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.

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!

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.

Jenn Garnand is Kona-Bound

Boom! Ambassador Jenn Garnand of New Orleans was one of six people who completed Ironman Lake Tahoe 2014, even though it was officially cancelled due to heavy smoke from nearby forest fires. She was the only known female finisher of the "Unofficial 6" who finished Ironman Lake Tahoe that day. And now, she's headed to Kona! Here's her remarkable story of strong will and determination.

Fake Tahoe: The Land of Fire and Ice and Bike-Swim-Bike-Run

Lake Tahoe is notorious for being one of the most challenging Ironman courses in North America and beyond… 1) for the fact that it’s extremely unpredictable as far as weather and conditions are concerned and 2) because it’s situated at 6-7,000 feet of elevation with over 6700 feet of elevation gain throughout the bike course. Needless to say, as a girl from New Orleans, I’ve been terrified for the greater part of the last year!

When I arrived in Tahoe, I vividly remember walking over to pick up my bike box at the airport and by the time I had pulled it to the front door, I was out of breath. Great! I figured I was in for a real treat once I had to do actual physical activity. I spent the first day acclimating to my new environment and doing absolutely nothing. It was concerning from day one, when I learned of 2 nearby forest fires, one only about 10 miles away, that were producing smoke that would fill Lake Tahoe and the entire surrounding valley for the coming week.  Each day, I tolerated the smoke as it came and was smart about when to call it quits. After all, I was saving myself for race day.

The morning of the race, I woke up to smoke filling the inside of our hotel room and knew that things weren’t looking good. We proceeded to get everything together as normal and took the long shuttle bus ride to race start. When we got there, music was blaring, volunteers were everywhere and it looked like your typical Ironman event: ready to rock and roll! The air surrounding the lake was clear and the water was still, much different than any of the days I had practiced in this “lake” with its 5-foot waves and surfers riding them. Everything was looking great to start the race. We were lined up on King’s Beach, toes in the water, waiting to begin our individual journeys.

The race was literally cancelled about 5 minutes prior to the start, out of safety concerns for athletes, volunteers and the general public. I understand and respect Ironman’s decision to cancel that day, however devastating it may have been to the 1900+ athletes that had traveled from all over the world to be there and made unbelievable personal sacrifices in order to get to that starting line. I’ve never seen so many grown men crying in one place before. It was terrible! I too, sniffled for all of about 5 seconds. Just then, I got that feeling when you just “know” and told myself, “I’m doing it.” Now don’t go thinking I was trying to go against WTC rulings or trying to prove a point to anybody. I wasn’t. I had been dealing with this smoke for the past week and had been smart about not training in it when it got bad. I was saving myself for this one day and I hadn’t come all the way to Lake Tahoe to vacation. I wasn’t going home without a fight. In true ER nurse fashion, I strapped my N-95 mask on and began my journey.

Because of the layout of Lake Tahoe and the mountains, I had a few logistical issues with the flow of my race. I swam in the middle of my bike ride, which is a bit of a change from the usual race day flow. But all in all, the day was extremely pleasant. No pressure, just me and the road and this mission I had set out to accomplish. It’s funny, everyone is so shocked that someone would go out and do this with no crowds and no support. But guess what? That’s what we do every day in training! I don’t always need a man on a microphone (I love you, Mike Reilly!!!) to tell me I’m an Ironman (although I would later get that anyway). Training for these things is the real journey… the every day, silent, long hours that go into even getting to that starting line. So this part was no big deal. I was merely earning the medal that they had already handed out to me (yes, this was the only race I have ever done where I got the medal first and then finished!)

Despite wearing an N-95 mask under my helmet for over 6 hours, the bike ride was really nice. Elevation was not an issue for me, and the hills, well, I had prepared myself way better than I thought! I only stopped breathing (ok, I’m being dramatic) twice on 2 of the bigger climbs and the scenery is SO AMAZING that you almost forget you’re doing work. The smoke got progressively better throughout the course of the day and by the time I was on the run, I didn’t need the mask at all.

The marathon was a special experience. By this time, I was aware that there were a few others out on the course and we had already formed a special bond through waves and cheers. Their people became my people and I found myself with random strangers checking on me well into the night. One thing I learned about running a marathon on a mountain is that it is PITCH BLACK. Talk about not being able to see your hand in front of your face! I even had a light on my race belt, but it was still incredibly difficult to navigate the run path in this environment. Towards the second half of the run, I found myself doing loops around our hotel (yay) so that I could see where I was going. This is about the equivalent of running on a treadmill for me, so that part was not very exciting, but I had to get the miles in. About 5 miles from the finish, I decided to detour up the mountain a bit to where the finish line would have been. To my surprise, I was greeted by bright lights, music and about 20 screaming people. I jokingly said, “Wait, I’m not done!” Matt Miller, initially known to be “a guy named Matt, now recognized as President of Base Performance and one of the best Ironman cheerleaders I know), was there leading the group. He started running with me and asked how many miles I had left. I told him 5, and he said, “Great, we’ll be here waiting for you.” I told him they did NOT have to do that and asked about what family members or friends they had come here to support. He responded, “You. We’ve been watching you all day. We came back here for YOU!” WHAT?!?!?! I couldn’t believe these strangers were getting crazy at almost midnight on a dark abandoned mountain for ME…So I continued to run for almost the next hour with a renewed sense of excitement for my once “virtual”, now very much real Ironman Lake Tahoe finish line.

When I did come in for the finish, I had my very own announcer complete with microphone and loudspeaker, refreshments, an unofficial bedazzled heart necklace and a 1999 Ironman New Zealand bag that one of my new friends had scratched out and scribbled “Ironman Lake Tahoe 2014” in its place. These people were hugging and kissing me like I had known them my entire life. They took pictures and videos and did everything in their power to make the culmination of that initially very disappointing day an incredibly amazing finish! I formed a special bond with them in that moment that has now grown beyond Lake Tahoe. I went on to compete in Ironman Florida with one of my finish line friends, Ryan Moll (it was a special day and #5 for us both). He not only cheered me on in Tahoe, but completed his own distance of 76.3 miles that day (because 70.3 was just too normal). These are my kind of people; these are friendships that will forever remind me that our triathlon community is truly amazing.

As if it couldn’t get any better, two months following the event, on November 14th, my wildest dream came true. Ironman announced a handful of members of the Ironman Lake Tahoe community who had shown up, checked in and signed up for another race in 2015, that would receive the “golden ticket” to race in the 2015 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii... and MY name was on that list! I knew that day in Lake Tahoe was special for many personal reasons, but as it turns out, the decision I made to follow my dreams resulted in the ultimate reward. This was Ironman #4 for me, but definitely the most important and special one of the 4. I did it for ME. I did it because it’s in my blood and it’s what I had come to do. I’m proud to be the only known female member of the “Unofficial 6” that finished Ironman Lake Tahoe that day. I learned that if you really want to achieve something, be smart, be safe and go out and get it! I’m glad I did.

Never give up,

Jenn Garnand

Boom! Nutrition Ambassador

www.conqueringkona.com

@conqueringkona on Instagram

@conqueringkona on Twitter

Boom Nutrition - The Exclusive Energy Gel of USA Triathlon

The Boom Nutrition team is very excited about its new multi-year partnership with USA Triathlon. Carb Boom! Energy Gels® are the Exclusive Energy Gel of USA Triathlon through 2017! We will be the on-course Energy Gel at all of the USAT National Championships including the Age Group Nationals, the Duathlon Nationals, the Collegiate Nationals and the Youth and Junior Nationals.  In addition, we are on-course Energy Gel at the 2015 ITU World Championships in Chicago.  Starting in January, you will see us in USAT’s Multisport Zone ENewsletter and nutritional webinars throughout the year.  We love going to these events and can’t wait to see everyone on-course and at the expos!  BOOM! 

Read the official press release below:

BOOM NUTRITION NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCT. 27, 2014

Boom Nutrition to be Exclusive Energy GEL OF USA TRIATHLON

Cleveland, OH:  BOOM Nutrition along with USA Triathlon announced today that Carb Boom! Energy Gels® have signed on to be the Exclusive Energy Gel of USA Triathlon through 2017.  

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.  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 added sugars or artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.  More information can be found at www.boomnutrition.com.

Boom!® will provide energy gels at on-course aid stations for USA Triathlon’s four owned National Championships: Age Group (Olympic-Distance & Sprint), Collegiate, Duathlon and Youth & Junior.  Additionally, all USA Triathlon annual members, including athletes, coaches and race directors, will receive a 20 percent discount on Carb Boom! Energy Gels®. Members can access their code by logging in to their personal account on usatriathlon.org.

"We are very excited to partner with USA Triathlon for the coming three years" said Boom!® CEO and longtime USA Triathlon member Tony Lammers. "USA Triathlon is the largest multisport organization in the world and triathletes have been passionate supporters of Carb Boom! Energy Gels® for years. The entire Boom!® team welcomes the opportunity to work closely with USA Triathlon as we enter this exciting new era for both of our organizations."

“Boom Nutrition has a proven history within the energy gel space, and we’re pleased to add their expertise to USA Triathlon’s family of partners,” said Chuck Menke, USA Triathlon Chief Marketing Officer. “More than any other endurance athletes, our members recognize the benefits of nutrition during training and competition, and we look forward to fueling race participants with Carb Boom! Energy Gels® at select USA Triathlon National Championships.”

Learn more about Boom Nutrition at boomnutrition.com.

About Boom Nutrition

Boom Nutrition Inc., is a Cleveland, Ohio-based sports nutrition company that develops and delivers nutrition products that improve the performance of endurance athletes everywhere. Known worldwide for its great taste and great performance, Carb Boom! Energy Gels® are the official on-course energy gels at endurance events nationwide. For more information about Carb Boom! Energy Gels®, go to boomnutrition.com.

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with nearly 500,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

Contact:

Tony Lammers, Boom Nutrition

President/CEO

Phone 216-242-2679 ext. 100

Email: tony@boomnutrition.com

www.boomnutrition.com

Iceman Cometh - Not for the faint-hearted

BOOM! Nutrition met over 5,000 crazy mountain-bikers and their just-as-crazy supporters at The 25th Iceman Cometh in Traverse City, MI on Nov. 7-8.  The expo (packet pickup) vibrated with palpable pre-race jitters and excited trail cyclists preparing for a journey from Kalkaska to Traverse City on sand, mud and dirt trails. 

The weather in northern Michigan lived up to the Iceman's namesake with snow, wind, rain, sleet and ice. Fans and supporters stood outside, shivering shoulder to shoulder throughout Timber Ridge Recreation Resort for a glimpse of their favorite athletes whipping by, which were almost impossible to discern since they were coated with mud and dirt.

Check out this photo summary of The 25th Iceman Cometh race. 

Adventure Atmosphere at Burning River 100 Endurance Run

Even though there was a race clock was ticking, the atmosphere at the Burning River 100 Mile Endurance run was more of an adventure than a race. The attitude of the athletes, their crews, volunteers and spectators alike was friendly, supportive, energetic and fun. The whole event had a festival atmosphere to it. Make no mistake, these ultra-marathoners are serious and attempting a challenge few people dare to start, and even fewer complete. But they do it with grace and a smile. There was a real sense of camaraderie among the runners and an absence of the uber-competitiveness or elitism that can sometimes be present at endurance races.

Boom Nutrition had the privilege of being able to support this year's event at the Shadow Lake aid station at mile 24.4. Spirits were high this early in the event and it was a joy to watch the athletes come through. The "go-fast" crowd came through with barely a sweat and barely out of breath, grabbed a quick snack and a sip and were off with a smile and a "thank-you." It was like they were out for a simple morning walk in the woods (~7:30 pace!).

As the morning progressed, athletes grabbed their drop-bags, aided by the youth volunteers from Lake Ridge Academy, and changed their socks or shoes or applied sunscreen or anti-chaffe creams. Some volunteers filled water-bottles for the athletes while others kept the smorgasbord filled with PB&Js, fresh fruit, chips, pretzels, salt tablets, and Carb Boom! Energy Gels. It really was a picnic in the park. Complete with a rockin' playlist on a sound system powered by a portable generator. The enthusiasm of the volunteers was only matched by the cheers of the crowd and the outfits of the athletes, fans and crew. I have never felt more valued as a volunteer.

The only real chore was the timekeeping. Each aid station served as a check point and volunteers checked each athlete's bib number as they came into the station along with their time. Not always an easy task when large groups of runners come through at the same time. Once recorded, athlete bib numbers and times were entered one at a time into a smart-phone app allowing LIVE tracking of individual athlete's progress on the Western Reserve Racing website. Tony Lammers, CEO of Boom Nutrition and Chief Shadow Lake Timekeeper, said "This is remarkably stressful!"

The hardest part of the day, and maybe one of the hardest thing I've had to do in my many years of endurance racing and volunteering, was having to stop an athlete from continuing after she missed the cutoff time. It was very emotional for her, her friends and family and even for me. It was her first ultra and she had come from Arizona to race in the beauty of the Cuyahoga River Valley Corridor (Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and Metro Parks Serving Summit County). She trained for a year to get ready, was in good spirits and felt that she could continue both physically and mentally. Her safety was the most important consideration, however, especially with a storm looming. I couldn't allow her to continue knowing there would not be aid stations available and that race officials wouldn't know she was still on course. She could have been mad. She could have yelled. She didn't. We talked for a while. A few tears fell. We hugged. I made a new friend. She said she would be back to reach her BR100 goal. She embodies the spirit of the ultra-endurance athlete.

Thank you BR100 athletes for letting us be part of your journey!

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ITU World Triathlon Chicago

Pictures and Videos from the boom! crew at the 2014 ITU World Chicago Triathlon.

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Boom Nutrition is Off to the Races!

We are the Official Energy Gel Supplier to the ITU World Triathlon Chicago and the Challenge Atlantic City Triathlon July 27-29, 2014.