with the functionality provided by Microsoft HealthVault, we are confident that FitnessPeaks will offer health and fitness providers a compelling new platform to extend their services beyond the walls of offices and health clubs.”
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One of the worst things that can happen to you during a workout is to be halfway through and then get a terrible muscle cramp. This is a regular occurrence for some however, particularly runners who try and exercise after eating a meal.
By paying attention to the foods you are eating before this occurs however you should be able to see a trend with regards to what foods give you issues and which don’t.
Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: HesFit.com
One goal that many women set for themselves at some point in their lives is to complete a half or full marathon. It is definitely a challenging endeavour, and can offer a lot of personal satisfaction once accomplished.
More than a race along, a marathon has a whole spirit to itself, from a pre-marathon meet and greet, to the pre-race carb-up meal, followed by the massages offered to participants after the race and the post-run celebration feast. It’s easy to make a complete weekend out of a marathon event and really enjoy yourself in the process.
One issue that many women face when starting to train for a marathon is a noticeable weight gain. You would think that with the ever increasing amount of running, they would be dropping pounds without any real effort, but often it’s the exact opposite. What gives?
The main factor that contributes to weight gain is that with all this extra running comes an extreme appetite that often cannot seem to be satisfied.
Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com
While the most elite competitive athletes have the luxury of a team of coaches, advisors, and dieticians to consult with on a regular basis, the average endurance athlete preparing for an event isn’t so lucky. That’s where Monique Ryan comes in. A nutrition expert who has worked with professionals for over 20 years, Ryan has recently released an updated version of her book, Sports Nutrition for Endurance Athletes. The lengthy volume is a thorough, well-researched, and invaluable resource, with specific advice for athletes with a range of dietary needs according to their sport and level of training.
Ryan has divided the book into three segments. Part I has a broader focus, with an outline of general dietary needs, regardless of sport or the intensity of your training regimen. Ryan clearly outlines different macro and micro nutrients necessary for daily living, along with their roles in wellness and the best ways to incorporate them into one’s diet. But the guide doesn’t stop at food – hydration is a key element to prime health and elite performance, and Ryan offers substantive information on the intricacies of maintaining adequate hydration, from the ins and outs of caffeine to the problems associated with alcohol consumption. This section of the book is bolstered by a number of quick and easy-to-read charts and diagrams outlining nutrients, sources, and recommended intake levels, making the science of nutrition easier to digest.
Read the rest of this review at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com
The following article clip recently appeared in Runner’s World Magazine. Author Leslie Goldman, MPH, is a women’s health writer who regularly contributes to Runner’s World, Women’s Health, Shape Magazine, People, and the Chicago Tribune. Her highly acclaimed debut book, Locker Room Diaries: The Naked Truth About Women, Body Image, and Re-Imagining the “Perfect” Body, recently came out in paperback and is available at amazon.com. Leslie regularly blogs about body image and women’s health at ivillage.com.
It’s hot out, you’ve finished your workout, you’re standing in front of the mini-mart fridge considering your options. Water isn’t quite enough, and you had a pre-run sports drink. Here’s something new: a juice blend called pomegranate blue. Sounds refreshing and, as a bonus, healthy. But is it?
“All juices are not created equal,” says Princeton University sports dietitian Mandy Clark, R.D. “Are you getting nutrients or are you drinking sugar water?” Indeed, some fruit-juice products contain only 10 to 15 percent juice; the balance includes as much as 27 grams of high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, or even the healthful-sounding organic cane sugar. They may look like fruit juice, but technically they’re “fruit drinks,” and the distinction is important. Nutritionally speaking, fruit drinks are not much better than soda and should be consumed sparingly, according to the Beverage Guidance Panel, a group of health experts established to make recommendations on what and how much Americans should drink to stay healthy and control their weight.
Read the rest of this entry at: RunnersWorld.com
Episode 63 of The Final Sprint Podcast was done in conjunction with TrailFit.com; a comprehensive trail running, ultra- marathoning, and adventure racing publication and the newest member of the TFS media network.
Today’s guest is Southern California’s MICHELLE BARTON; an elite ultra distance and trail runner with an intoxicating love for the sport, eternally positive spirit, and incredible athletic ability.
These gifts have propelled her to 
ultra-marathon finish lines, such as the 2006 Orange Curtain 100k, ahead of not only the women but also every male runner in the field. Most recently, Michelle was victorious 
at the Holcomb Valley 33 Mile Trail Run on June 10th and then two weeks later had the honor of pacing Gordy Ainsley at the legendary and infamous ultra that he founded: the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run (WS100).
Download the interview to hear Michelle discuss her experience at Western States, how she trains, staying fueled on a vegetarian diet, the differing training and mentalities for ultras, trails and road races, Dean Karnazes, plans for the future, the booming and supportive ultra-endurance community 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: Michelle Barton
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 16.7 MB
Length: 24:20
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
Every day it seems we are bombarded with some new nutritional guideline to follow. One week anything with a carb is feared; the next week its low sodium only. So how can you decide what type of food is nutritious enough to buy on your trip to super market?
Well . . if you live […]
This is the third installment of a four part series. Part 3 is entitled: “Type 2 Diabetes: How Aerobic Exercise Can Save Your Life “.
Attention Type 2 diabetics: studies show that a change in lifestyle can restore the body’s sugar levels to a non-diabetic level. Understanding how this happens could save […]
This is the second installment of a four part series. Part 2 is entitled: “Type 2 Diabetes and Nutrition”. To check out Part 1: “Understanding Type 2 Diabetes”, please click here.
Attention Type 2 diabetics: recent studies show that a nutritional diet combined with physical can restore the body’s sugar levels to a non-diabetic […]
This article is written by a TFS guest contributor, Mr. Seth Braun, natural health expert and best-selling author. Seth can be contacted for a complimentary consultation through his site or at his clinic, (303)-444-2357.
We are all solar beings. And all of our fuel in some way comes from the interaction between the sun and the […]
This is the first installment of a four part series. Part 1 is entitled: “Understanding Type 2 Diabetes”.
Do you or someone you know suffer from type 2 diabetes? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. Recent studies show that a nutritional diet combined with physical exercise such as aerobic exercise and resistance training […]
This is Part 2 of my Healthy Eating Guide. Make sure to first go back and read Part 1! In addition, if you’d like personalized help with healthy eating, please send an email to thefinalsprint@gmail.com
Many people have adopted a mindset that healthy eating is a burden, rather then a necessity and way to […]
Food is viewed by many as an enemy; a lurking temptress ready seduce you and lead you down the path to weight gain. People have been quick to believe, that when it comes to food, “less is more.” However, the negative effects of this long-standing mindset are unavoidable: Obesity in America is at […]
This is Part 3 in my “Supplements Made Easy” Seriesfor runners and other endurance athletes. Make sure to also go back and read Part 1 and Part 2!
Shopping for supplements can be a daunting task, but remember to keep it simple and that supplementation will only help if you first help yourself by […]
This is Part 2 in my “Supplements Made Easy” Series for runners and other endurance athletes. Make sure to also go back and read Part 1!
Below is what all endurance athletes and runners should keep in mind before buying supplements.
Stick to the Basics:
There is no better way to start then beginning […]
This is Part 1 of 3 in my “Supplements Made Easy” for runners and other endurance athletes. Make sure to check back and read Part 2 and Part 3 later this week.
Lets face it, the subject of supplementation programs for runners has been unclear and downright confusing. There are so many of these supplements on […]
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