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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Are you tired of your current running training schedule or fitness routine? Are you bored? Can’t get motivated?
Maybe it’s time that you just “tri” it and become an “Iron Girl” this summer. Instead of following a monotnous fitness schedule that numbs your mind, ignores certain muscle groups, and leaves you hungering for more, try following a triathlon training program.
Need some convincing? Then consider these benefits: Athletes who train for triathlons are less likely to get injured than one-sport athletes …
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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!
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[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!
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
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!
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[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!
Today’s podcast features my interview with U.S. Olympic and TEAm LIPTON cyclist Kristin Armstrong.
Although osteoarthritis ended her competitive triathlon career, Kristin made the transition to professional cycling and never looked back. In just five short years she has become one of the world’s elite; winning the 2004 American Olympic Trials, 2004 U.S. Elite National Road Race and the 2005 National Time Trials Championship.
Download the podcast to hear Kristin talk about how she overcame osteoarthritis and her own self-doubt to achieve tremendous success. She also discusses the journey from multi-sport training to a singular focus on cycling, injury prevention, TEAm LIPTON, how fans often confuse her with Lance’s ex-wife, her advice for runners looking to attempt a triathlon and much more!
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[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, 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: Kristin Armstrong
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 16.2MB
Length: 00:23:44
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
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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This week I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Ruth E. Heidrich; the subject of TFS’s January 2007 “Success Stories” column.
In her mid-forties Dr. Heidrich was diagnosed with breast cancer; a shock to anyone – especially a marathon runner who had been in nearly perfect health. In order to stay cancer-free she set two incredibly challenging goals: becoming a vegan and completing an IRONMAN triathlon. Dr. Heidrich has achieved both goals and gone on to become an elite athlete. She has now run six IRONMAN triathlons, is approaching 100 marathons and has collected over 700 medals.
Download the podcast to learn about her fight with cancer, marathon running, being a vegan and the exceptional advice she offers in her new book: “A Race for Life” (published by Lantern Books)!
Listen In
[MP3] Direct Download (Right click, 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: Dr. Ruth Heidrich
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 23.1MB
Length: 00:18:50
Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!
Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.
A guy is the world’s best athlete in a non-weight bearing sport. He was once a triathlete, but hasn’t really been a runner for many years. He decides to run the New York Marathon. His training program includes modest mileage, long runs that barely reach 18 miles, and cross training to minimize the pounding on his body.
Then, with the aid of pacers, he runs the marathon in goal time of sub-3:00. He receives lots of well deserved kudos for his ability to “come off the couch” as a runner, ramp up quickly, and run a very impressive marathon.
Ten days after the marathon he learns from tests that a “shin splint” problem that nagged him during his training and in the marathon is really a stress fracture. He must now avoid impact-related training for 6-12 weeks as it heals.
Of course, the athlete in question is Lance Armstrong.
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Brendan Brazier is a professional Ironman triathlete, the 2003 and 2006 Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion, a bestselling author on performance nutrition and the creator of an award-winning meal replacement and energy bar formula called Vega.
I had the luck of meeting Brendan at the ING New York City Marathon Health & Wellness expo this past November. I later had the opportunity to speak with him about his life, career, Vega and about being the world’s premier vegan athlete.
1. When did you decide to be a vegan and why?
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