CarbBoom! Energy Gel Pastry Tarts!

We love Pot Tarts! We love CarbBoom! Energy Gels!

Did we mention we have a little extra time on our hands at the moment. Another fun recipe with great tasting CarbBoom! Energy Gels as the secret ingredient. This time Strawberry Kiwi and Raspberry. Prep time 15 mins, cook time 15 mins.

Ingredients

• 1 (14.1 oz.) package refrigerated pie crusts (2 pie crusts)

• 3 Strawberry Kiwi or Raspberry CarbBoom! Energy Gels

• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

• Cold water

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 2 teaspoons milk

• Decorator sprinkles (because sprinkles are for winners!)

Directions

1. ALLOW pie crusts to soften according to package directions. Heat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. UNROLL pie crusts on lightly-floured surface. Cut round edges off crusts to make 2 (8-inch) pastry squares. Cut each square into 4 (4 x 4-inch) squares.

3. STIR CarbBoom! Energy Gel and cornstarch in small bowl until blended. Spoon 2 teaspoons Gel mixture onto center of each pastry square.

4. BRUSH edges of squares with water. Fold squares in half, covering jam filling. Press edges with tines of fork to seal completely. Place on prepared baking sheet. PRO TIP - turn over and tine the other side as well. Make sure tart is fully sealed to prevent leaking.

5. BAKE 15 to 17 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Cool completely.

6. WHISK powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl. Spoon glaze over tarts, spreading with back of spoon. Top with sprinkles. Let stand until glaze is set.

   Makes ~ 8 tarts

CarbBoom! Overnight Oats Recipe

When the going gets tough, the tough make …. Oats!
Here is a quick, tasty and fun recipe for Overnight Oats with a secret ingredient …. CarbBoom! Apple Cinnamon Energy Gels. No cooking involved. Prep time 5 minutes. Boom!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup milk (any variety works)

honey (dollop)

cinnamon (to taste)

vanilla extract ( couple of drops)

chopped walnuts (or your choice of nuts)

raisins

1/2 CarbBoom! Apple Cinnamon Energy Gel

plus anything else you have handy that floats your boat including chia seeds, coconut chips, fruit, peanut butter etc.

Mix all ingredients in a closed container and refrigerate overnight. Easy peasy way for a tasty and healthy morning meal to get your day or workout off to a great start. Makes enough for one serving. Scale up as needed.

Boom!

Keep on Keeping on!

Coupon code TOGETHER50 for a 50% discount on great tasting CarbBoom! Energy Gels thru March 31

First off, I want to wish all of our customers, fans, friends and training buddies around the world good luck and good health as we hunker down and deal with this unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic. 

We are sharing with you, as well as following ourselves, the best advice we can find for keeping ourselves, our loved ones and our fellow citizens as healthy as possible.  They include:

• Practice social distancing

• Wash your hands – frequently

• Disinfect surfaces

• Don’t touch your face (as if that were possible)

• Get some fresh air

• Continue to get some exercise

• Get plenty of sleep

Since most of our customers are endurance and multi-sport athletes and were probably well into training for a spring/summer event that has most likely been cancelled, some additional advice may be in order:

• Continue your training but dial the intensity back a bit. No need to unnecessarily stress your immune system at this time.

• Listen to your body - particularly as it relates to recovery.

• Stay hydrated (lots of water) and limit alcohol consumption.

• Carb Up.Your body needs it before, during and after a workout.

• Be safe! Don’t risk a hospital visit over a training accident.

Clearly this is an unsettling and stressful time for all of us.  Exercise and continued training certainly can help with finding an equilibrium so continue to do that.  Additionally, you may think about finding the ways to help support others in your communities that may need some additional love and assistance.  We continue to recommend that everyone find a way to support your favorite local small business.  To help everyone we know "keep on keeping on" the Boom! Nutrition way, we are announcing a 50% discount on all of our great tasting CarbBoom! Energy Gels thru the end of March.  Use coupon code TOGETHER50 at www.boomnutrition.com.

We are all in this together and God willing, will get through it together. 

Tony
President
Boom Nutrition, Inc.

CarbBoom! to fuel CHALLENGE DAYTONA

August 27, 2018 

CarbBoom! Energy Gels® Set to Fuel CHALLENGEDAYTONA Competitors

CHALLENGEDAYTONA proudly announces a new partnership with Boom Nutrition Inc., creators of CarbBoom! Energy Gels®. Premium, performance-driven CarbBoom! Energy Gels will serve as the Official Energy Gel of CHALLENGEDAYTONA and the on-course nutrition during the race.

“We love to be associated with innovative and exciting events and are really thrilled to be the on-course energy gel at the inaugural CHALLENGEDAYTONA event. The entire Boom! Team is excited to deliver the best on-course nutrition to the competitors on race day. Endurance athletes need in-race fueling to perform at their best, and CarbBoom! Energy Gels provide a perfect formula that’s high in carbs, easy on the stomach, and won’t cause GI distress or unscheduled trips to the port-o-john,” says Tony Lammers, CEO of Boom Nutrition. “From start to finish, CarbBoom! Energy Gels are part of an endurance athlete’s complete nutrition plan.”   

Known for their great taste and powerful performance, CarbBoom! Energy Gels are made with real fruit concentrates and purees and are rich in complex carbohydrates that deliver a steady energy release, minus the risk of an upset stomach. The gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan-friendly gels do not contain any artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. They’re an ideal choice for endurance athletes in need of tasty, trustworthy nutrition.

“Every triathlete knows that nutrition can make or break their race,” says CHALLENGEFAMILY CEO Zibi Szlufcik. “Finding the right energy gel partner was critical for us, to ensure that CHALLENGEDAYTONA competitors have the best possible products to enhance their experience and help them achieve their goals. CarbBoom! Energy Gels deliver all that and more, with a passionate team behind the products who will help make the weekend festival of racing a success.”

Slated for December 7-9, 2018, the inaugural CHALLENGEDAYTONA festival weekend will be the first of its kind at Daytona International Speedway. The schedule of events offers something for every level of athlete, including Sprint and Middle Distance Triathlons, the Junior Challenge kids’ race, Relay categories, Duathlon and Aquabike events, 10K run and 5K run/walk events, and the all-new NASCAR-inspired Pitstop Challenge. The top six male and female finishers in each Middle Distance Triathlon age group will qualify for THECHAMPIONSHIP, to be held on June 2nd 2019 at the x-bionic sphere in Samorin, Slovakia.

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About CHALLENGEDAYTONA
Are you ready to swim, bike, and run at the “World Center of Racing”? From December 7th-9th, 2018, Daytona International Speedway will welcome triathletes and triathlon fans from around the world to CHALLENGEDAYTONA. The entire festival of events will take place at the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, home of “The Great American Race”—the DAYTONA 500. www.challenge-daytona.com

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About Boom Nutrition Inc.

Boom Nutrition Inc. is a sports nutrition company based in a Cleveland, Ohio, that develops and delivers nutrition products that improve the performance of endurance athletes everywhere. Known worldwide for its great taste and great performance, CarbBoom! Energy Gels are the official Energy Gel of endurance events everywhere.  For more information about CarbBoom! Energy Gels, go to www.boomnutrition.com.

More information
www.challenge-daytona.com

Boom Nutrition Announces Energy Gel Partnership with 2018 Marine Corps Marathon

The Marine Corps Marathon Organization announced that Boom Nutrition’s great tasting CarbBoom! Energy Gels® will be its featured on-course Energy Gel for the 43rd Marine Corps Marathon on October 28, 2018.

Carb Boom! Energy Gels® are well known for their great taste and unbeatable endurance performance. They are made with real fruit concentrates and purees and are rich in complex carbohydrates that deliver a steady energy release without the risk of an upset stomach.  Marathoners, triathletes, cyclists, runners and other endurance athletes love Carb Boom! Energy Gel’s six delicious flavors and appreciate the fact that they do not contain any artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners, are gluten-free, dairy free and vegan-friendly.

"This is the first year we have been part of this exciting iconic event and the entire Boom! Team is excited to deliver the best on-course nutrition to more than 30,000 race participants. Marathon runners need in-race fueling to perform at their best, and Carb Boom! Energy Gels® provide endurance athletes with a perfect formula that’s high in complex carbs, is easy on the stomach and won’t cause GI distress or unscheduled trips to the port-o-john,” said Tony Lammers, CEO of Boom Nutrition. “Marine Corps Marathon offers a great athlete experience, and we are happy to contribute.  From start to finish, Carb Boom! Energy Gels® are part of an endurance athletes’ complete nutrition plan.”

Carb Boom! Energy Gels will be featured at two food stations located at miles 13 and 23 of the MCM course.

“This is the start of a significant new partnership that will add flavor and fuel to the Marine Corps Marathon experience,” said Rick Nealis, MCMO Director.

Boom Nutrition Inc. is a sports nutrition company based in a Cleveland, Ohio, that develops and delivers nutrition products that improve the performance of endurance athletes everywhere. Known worldwide for its great taste and great performance, CarbBoom! Energy Gels® are the official Energy Gel of endurance events everywhere.  For more information about CarbBoom! Energy Gels®, go to www.boomnutrition.com.

Marine Corps Marathon (www.marinemarathon.com) is ranked annually as one of the largest marathons in the USA and the world, and has been recognized as "Best Marathon in the Mid-Atlantic", "Best for Families" and Best for Beginners".  Runners from all 50 states and more than 60 countries participate in MCN and an annual calendar of event including the Marine Corps Historic Half in Frederickburg, VA in May and the MCM Event Series conducted aboard the Marine Corps Base Quantico.  Organized by the men and women of The United States Marine Corps, the MCM is the largest marathon in the world that doesn't offer prize money, instead celebrating the honor, courage and commitment of all finishers.

No federal or Marine Corps endorsement implied.

Boom ambassador Desta Beriso Morkama wins the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon

Looking good in his CarbBoom Energy Gel Apple Cinnamon race kit, friend of Boom! and Boom Nutrition Sponsored Athlete Desta Morkama won the 2017 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC in a time of 2:25:14.  A member of the Ethiopian Oromo minority group, Morkama came to Arlington last year to escape persecution and quickly established himself on the northern Virginia road racing scene. After recovering from an earlier quad injury, he picked up his training and racing in the last few months, including wins at the Annapolis 10 Miler and Parks Half Marathon, though he also won the Lower Potomac River Marathon in March and the Potomac River Run (May) and Abebe Bikila Day International Peace (September) marathons on the C&O Canal Towpath.

“I’m very excited about this,” Desta  said. “I worked very hard to win this race.”

Despite his 2:13:48 marathon PR from 2013, Morkama often relies on his kick to wins races, but that wasn’t possible at Marine Corps, as confusion in the first mile threw much of the leading Marine Corps Marathon pack into chaos, but Desta eventually overcame a nearly-two-minute deficit, and up to an extra half mile, to win in 2:25:14   Throughout the race, his expression telegraphed the intensity of someone who knew the race wasn’t over before he crossed the finish line.

“I was way back,” Morkama said. “I had to push the whole race to catch up.”

Endurance Athletes & Sleep

For most athletes, our healthy daily lifestyles play just as big a role as our fitness training in determining our performance on race day. One of the lifestyle choices that dedicated athletes embrace is adopting good sleep habits.

Sleep is such an important factor in how we run. Studies have shown that for the endurance athlete, even minimal sleep deprivation can cause negatively impact our performance on race day. Even though sleep deprivation has little effect on physical strength, it is linked to grogginess, difficulty thinking, and agitation, which can crank up the difficulty on race day. How can you optimize your sleep hygiene to increase performance during your run, bike, or swim? Here are some tips that will help you fall into a sleepy groove.

1.     Repeat after me: Regularity

A regular sleep schedule is perhaps the most important component of good sleep hygiene that will promote a good race. This means, more specifically, waking up and going to bed at the same time each morning and night. Some marathoners travel long distances, or across time zones, to their race locations. To prepare for this, allow yourself a few days to gradually adjust your sleep schedule so you get the same amount of sleep each night and don’t suffer from jetlag on race day.

2.     Know Your Number: The Amount Counts!

The difference between 6 hours of sleep and 8 hours of sleep can be the difference between going home with the gold or with the bronze. The most widely accepted figure is 8 hours of sleep each night, but everybody has a different ideal. One way to know how much sleep you need is to catch up on your sleep over a few days: go to bed, and don’t set your alarm clock. Keep track of what time you go to sleep and what time you wake up. Generally, by the third or fourth day of this practice, you’ll have pushed the reset button on your sleep cycle, and you’ll know how much sleep you need.

3.     Cool down: Best Practices Before Bed

Your pre-bedtime ritual is vital to enhancing the quality of your sleep. Make sure to refrain from using your bed for work or browsing the web – being too productive under the covers can cause mixed signals in your brain when it’s time to close your eyes. Turning off electronics and relaxing in bed with a quiet activity like reading can help your brain prepare for sleep. Additionally, evidence suggests that exercise right before bed raises your body temperature and pumps up your adrenaline; both of these can contribute to sleeplessness or poor quality of sleep.

4. Light, Heat, & Sound: The Environment Factor

The environment around you while you sleep contributes to the quality of your sleep in many ways. Darkness – as much as you can stand – will help you produce melatonin, which is known to regulate your biological clock. Light interferes with the production of melatonin, and disrupts peaceful sleep. A cooler environment will also help you sleep well – lowering the body’s temperature signals to your brain that it’s time to fall asleep, and you will fall asleep faster and get more rest in a cooler room. Lastly, sounds like car horns or barking dogs that interrupt sleep can really lead to a decrease in how rested you are. A white noise machine, or ambient soundtrack playing, can help mask these sounds.

Following these directions and finding your body’s own groove will help you stay alert and clear on race day. Sweet dreams!

Energy Gels: A Great Tasting Way to Sustain Energy

Energy Gel Introduction

Many endurance athletes are discovering that energy gels are a better way to receive the carbohydrates needed to sustain their energy levels during endurance activities. Energy gels are easy to use, quick to digest and with great tasting flavors like CarbBoom!'s Vanilla Orange, Apple Cinnamon and Grape Pomegranate, there is no need to compromise on taste.

Energy Gels Overview

What are energy gels?

Energy gels are best described as a hybrid of sports drinks and energy bars. Combining aspects of both, gels are power packed with a super concentrated dose of carbohydrates contained in a palatable and viscous consistency. Because of their quick absorption into the bloodstream, gels are preferred by many athletes since they are quick acting and are not “heavy on the stomach.” Energy gels are less likely to cause gastrointestinal distress which can sometimes be associated with drinks or bars.

The majority of energy gels are sold in 1.1 to 1.9 oz. flexible packets (CarbBoom! Energy Gels® are slightly larger at 1.4oz.). Depending on the brand, gels provide 90 to 110 calories per serving and between 20 to 28 grams of carbohydrates. Each serving of gel provides enough ‘fuel’ to supply about 30-45 minutes of energy during physical activity.

Energy Gel Comparison

Fats and carbohydrates are the two best sources of energy found in the human body. Fat is the largest source, while carbohydrate stores lag behind significantly. Carbohydrates, however, provide the best and most readily available source of energy for the body during exercise.

A 150 lb. person with 15 percent body fat has a large amount of energy stored as fat. If a person of this size did not ingest any food during exercise and if fat were the only fuel used during exercise, stored fat could support physical activity for almost seven days! If however, we take the same 150 lb. person and if carbohydrates were the only fuel used during moderate exercise, carbohydrate stores would only support physical activity for about two hours.  Unfortunately, fat is not able to support exercise above a very moderate level (>60% VO2max) due to the slowness of fat mobilization and other limiting factors. Since most athletes train at intensities higher than this, a supply of fuel other than fat must be available to the body. This preferred energy source is carbohydrate.

Carbohydrate is found in the body in two main forms, glycogen and glucose. Glycogen is a highly branched molecule made up of multiple glucose units and is stored in muscle and liver cells. Glucose, the body’s preferred energy source, is found in blood. Because we have limited stores of carbohydrates and because carbohydrates are the best energy source during moderate to heavy exercise, it is imperative that carbohydrates be ingested during exercise in order to perform at the highest levels possible.

So how does carbohydrate ingestion improve endurance performance?

During activity lasting longer than 60 minutes, glycogen levels begin to diminish. There is a progressive shift from muscle glycogen over to blood glucose as the body’s primary fuel source. When muscle glycogen levels are low, the consumption of carbohydrate serves to maintain proper levels of blood glucose and delay the onset of fatigue. In addition to this mechanism, carbohydrate ingestion also exerts its benefits at higher intensities of exercise by delaying and/or preventing muscle glycogen depletion (otherwise known as glycogen sparing).

When should energy gels be used and how often should they be consumed?

Energy gels can benefit competitive athletes, recreational athletes, diabetics and anyone else looking for a quick source of energy. They are ideal for sports like triathlons, running, cycling, swimming, tennis, soccer, football….the list goes on and on. In order to gain the performance advantage of carbohydrates, it is recommended that ~30-60 grams be consumed per hour during physical activity. This translates into one to two servings of energy gels during each hour of exercise.

For first time gel users, determining the optimal timing and amount of energy gel to take can be confusing. As a general rule, it is recommended the following ‘dose schedule’ be used as a guide.

For activity lasting less than two hours:

Consume one energy gel 15-30 minutes prior to the start of the activity. Take a second energy gel 45-60 minutes into the activity (during half time of the soccer match, at the three to four mile mark of the half marathon, etc).

For activity lasting more than two hours:

Consume one energy gel 15-30 minutes prior to the start of the activity. Consume one energy gel one hour into the activity. Take subsequent gels every 30-45 minutes for the duration of exercise.

Tips and tricks to remember:

Find an energy gel and a flavor which tastes great to you since you'll be using them successively on sizzling hot, humid days, cold rainy mornings and every kind of weather in between. Look for gels which contain real fruit (like CarbBoom! Enery Gels) rather than just artificial flavorings because it makes sense to consume a gel your taste buds will enjoy as much as your working muscles.

Keep in mind that every athlete is different. You’ll need to experiment to find your body’s optimal regimen for gel intake. Pack energy gels with you on several training sessions and try taking them at different times and in different amounts to determine what system works best for you.

Water, water, water! With any type of exercise it’s very important to stay properly hydrated. Water helps replenish fluids lost from sweating and provides optimal absorption for the carbohydrates. Roughly 8 to 10 ounces of water should be consumed along with each serving of gel. Make sure to have a water bottle or time the consumption of a gel with a water source nearby.

Half Distance Triathlon Nutrition Plan

Half Distance Triathlon Nutrition Guide

Have a big race coming up? 

Our good friends at CORE Nutrition Planning (www.fuelthecore.com) recently shared the following nutrition guidelines for athletes doing a half distance triathlon.  We thought it made so much sense that we wanted to pass along the wisdom.

You can also build your own FREE personalized nutrition plan at CORE: Sign Up

HALF DISTANCE NUTRITION GUIDE

For a half distance triathlon or other 4 to 7 hour event, nutrition can be an incredibly important factor. In shorter distance triathlons you can get away with making some nutrition mistakes, but during a half distance triathlon, it is more likely that you will be punished for nutrition errors. In fact, when you talk to athletes who did not have a good race, they will often mention nutrition as the main reason why things did not go as planned.

On this page the basics of nutrition are discussed: a few general rules of nutrition and some of the most common mistakes.

THREE MAIN NUTRITION ISSUE

The three most important nutritional issues during a half distance triathlon are:

1.    Meeting the man with the hammer: Running out of fuel, hitting the wall, bonking, or just not being able to keep up the intensity during the last part of the race.

2.    Dehydration: Becoming progressively dehydrated to an extent where this will limit performance.

3.    Stomach problems: Gastrointestinal problems such as stomach cramps, bloating, etc. that can have a negative impact on your performance. 

FUELING

The main fuel for an event like this is carbohydrate, especially if you are completing the race closer to the 4 hour mark than the 7 hour mark. Your body stores contain roughly 500 grams of carbohydrate (this is 2000 kcal), not enough to make it to the finish line. In theory it should be enough to get most athletes through the first 3 hours of a race but topping up from the start is essential. Because it takes time for carbohydrate to be absorbed, you need to start early with fueling to make sure you avoid carbohydrate depletion. Once you run out of carbohydrate stores it is difficult to recover.

As a general rule, aim for 60 grams of carbohydrate per hour. This carbohydrate can be in the form of a bar, a gel, chews, or a drink. If you use solid foods, make sure fat, protein and fiber content are low (no more than a few grams). What you use is entirely up to you and your personal preferences. Faster athletes tend to use more liquids and less solids because it can be difficult to chew at high intensities. It has also been shown that factors like fiber intake, fat intake and the use of very concentrated carbohydrate drinks are causes of gastrointestinal discomfort. So combining these three main issues, you need to plan ahead and have a rough idea where you are going to get your carbohydrate from (drinks, gels, bars), how much fluid you need to take in and where you are going to get this from (carry, special needs for feed stations) and make sure you reach approximately 60 g/hr of carbohydrate intake and enough fluid to not lose a lot of weight. You can get a good idea by weighing yourself before and after training. Think about this in advance and write down your plan.

COMMON MISTAKES ON RACE DAY

The most common mistakes are:

1.    Sticking to a plan at all costs:  If for some unforeseen reason you cannot follow the plan (you lost a bottle, or you are developing gastrointestinal problems), do not continue with the plan at all costs. Be flexible and adapt. A slightly lower intake is not going to be a problem, forcing more nutrition in will.

2.    Trying something new on race day:  Sometimes you’ll see athletes walk around expos, buying new products for the race the next day. Only use products that you have tried and tested, products you know you tolerate well.

3.    Thinking that more is better:  Drinking more and eating more is not always better. Sure, you have to take in enough energy and enough fluids, but once you achieve the basic needs, more is not necessarily better and in some cases detrimental.

A COUPLE OF EXTRA POINTS:

1.    Sodium losses in a race like this are unlikely to affect performance in the vast majority of athletes, so sodium supplementation should not be a priority. Too much might cause gastrointestinal problems.

2.    Caffeine (low dose: 3mg/kg one hour before: equivalent of a big cup of coffee or 2 espressos before the start) may help some athletes. Some athletes like it, some don’t. Experiment in training and find out what works for you.

About Core Nutrition Planning: Founded by Sports Nutrition Scientist and Ironman athlete Asker Jeukendrup and Cyclist and Triathlete Bill Braun, CORE uses evidence-based guidelines from the latest sports nutrition research along with input from the athlete, with input about them, their event, and their preferred fuels to build personalized nutrition plans that help the athlete maximize performance.  Learn more at www.fuelthecore.com.

Desta Beriso Morkama interview

Meet our good friend and Boom! Nutrition Marathoner, Desta Morkama.  We did a nice video interview at the Philadelphia Marathon but were overwhelmed by the background noise in the hall and Desta's language skills so the transcript is below.  Desta is from Ethiopia and is currently living in the Northern Virginia area.  Desta recently placed 2nd OA at the 2016 Marine Corps Marathon (2:24:28) and came in 13th at the Philadelphia Marathon on a very cold and wind day (2:27:03).  Buna Booma!

Desta enroute to a 2:27:03 finish (13th OA) at 2016 Philadelphia Marathon.  Boom!

Desta on the way to 2nd OA finish at 2016 Marine Corps Marathon

Boom!: How old are you?

Desta: I am 31

Boom!: Where in Ethiopia are you from?

Desta: I am from Arsi which is a province of Ethiopia with its capital at Asella.  The province was reduced to a zone of the Oromia region with the adoption of the new constitution in 1995.  My family are farmers.  We raise maize (similiar to corn but different).

Boom!: Do you have any siblings? 

Desta: I had 12 brothers and sisters.  One has died.

Boom!: When/Why did you come to the US and how did you get to Northern Virginia?

Desta: I am in search of a better life.  I hoped to win money at marathons, but the challenges are very difficult. 

Boom! When did you start running and when did you discover you were going to be good?

Desta: I was a runner all my life.  I began winning races when I was 13.  When I learned to run fast enough, I traveled to Europe and ran marathons in France, Latvia, and Poland.

Boom! What is your favorite training routine?  How many miles do you run in a typical week?

Desta: Near where I am staying is my favorite hill, 20th Street in Arlington VA between Glebe Road and Fillmore Street.  The hill rises 25 meters in the distance of just 300 meters.  I run it 20 times every morning at 7 AM.  Then I eat breakfast, often with a packet of CarbBoom! Then I rest.  In the afternoon, I run 5 to 10 miles at an easy pace.  Then lunch and rest, or I work to help my friend Jay.  Then we have a training program every evening -- speed work on a track on Mondays and Wednesdays, distance with the Pacers Running Store group on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I run a race almost every weekend.  I cover about 105 miles per week.

Boom!: What are your goals for running?

Desta: I want to win major marathons.  I finished 2nd overall at 2016 Marine Corps Marathon. I had a CarbBoom! gel before the race, then at 10 miles and 20 miles. 

Boom! What are your plans for being in the US?

Desta: My visa is for six months, September 12 through March 11.  Soon, I hope to seek asylum here in the USA.  In Ethiopia, my Oromo people are greatly oppressed. My friend and training partner in Ethiopia was Feyisa Lilesa. the 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist.  When he finished, he gave the sign of the Oromo people, crossing his arms at the wrists.  He has applied for asylum i n the US. (for more information, See Oromo_People)

Boom! How do you think about nutrition during long races (marathons)

Desta: I need energy.  I am always hungry.  

Boom!: What do you like about CarbBoom! Energy Gels and what is your favorite flavor?

Desta: CarbBoom! tastes good and help me run longer and faster. My favorite is Orange Vanilla -- the caffeine gives me a boost.  Coffee is "buna" in Amharic, so I call it Buna Booma!

Boom!: Anything else he wants to share?

Desta: When I finished 2nd at Marine Corps Marathon, the Washington Post ran this story: Marine Corps Marathon

Boom!:  Thanks for the time Desta and best of luck in the future!

Desta and fellow Ethiopian Dadi Beyene sharing a laugh on the start line at 2016 Philadelphia Marathon

Prettiest - biased - 5K route in the country

Welcome to my route.  I am not a big runner, but I do run a fair amount.  When I am not training for something specific, I run exactly 5K about 4 days a week.  Always in the AM.  Swimming and biking on the other days.  Some days include two of the three.  I enjoy running - somewhat - but I also travel a lot and have come to realize I really don't like to run when I am out of town. More of a chore or a task than an enjoyable exercise. Although I have been running my route for many years it finally came to me in one of those "blinding glimpses of the obvious" that I get from time to time.   My daily route is really the prettiest and nicest 5K anywhere. A real joy that I am thankful to have.  Anywhere else I run is not nearly as nice and comes up short!  So I thought I would attempt to share it with you. (I of course " boom! branded" my route!)

I live in historic Gates Mills, Ohio - part of Western Reserve (Connecticut) first settled in 1796.  Nestled in the Chagrin Valley, my route runs along the Chagrin River and includes notable local landmarks such as the Chagrin Valley Hunt Club, Old Livery Tavern and St. Christopher By-the-River Church and includes the old mill race, horses, polo fields, split rail fences, stone walls and white picket fences protecting beautiful white Western Reserve houses.  "Downtown" Gates Mills, with the town hall, the post office, library and Sara's Place restaurant is just a treat.

A little challenging, the first 1.5 miles is mostly slightly uphill with the biggest problem keeping an eye out for the occasional horse manure on the road.  Very few cars, an occasional cyclist.  The last 300 meters or so is straight uphill to my finish line.  It is an out and back 5K, but there are a number of other places to go to easily turn this into a 8-10 mile scenic run. 

Thanks for watching (I'll do better on the quality next time) and feel free to show me your route!  Boom!

CarbBoom! Energy Gels Fall 2016 events

The early fall 2016 schedule is in and the Boom Nutrition team is hitting the road for some great fall events.  Meet the Boom! team and sample great tasting CarbBoom! Energy Gels at the following great events.  CarbBoom will be the on-course gels at all of these! (plus a few others)

Baja Bike Race:  The route takes you from the city of Tecate to the city of Ensenada in Baja California Mexico totaling 73 miles through baja wine country.  During the ride,  you will climb almost 4000' with 4 major hills.  To create additional competition amongst riders, we created a race within the race to the top to one of the hills.  Competitors with the fastest time will earn themselves King and Queen of the hill!

Quad Cities Marathon:  The Quad Cities Marathon, a USATF certified course is held annually on the fourth Sunday in September. The 26.2 mile run starts and ends at 1201 River Drive in downtown Moline, IL. The event benefits two worthy causes: prostate cancer research & screening and the Erika Kate Foundation, helping families of children with life threatening heart conditions. The flat and fast course features one of the finest, most scenic river views in the country. It covers 5 races, 4 cities, 3 bridges, 2 states, and 1 island, all along the mighty Mississippi River!

TowPath Marathon:  Canalway Partners hosts the Towpath Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K every fall in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Described as “one of the most beautiful race courses in America” by Runner’s World magazine, the Towpath Marathon showcases breathtaking segments of the historic Towpath Trail located between Akron and Cleveland. The Towpath Marathon is one of few marathons that take place in a national park, and many consider it a unique specialty race due to the setting and time of year in which it is run.

Indianapolis Monumental and Indianapolis Half Marathon:  Now one of the 20 largest marathons in the US, the CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon is the ideal fall marathon for everyone from the first time marathon runner to elite athletes. Starting and finishing at the Indiana State Capitol, the course highlights landmarks and historical neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis. Nationally recognized as flat and fast, this event has hosted Olympians, PR seekers, and thousands of Boston Marathon qualifiers.  The Indy Half marathon takes place in historic Fort Harrison State Park, your hometown half is a gorgeous fall tour through the park and surrounding neighborhoods.

Philadelphia Marathon:  In Philadelphia, we redefine the experience of what a marathon should be. A beautiful course, an engaging atmosphere—it’s no wonder we're consistently listed among the top ten courses in the country, recognized for our flat terrain, mellow weather and spirited fans. Expect beautiful views through Fairmount Park and along the Schuylkill River and neighborhood crowds gathering on sidewalks in University City and Manayunk. Weave through the well-traveled streets of our historic district, passing sights familiar to Franklin, Washington and the rest of the gang, and end your race speeding towards the steps of the majestic Art Museum. Oh, that’s another thing: the fans. You'd better get ready for the crowds, because each year, thousands of spectators line the course eager to cheer on runners. There's nothing we love more in this town than a champion...all 30,000 of them.

Ft Lauderdale 13.1: From Riverfront to Beachfront.  A beach party experience that unfolds throughout the beautiful streets of Fort Lauderdale. This race offers hidden gems of this historic city along scenic routes through downtown Riverfront, breathtaking coastal neighborhoods, the famous Las Olas Boulevard and along A1A and Fort Lauderdale Beach. The finish includes a beach party with live music, activities for the family, a beer garden and more!

USA Triathlon 2016 Art and Science of Triathlon Coaching Symposium.  Atlanta Ga.  Not a race but as the official Energy Gel of USA Triathlon, we are really excited to be learning and rubbing elbows with the best and brightest triathlon coaches around!

Want to race with us?

Like or share this post by Sept 18 and be entered to win a race entry in the race of your choosing.  Good luck and see you on the course!

(two winners will be awarded)

Rio Update

Boom Nutrition is really excited to support the Olympic dreams of Venezuelan Marathoner Luis Orta. We asked Luis to give us an update as to how it is going and what he has been up to over the past few months leading up to Rio.

Training update from Luis. He leaves for Rio on Thursday. After qualifying for Rio at the Rotterdam Marathon, Luis traveled to Rio to review the course and competed in a 5000m race at the Olympic stadium. Spent a month in the Colorado mountains (9,000 ft) getting in some high altitude, high mileage training and then home to Boulder where he says " I am breaking all my records in practice and my confidence is through the roof. I am ready for an awesome race and experience in Rio!" Luis said "Because Rio is expected to be hot and humid I have been constantly working on my hydration and nutrition. I use a CarbBoom! Energy Gel every 30 minutes during my runs. I'm in love with the Banana Peach flavor. It's easy to take, the flavor is great and it definitely gives you that extra push necessary in long distance events. Most importantly it never hurts your stomach because it has only natural ingredients. During my race in Rio I plan to take one at 10k-20k-30k-35k I will even carry an extra one in my pocket just in case." The Olympic marathon is August 21st. 

Best off luck Luis as you pursue your Olympic dreams!

August 22 Update:

Luis finished the 2016 Olympic Marathon in 106th place with a time of 2:27:05.  Congrats Luis on a fantastic effort and we were really excited to be on your team.  Boom!

Luis Orta enjoying his Banana Peach CarbBoom! Energy Gels

Boom! Is going to the Olympics!

Boom Nutrition is proud to support the Olympic dream of Venezuelan marathoner Luis Orta.  From Caracas Venezuela, Luis is a former Kentucky Wildcat and currently lives and trains in Boulder CO.  At Kentucky, Luis was a 4 time All SEC athlete, 2012 SEC Indoor Runner of the Year and UK 3000m Steeplechase recordholder.   After qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics at the 2016 Rotterdam Marathon, Luis said “I wouldn't have been able to achieve my lifetime goal of becoming an Olympian without CarbBoom! Energy Gels.  I had tried different kinds before but the strong taste or the amount of sugar and caffeine gave me even more trouble than 26.2 miles already should give you”.  Luis is a fan of Banana Peach and is excited to be carrying the Boom! banner in Rio this summer. 

Good luck to Luis and look for Luis sporting the Boom! tattoos while training and competing this summer. 

Gastrointestinal problems in athletes

Number one question we are asked is how to avoid stomach issues.  Great article by Asker Jeukendrup at www.mysportscience.com.

Summary Conclusions:

In order to prevent gastrointestinal distress, a few guidelines can be provided. However, it must be noted that these are based on limited research. Nevertheless, anecdotally, these guidelines seem to be effective:

• Avoid high-fiber foods in the day or even days before competition. For the athlete in training, a diet with adequate fiber will help keep the bowel regular.  Avoid dairy, high fat and high protein foods the day before.

• Avoid aspirin and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen. Both aspirin and NSAIDs have commonly been shown to increase intestinal permeability and may increase the incidence of gastrointestinal complaints. The use of NSAIDs in the pre-race period should be discouraged, mainly for athletes with a history of gastrointestinal problems.

• Make training with carbohydrates part of your weekly routine and train your race nutrition.

• Avoid high-fructose foods (in particular drinks that are exclusively fructose). However, interestingly, a fructose and glucose combination may not cause problems and may be better tolerated.

• Avoid dehydration. As dehydration can exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms, it is important to prevent dehydration. Start the race (or training) well hydrated.

• Ingest carbohydrates with sufficient water or choose drinks with lower carbohydrate concentrations to prevent very high concentrations and osmolalities in the stomach.