The days are getting shorter and, for most of us, the cooler temperatures have started to roll in (if you’re one of the lucky few in a warmer state, soak up a little extra sunshine for the rest of us!). Whether you’re hitting the road or tackling the trails, there are a few important things to remember in order to stay safe and optimize your performance as the cooler weather approaches.
I’m a triathlete, and like most endurance athletes, I have always predominantly relied on races to fuel my motivation and training. That changed this year when my fourth race of the season was cancelled, and I was faced with the challenge of adjusting plans last minute. It was frustrating and overwhelming but deep down I knew I would find something else to keep me moving. It wasn’t long before my coach texted me, asking if there were any challenges that I wanted to try to keep my motivation high. Funny enough, I already had a challenge mulling in the back of my mind.
About 3 months ago (April 2020), my best friend mentioned he would be taking on the Tushars Mountain Run — A 100k race with nearly 21,000 feet of vertical ascent, that covers some of the most majestic terrain in Utah on August 1st. At the time, I still had hopes of racing IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder that day, so I laughingly said “good luck with that.”
For the most part I use my custom Infinit nutrition blend. Through the years I’ve worked with Infinit to create a couple of custom blends that I use for all my training and racing. For people that don’t know about Infinit Nutrition it’s basically customizable drink mix, you can take all the ingredients that the body needs to preform athletically, carbohydrates, protein, sugar, electrolytes and control how much of everything you want in that personal mix
It’s been a wild ride up to this point, but I finally managed to snag my first overall (amateur) win at the IRONMAN 70.3 distance. The funny thing is, I’m probably not even in the best shape I’ve ever been. I am however, the happiest I’ve ever been. Those who know me, know I had a tough 2018. I’ve got a huge support network to fall back on, including my parents, my career, my friends/family, loyal sponsors, and a host of other former teammates/coaches/etc.
The role of women in today’s society has certainly evolved over the last 100 years. There are more female CEOs than ever; more women are choosing careers in business, science and law. There has also been a notable rise in women in sports. In 1972, Title IX was signed to provide everyone equal access to programs and activities (i.e. sports), that receives federal financial assistance. Since then there has been a 545% increase in the percentage of women playing college sports and a 990% increase in the percentage of women playing high school sports. Being a woman, and athlete myself, it’s amazing to see the progression over time and how far we’ve come.
As a former punk rock drummer, AJ’s background is very unique in the sport of triathlon. He spent much of his teenage years touring the US with his band, while living out of a van. When he was in his early 20s, a friend introduced him to the sport of triathlon. Triathlon gave AJ direction in his hectic life and it soon began to consume his life all together.
8 Mantras to help balance life. Balance is an art, not a science. It is not black and white; what works for one person may not work for another. I do not believe that there is a singular key to creating balance, but rather that harmony arises when you do your best to embrace the present in each and every moment. There will be times when life is tough and feels completely out of balance. Sometimes it is just the nature of things that need to get done and commitments beyond sport.
Team INFINIT Pro Triathlete, Rudy von Berg, talks to us about the breakout season he's had in 2018—Racing with his dad and sister at 70.3 Worlds in South Africa, going on to win 70.3 Nice 2 weeks later, and his experiences competing at the pro level at just 24 years old.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege to travel the world and watch you share the joy of racing and an active healthy lifestyle with your families. Regularly, I am asked about how I balance training, racing, my coaching business, and family. I gotta say, it’s not easy but it pales in comparison to the juggling act most of you have to do.
