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Zen and the Art of Triathlon podcast: Join Brett at his annual triathlon camp

Click Here to Listen to the Show!

The podcast contains audio from Brett's annual triathlon Camp, a few excerpts from Zen talks on Zencast, and a great intro/outro song by Sonic Joy called "Om Nama Shivaya".  It is an absolutely stellar compilation, so listen to it as soon as you can!

It was an amazing camp!  We had a wonderful time and everybody left buzzing with energy and excitement about the upcoming season, coaches included.  

Everyman Endurance Podcast: Going long, very long with Ultra running champ Kami Semick

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run a 100-mile ultra race?

You know, just live in your head for mile after mile after mile.

If you’ve ever had the itch to run long this is the show for you.

Click HERE to listen to the podcast now.

In this episode of the Everyman Endurance Podcast Roman Mica speaks with ultra running champion Kami Semick about training, racing and of course winning a 100-mile race.

Kami has won numerous ultra distance races including the Miwok 100 and the World 100K Championships.

Some of her other noteworthy achievements include:

- Miwok 100K 1st place female division (2005, 2007-2008)

- Western States 4th place female division (2006)

- Kettle Moraine 100 1st place overall and course record (2005)

- Where's Waldo 100K 1st place female division (2005)

- Seattle Marathon 1st place female division (2004)

Review: Not into compression socks? Try compression leg sleeves

When it comes to training and racing, compression socks are all the rage. But if you are not quite ready to give up your anklets for an old-school looking knee high, compression leg sleeves may be a good way to ease into the transition.

I first saw Zensah Compression Leg Sleeves at the Gore-Tex TransRockies Run. Seems that many of the elite trail runners were sporting compression sleeves instead of socks, both on the trail and off for recovery.

A recent convert to compression socks, I was attracted to the Zensah sleeves for a couple of reasons. First, they seemed like they would be easier to get on than a pair of compression socks. Second, I actually like the way they look.

I recently wear tested a pair of Zensah Compression Leg Sleeves on a 20-mile marathon training run and a 10-mile trail run.

My initial impression about the ease of use was correct. My CEP Running O2 Compression Socks (see review) provide excellent squeeze, but they're so tight it takes a few minutes to pull them up. I donned the Zensah leg sleeves with little effort and found that they still offered plenty of compression and support.

Why triathletes should join a swim club or masters program today to swim faster tomorrow

Most triathletes want to know the secret of how natural swimmers can just, well, swim! Ask any Masters or Olympic swimmer what their swimming secret is and 99 percent of the time you will get the same answer: They joined a swim club or or they swim masters as part of local swim program. Below are the top five reasons why you should swim masters.

1. Getting Faster

The best reason you should join a club is to swim faster. This outcome results from coached sessions, other athletes pushing you to your limit and a quality swim workout that isn’t the same as swimming by yourself. Getting up early for a swim practice can be daunting at times, but putting in the time and effort with a swimming club will pay huge dividends come race season, as well as helping out with reason #5.

2. Meet New Athletes

Triathletes, tend to train alone, which often means swim workout torture. When you don’t have anyone to talk to at the pool, your swimming starts to feel like a chore. Joining a Master’s practice will surely guarantee that you meet new athletes. Top college swimmers, All-Americans and Olympic swimmers might just be in the next lane, but if you aren’t training together, how would you know? Going to practices will help you learn more about other athletes and might just score you training advice from a high-caliber swimmer for free.

Just in case you missed it: the most inspirational video of the year so far

You've probably have heard of Dave Scott, who was among the three new athletes to be inducted into the Triathlon Hall of Fame this month

But while you may, or may not, have heard of Dave McGillivray you certainly will find him both inspirational, funny and role model for for anybody who likes swimming, cycling and running. McGillivray has run 140,000 miles in his lifetime, race directed hundreds of events including the Boston Marathon and now is a proud member of the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame as a race director.

Take a look at his inspirational, funny and heartfelt speech as accepts the honor, and he joins the other two inductees at the 2011 USA Triathlon Hall of Fame at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

Follow on twitter @everymantri or view latest videos on YouTube.

Four reasons to think twice about eating carbohydrates before a workout

Editor's Note: This article is Part 1 of a two-part series from Ben Greenfield on the benefits of carbohydrate restriction during training. If you have questions or comments, please leave them below!

You roll out of bed and glance at your watch. You have a 12-mile run on-tap for the day, and limited time to get it in. Do you lace up and head out without grabbing a banana, bagel or handful of sports gels, or do you make sure you have sugar to consume before and during the effort? If you're a good little endurance athlete, you probably raised your hand and said "Eat!"

But the entire basis for posing a question like this is based on the fact that multiple research studies have proved that several components of your aerobic fitness are enhanced when you train with low levels of storage carbohydrate or low levels of carbohydrate intake during the exercise session.

Sorry, Wheaties, but it's true: you don't actually have to be a carboholic to be an endurance athlete.

USA Triathlon names Elite Athletes of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - With the top Americans in the 2010 ITU World Championship Series rankings - Laura Bennett and Matt Chrabot - leading the way, USA Triathlon's 2010 Elite Athletes of the Year were selected by the USA Triathlon Athlete Advisory Council.
 
Bennett (Boulder, Colo.) and Chrabot (Colorado Springs, Colo.) were selected as the Olympic/ITU Athletes of the Year, while long-distance standouts Amy Marsh (Austin, Texas) and Timothy O'Donnell (Boulder, Colo.) claimed Non-Olympic/ITU Athlete of the Year accolades.
 
Rookie of the Year honors went to Gwen Jorgensen (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Sean Jefferson (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) for their outstanding debut seasons as elites. Lauren Goss (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) and Kalen Darling (Honolulu, Hawaii) earned the Under-23 Athlete of the Year awards.

Kiwi Pro triathlete Richard Ussher puts Tri career on hold and returns to adventure racing

After one of the most eagerly awaited and anticipated debuts in Ironman Triathlon in recent years, and despite great success, New Zealand’s Richard Ussher announced this week that he was returning to his roots and will compete in the Speight’s Coast to Coast, the World’s premier multisport event, an event which he has won three times in the past.

Usser is a former freestyle skier who represented New Zealand at the 1998 Winter Olympics. The Kiwi took up adventure racing and quickly racked up an impressive resume including twice Adventure Racing World Champion, three time Champion of the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge and three time Coast to Coast winner.

USA Triathlon names Paratriathlon Athletes of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Triathlon today named world champions Matt Perkins and Melissa Stockwell the 2010 USA Paratriathlon Athletes of the Year, presented by Accenture. This honor is awarded annually by USA Triathlon's Paratriathlon Committee.
 
Perkins (Boise, Idaho) was victorious in the TRI-2 category at the 2010 ITU Paratriathlon World Championship in Budapest for his fifth world title. He was the TRI-2 runner-up at the 2010 Accenture USA Paratriathlon National Championship in New York City.
 
A 2008 Paralymic swimmer for the U.S. in Beijing, Stockwell (Oak Park, Ill.) was the top women's TRI-2 finisher at the 2010 ITU Paratriathlon World Championship to claim her first world title. Additionally, she was second in the category at the U.S. championship.
 
"Our two USA Paratriathletes of the Year, both above the knee amputees, had incredible seasons in 2010," said Jon Beeson, chair of the USA Triathlon Paratriathlon Committee. "Former Second Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell, who lost her leg in combat while serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq in 2004, won the ITU Paratriathlon World Championship in Budapest on her first try. Also a member of the Challenged Athletes Foundation's Operation Rebound program, Melissa was awarded the bronze star for her service. It was an honor to have her on the team."  

New study: drink less to get more dehydrated but with little negative impact

Much has been written about the dangers of hyponatremia, a serious condition that can be caused by taking in too many fluids during the marathon. But many runners still worry about getting dehydrated out on the course.

Now a new study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that the fastest marathon runners actually drink less and get more dehydrated, with little negative impact.

Dr. Timothy Noakes, a professor of exercise and sports science at the University of Cape Town, led the study. Noakes has run more than 70 marathons and ultramarathons, and has been researching hyponatremia for years.

Video: A classic triathlon story of struggle, perseverance and skin color

Have you ever wondered why their are so few African Americans in the sport of triathlon?

That's a question that Brian Shields can answer. Last year Brian and his friends Gershon Blyden and Steven Raymond completed the inaugural Ironman 70.3 in Miami, Fla.

All three friends are triathletes, and all three friends are African Americans. Next month they have new documentary coming out that chronicles their experience in the Floridian half Ironman race.

"I was amazed how few African Americans were in the sport, and I knew this was a great opportunity to take control of our health,” Gershon Blyden said.

The Fast Lane Car premiers first episode of new car based TV show

Editor's Note: The Fast Lane car is our sister web site and today it premiers a new car based show. Catch it below.

What happens when you race three SUVs up the steepest snow covered and icy country road in America?

What happens when you drive an all wheel drive car in deep snow with summer tires?

What happens when you fit a turbo charged V6 into America's best selling vehicle that also happens to be a pick-up?

Just watch the first episode of The Fast Lane Car below to find out.

And the fat lady sings: Alberto Contador to be stripped of Tour de France title for positive drug test

According to newly published reports three time Tour de France Champion Alberto Contador will be stripped of his 2010 TDF title, and face a one year ban from professional cycling for testing positive for the drug clenbuterol last year.

The Telegraph is reporting that, "Contador has been suspended from cycling pending investigations since August and has said in the past that if he was found guilty and forced to serve a ban, he would quit the sport altogether."

In a terse statement a spokesman for Contador said, "Alberto Contador has received today a notification of one year ban proposal by the Competition Committee of the Spanish Federation."

USA Triathlon announces Junior Triathlete of the Year honors

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Youth Olympic Games medalists Kevin McDowell and Kelly Whitley, both of Geneva, Ill., have been recognized for their memorable 2010 seasons with USA Triathlon Junior Triathlete of the Year honors.
 
Later this week, USA Triathlon will announce the USA Paratriathlon Athletes of the Year, presented by Accenture, and the Elite Athletes of the Year.
 
McDowell is recognized as USA Triathlon's Junior Triathlete of the Year for the second straight year. He earned medals in the world's two most competitive junior events in 2010, capturing silver at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and bronze at the ITU Junior World Championship in Budapest. McDowell also topped the USA Triathlon Junior Elite Rankings for 2010.
 
Whitley also reached the podium at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games by earning bronze in the individual race and joining McDowell on the bronze-winning squad in the team relay event. Additionally, Whitley placed fourth at the ITU Junior World Championship and finished the year in the No. 1 spot in the USA Triathlon Junior Elite Rankings.

"2010 was USA Triathlon's most successful year of junior performances by far. The four medals earned between the Youth Olympic Games and ITU World Championship is a testament to how far the bar has been raised in our junior programs," said USA Triathlon Sport Performance Manager Andy Schmitz. "Even more exciting is the fact that the team is young. All six of our world championship team members remain at the junior level in 2011, as do a large majority of the athletes who finished top 10 at the USA Triathlon Junior Elite National Championship last August."

Triathlon PR insider makes the move and starts her own business

Our longtime friend, triathlete, runner and triathlon insider, Tina Wilmott, has just announced that she's started her own PR firm. Take a look at today's press release below.

Good Luck Tina in your new business and we hope it grows along with the sport!

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – January 26, 2011 – Former director of corporate communications of The Active Network, Inc. today announced the launch of The Wilmott Group, a full-service public relations agency specializing in customized communications programs for companies in the health, fitness and endurance sports industries.
 
“The fitness and endurance sports industries have seen considerable growth and increased competition in recent years driving the need for quality PR agencies serving these markets,” said Tina Wilmott, president of The Wilmott Group.  “The Wilmott Group combines industry passion and PR expertise to deliver impactful ideas and measurable results to manufacturers, event organizers, service providers and other organizations in the endurance sports business and beyond.”

Got the mid-winter triathlon training blues? Get inspired by the epic battle of the 2010 IM World Championships

It has been two years since someone else other than Craig Alexander and Chrissie Wellington won the Ford Ironman World Championships. But all of that changed last year when Chrissie Wellington dropped out before the start of the race and Craig struggled to stay with the leaders on the bike.

Consider this EMT exclusive movie your up close and personal front row seat to the 2010 Ironman World Championships.

Our cameras followed all the action before, during and after the race. Not only did we capture the best triathletes in the world racing for the most prestigious title in the world, but just as importantly we were filming during the parade of nations, the annual underwear run, the awards ceremony after the race and of course those magic minutes as 17 hours clicked down to those magic minutes before midnight.

BTW: You can watch the trailer for 17 Hours HERE.