Official Video Produced by TRI-CAL TV of the 2008 Wildflower Triathlon. Clip features results of the Olympic Distance Race & participants of all age groups.
A short video capturing the experience of the three components of the triathlon. Swim, Bike, Run. This video was produced in Northern California with top professional triathletes Chris and Matt Lieto as well as their coach Matt Dixon.
www.BikeWearWorld.com and www.uRide.tv were on locsation in San Antonio Lake, Monterey, California for the woodstock of triathlons, wildflower triathlon 2010. This video clip really highlights transitions made by the professional fields, You can see what it takes for people like Michael Raelert, Julie Dibens and Desiree Ficker to pull wins at the 2010 Avia Wildflower Triathlon.
Houston Roots of Rio Linda High School heads to Jackson Mississippi as the only California player in the 2008 International All-American Bowl Game Classic. Game time is Saturday, January 5, at 5:00pm.
A rare December race, Honolulu features a pretty impressive roster of sites to see along the 26.2-mile course: Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head and Koko Head volcanic craters, and of course, all of the normal flora and fauna of being in Hawaii. Honolulu also has the advantage of being all on pavement– something that you’ll see is sorely lacking on this list–and relatively flat, which is nice, considering that you’re going to be running further than most Americans commute to work.
4. Big Sur International Marathon, Monterrey, California
The Big Sur is run on California’s Monterrey Peninsula, almost entirely along the rocky coastline. The course is almost devoid of major landmarks, or wildlife, but consistently ranks among the most beautiful races available. Why? Take a look:
3. Antarctic Ice Marathon, 80 Degrees South
Yeah, you read that right– this race flies you in from Puenta Arenas, Chile, to Patriot Hills, where the Antarctic Ice Marathon features 20 mph winds, support staff on snowmobiles, and an average wind chill of -20 Fahrenheit. Even better–the entire race is at 3,000 feet of altitude, making for a rough adjustment if you trained at sea level.
2. Big Five Marathon, Entabeni Game Reserve, South Africa
This race–touted as “harder than Comrades”, the South African 52-mile death march of an ultramarathon– has the unique pleasure of running through a game reserve. Entabeni offers lions, zebras, gazelles, and a broad diversity of African geography along the trail to distract runner from the pain that comes from covering the distance and differing elevations of the course. Running with gazelles, however, may be priceless.
1. Safaricom Marathon, Lewa Game Reserve, Kenya
Safaricom, like the big five, passes through a game reserve, but features two very important differences to the untrained eye: black rhinos, and Kenyans. East Africa has long been known for breeding highly competitive distance runners, and this race is their “home court advantage” if you will; run at 5,000 feet altitude, the locals in the field will look blazingly fast, giving any tourist more than enough reason to ignore their competitive drive and focus on the wildlife surrounding them.
Whether you’re a marathon newbie or veteran, why submit to the challenge in your own hometown when you can combine fitness and vacation for the adventure of a lifetime?
Most countries and US states boast at least one marathon of their own, giving runners a myriad of options should they choose to take the plunge. Read on to discover Travel Channel’s picks for North America’s most scenic runs.
Steamboat Marathon Steamboat Springs, Colorado Snow-capped peaks and lush, green valleys surround runners as they make their descent from this marathon’s starting point high in the Rocky Mountains at historic Hahns Peak Village to the Routt County Courthouse in the resort town of Steamboat Springs far below. The route offers views of a myriad of mountain wildlife and a handful of working ranches and covers an overall drop of 1,400 feet along the 26.2-mile route. The rolling hills and high altitude will take their toll on runners, and participants should practice running in the mountains beforehand.
While most visitors know Steamboat Springs as a mecca for skiers, it also boasts plenty of summer activities. At nearby Strawberry Park, just 7 miles outside town, runners can unwind after the race by enjoying the therapeutic wonders of the park’s natural hot springs. If you’re a nature lover, take advantage of the area’s outdoor opportunities by swimming in Fish Creek Falls or tubing along the Yampa River. The historic downtown of Steamboat Springs is worth a gander; because it’s a ranching community, the streets are wide enough to accommodate a cattle drive.
Mayor’s Marathon Anchorage, Alaska Anchorage’s Mayor’s Marathon takes place the day after the summer solstice, when runners can revel in a solid 19 hours of daily sunlight. Much of the marathon course follows a dirt-packed road — meaning you’ll dodge rocks and boulders along the path — so racers should train with this in mind. The race begins along a bike path that winds around toward a golf course before beginning an 8-mile stretch through the serene wilderness. After a climb, the course heads back down toward the University of Alaska campus, where it connects onto a municipal trail through the heart of Anchorage and ends at a local high school near a lagoon. The race’s half-marathon follows a different route that passes through Earthquake Park. Wolves, bears, foxes and moose are common residents in the area, though many will scatter when they hear runners approach. In collaboration with the race, Logistics, L.L.C. offers participants and spectators half-, full- and multiday tours of Alaskan hot spots. Excursions include a nighttime Midnight Sun Glacier hike, fly-fishing, white-water rafting, glacier cruises, paragliding, horseback riding and flight-seeing. If you have a few days to spare, cruise through the Kenai Fjords, explore Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Reserve, or take the train up north to Denali.
Kona Marathon Keauhou-Kona, Hawaii Doubling as the site for one of the world’s most revered Ironman competitions, Kona offers runners the chance to race in paradise. The marathon commences at Keauhou Beach and follows the coast along Alii Drive — the primary road that runs parallel to the western beaches of the Big Island — before turning at Kuakini Highway, continuing on Queen Kaahumanu Highway, then looping around and covering the same course back. Along the way, runners will have clear views of Hawaii’s emerald waters, black-rock beaches and palm-fringed coastline. After your sweat has dried and you’ve removed your running shoes, spend a couple of days in quaint Kailua-Kona. You can snorkel at Kahaluu Beach (where you may just spot a sea turtle or 2), rent a kayak and paddle out to the Captain Cook monument south of town, and eventually make your way to Kilauea and Volcanoes National Park to witness glowing lava formations firsthand.
San Francisco Marathon San Francisco, California The hills will be the first of many challenges that await runners in one of America’s most beloved cities; keeping focus on the path ahead while passing through San Fran’s stunning scenery will be another. Beginning along the Embarcadero, the marathon course passes Pier 39 and runs down to Fisherman’s Wharf along San Francisco Bay. Admire the lavish townhouses in the yuppie Marina district, before passing through the Presidio en route to the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll cross the iconic monument before looping around at Vista Point and coming back. Don’t forget to take a peek at the city’s remarkable skyline when making your way back over the bridge and downtown. Once you reach the Presidio, you’ll change directions and travel through the verdant Golden Gate Park. Upon leaving the park, the gritty Haight-Ashbury district comes next, followed by the Latino-inspired Mission. At the promenade of the AT&T Park, you’ll know you’re in the homestretch: The race finishes inside the Giants’ stadium. After crossing the finish line, spend a couple of days taking in the city’s sights — at a more leisurely pace this time — before making your way east to Yosemite or south along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway to one of many notable seaside towns like Monterey or Santa Barbara.
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Golf and tennis not challenging enough? Some of today’s hardest-charging technology executives are turning to 100-mile bike races, marathons and high-endurance athletics for the kicks they crave.
The day-to-day thirst for success doesn’t end when CEOs and other business leaders leave the boardrooms of their billion-dollar companies, according to guests at the Reuters Global Technology, Media and Telecoms Summit this week.
"It is usually not a six- or seven-hour day, so part of it is you probably want something to keep you mentally and physically in shape," said Enrique Salem, chief operating officer of software maker Symantec Corp. "You want to do something that is challenging, that isn’t about running a business."
Salem owns a Giant TCR C1 bike, which retails for over $3,000, and last year completed a charity ride around California’s Lake Tahoe twice — the second time in under 4 hours. His sojourns don’t stop there.
"I skied 19 days last year. When I’m on the slopes, I’m trying to avoid trees and other skiers. So I am not thinking about what it takes to run Symantec. I think it’s a bit of mental relief," he said.
Long-distance running offers the same meditative reward for Hulu Chief Executive Jason Kilar, whose five marathons include Iceland, Portland, Seattle and New York, twice.
"I love setting goals," said the head of the video website owned by News Corp and General Electric Co’s NBC Universal. "Life is more interesting when you set goals that are not easy, and having a goal of a marathon … is a very fun thing that focuses you in a way that just running 3 miles or 6 miles a day does not," Kilar added.
They are not alone. In fact, Denver-based CEO Challenges runs sports competitions designed for top executives, including Triathlons, Ironman, Fishing, Sailing and Tennis Challenges.
HOUR CLUB
Dave DeWalt, CEO of security software maker McAfee Inc, described his goal for the grueling Mount Diablo Challenge, a 10.8-mile bike ride up 3,240-feet to the peak in the San Francisco Bay area.
"There is a race from the bottom to the top," said DeWalt, who also wrestled in college and had been invited to Olympic trials. "I can only compete in the over 200-pound class because there are some really fast riders. But there is the "hour club" — if you can do it in one hour or less, there is a special club. I can’t quite crack it yet but I am working on it."
To be sure, golf courses, tennis courts and myriad other sports — beloved by leaders of all stripes — won’t go out of business any time soon.
For example, the crop of presidential hopeful has diverse taste in athletics. Sen. Hilary Clinton owns her own bowling ball, Sen. Barack Obama loves basketball, and Sen. John McCain likes to hike around the hills of his Sedona, Arizona, ranch.
Some business leaders aspire to adrenaline-driven jaunts, but are willing to leave the serious challenges to more adventurous peers."
"I don’t have a lot of athletic bones in my body. I wish I had more," said AT&T Inc Chief Financial Officer Rick Lindner. "We’ve got (two) boats … that we keep on Lake Travis. I will still jump on the water skis from time to time."
"Once or twice a year when conditions are perfect, the sun is shining, it’s 90 degrees, the water is smooth. I get up, do a circle, come around and have a beer and say, "By God, I can still do it."
Dean Karnazes ran 50 marathons in 50 days. He does 200 miles just for fun. He’ll race in 120-degree heat. 12 secrets to his success.
DEAN KARNAZES WAS SLOBBERING DRUNK. IT WAS HIS 30TH BIRTHDAY, and he’d started with beer and moved on to tequila shots at a bar near his home in San Francisco. Now, after midnight, an attractive young woman – not his wife – was hitting on him. This was not the life he’d imagined for himself. He was a corporate hack desperately running the rat race. The company had just bought him a new Lexus. He wanted to vomit. Karnazes resisted the urge and, instead, slipped out the bar’s back door and walked the few blocks to his house. On the back porch, he found an old pair of sneakers. He stripped down to his T-shirt and underwear, laced up the shoes, and started running. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
He sobered up in Daly City, about 15 miles south. It was nearly four in the morning. The air was cool, slightly damp from the fog, and Karnazes was in a residential neighborhood, burping tequila, with no pants on. He felt ridiculous, but it brought a smile to his face. He hadn’t had this much fun in a long time. So he decided to keep running.
When the sun came up, Karnazes was trotting south along Route 1, heading toward Santa Cruz. He had covered 30 miles. In the process, he’d had a blinding realization: There were untapped reservoirs within him. It was like a religious conversion. He had been born again as a long-distance runner. More than anything else now, he wanted to find out how far he could go. But at that exact moment, what he really needed to do was stop. He called his wife from a pay phone, and an hour later she found him in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven. He passed out in the car on the way home.
That was August 1992. Over the next 14 years, Karnazes challenged almost every known endurance running limit. He covered 350 miles without sleeping. (It took more than three days.) He ran the first and only marathon to the South Pole (finishing second), and a few months ago, at age 44, he completed 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days, one in each of the 50 states. (The last one was in New York City. After that, he decided to run home to San Francisco.) Karnazes’ transformation from a tequila-sodden party animal into an international symbol of human achievement is as educational as it is inspirational. Here’s his advice for pushing athletic performance from the unthinkable to the untouchable.
1. BE AUDACIOUS
Finding the right challenge is the first challenge. "Any goal worth achieving involves an element of risk," Karnazes says in his autobiography, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner. Risk, yes, and creativity too. For instance, looking for the ultimate endurance running challenge, in 1995 Karnazes entered a 199-mile relay race – by himself. He competed against eight teams of 12 and finished eighth.
2. GO LACELESS
One of the biggest annoyances in long-distance running is lace management. After banging out 50 miles, it can be hard to squat or even bend over long enough to tie your shoes. The North Face recently responded to Karnazes’ complaints and came out with the $130 M Endurus XCR Boa. Its laceless upper is enmeshed in thin steel cables that connect to a tension dial at the back. A simple turn cinches the shoe onto the foot. No more slowing down to fiddle with laces.
3. FLIRT WITH DISASTER
In 1995, Karnazes ran his first Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile trek that starts in Death Valley, California, in the middle of summer and finishes at the Mt. Whitney Portals, 8,360 feet above sea level. After running 72 miles in 120-degree heat, Karnazes collapsed on the side of the road suffering from hallucinations, diarrhea, and nausea. He had pushed himself to the point of death to find out whether he was strong enough to survive. He was. Though he didn’t finish the race that year, Karnazes came back the next and placed 10th. He won it on his fifth attempt, in 2004. "Somewhere along the line, we seem to have confused comfort with happiness," he says.
4. EAT JUNK – LOTS OF IT
You wouldn’t believe the stuff Karnazes consumes on a run. He carries a cell phone and regularly orders an extra-large Hawaiian pizza. The delivery car waits for him at an intersection, and when he gets there he grabs the pie and rams the whole thing down his gullet on the go. The trick: Roll it up for easy scarfing. He’ll chase the pizza with cheesecake, cinnamon buns, chocolate éclairs, and all-natural cookies. The high-fat pig-out fuels Karnazes’ long jaunts, which can burn more than 9,000 calories a day. What he needs is massive amounts of energy, and fat contains roughly twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrates. Hence, pizza and éclairs. When he’s not in the midst of some record-breaking exploit, Karnazes maintains a monkish diet, eating grilled salmon five nights a week. He strictly avoids processed sugars and fried foods – no cookies or doughnuts. He even tries to steer clear of too much fruit because it contains a lot of sugar. He believes this approach – which nutritionists call a slow-carb diet – has reshaped him, lowering his body fat and building lean muscle. It also makes him look forward to running a race, because he can eat whatever he wants.
5. CUT BACK ON SLEEP
Karnazes has a wife and two kids, and he worked a 9-to-5 job for the first eight years of his quest to transcend his own limits. Finding four hours for a 30-mile run during the day was next to impossible. The solution: sleep less. "Forgoing sleep is the only way I’ve figured out how to fit it all in," he says, noting that running in the dark can be soothing. Plus, there’s less traffic to contend with. He now gets about four hours of shut-eye a night. Before he started running, however, he was just a regular guy who got a regular eight. As he started to run more, he found that he could sleep less. The National Sleep Foundation reports that exercise does lead to more restful sleep, and Karnazes takes this idea to the extreme. "The human body," he says, "is capable of extraordinary feats."
6. SHOW YOUR BODY WHO’S BOSS
"The human body has limitations," Karnazes says. "The human spirit is boundless." Your mind, in other words, is your most important muscle. As a running buddy told him: "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention to arrive safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: Wow!! What a ride!"
7. GET A COOL WATCH
Karnazes wears a souped-up Timex that monitors his speed, distance, calories burned, and elevation, all of which is critical for deciding when to order the next pizza while in the midst of a 200-mile trek. Besides letting him order a pie on the run, his cell phone uses specialized GPS software to broadcast his location to the Internet for all to see. It’s fun to follow his icon rolling across the digital landscape, but it’s also useful when Karnazes disappears into the night. If he ever pushes himself too hard and collapses, his people can locate him. And fans would know something was wrong if his signal landed on top of a hospital icon.
8. LEARN TO LOVE KRAZY GLUE
If something goes wrong – and it inevitably will – it’s usually with Karnazes’ feet. In races and on training runs, he has battled giant, foot-devouring blisters. A surprisingly effective treatment: Krazy Glue. Pop the blister, slather the wound with the super-adhesive, and voilà – your foot is ready to take a beating again. The glue acts as a kind of indestructible second skin and has helped Karnazes finish competitions he wouldn’t have otherwise. (Officially, Krazy Glue recommends avoiding all contact with skin.)
9. GET USED TO IT
If you’re going to explore the boundaries of human endurance, you’ll have to learn to adapt to more and more pain. To prepare for the searing heat of the Badwater race, Karnazes went on 30-mile jogs wearing a ski parka over a wool sweater. He trained himself to urinate while running. He got so he could go out and run a marathon on any given day – no mileage buildup or tapering required. This training made the extreme seem ordinary and made the impossible seem the next logical step. Eventually, when he grew accustomed to the pain, it stopped hurting. "There is magic in misery," he says.
10. PROMOTE THE HELL OUT OF YOURSELF
Before he became Superman, Karnazes was the Clark Kent of the PR world: a humdrum marketing executive at a pharmaceutical company. But in the past three years, he’s published a memoir, nabbed a sponsorship from the North Face, appeared on Late Show With David Letterman, and gotten himself on the cover of a handful of magazines. The book and the North Face contract generate enough money to support his family, and the high profile translates into maximum motivation: Failure is scarier when the family income is on the line.
11. BREAK IT DOWN
Fifty-six miles into his first Western States Endurance Run – one of the oldest 100-mile races in the country – Karnazes found himself alone entering a canyon at twilight. It was tough going – the trek boasts a total elevation change of 38,000 feet. With 44 miles to go, his spirit was flagging, but he found a way to make it seem conquerable: He remembered the next checkpoint would leave only a marathon and two 10Ks left to go. He knew he could run each leg, and that helped him achieve the whole.
12. AVOID KRYPTONITE
Forget tequila. Karnazes has given up hard drinking. His big vice these days: chocolate-covered espresso beans.
Check out 26.2-mile running challenges from around the world
Athletes compete in marathons for a number of reasons; along with the desire to achieve a new goal or to challenge their mental and physical state, there’s often the wish to travel and experience a new culture. With that in mind, we found some of the most inspiring, grueling and rewarding races—many located on difficult terrains, while others are held in breathtaking destinations. From running through the jungles of Africa to taking on the world’s highest peak, the challenges below serve as the perfect opportunity for many athletes to leave their footprints all around the world.
The Great Wall Marathon in northern China boasts an all-inclusive experience for athletes, offering a historical landscape, incredible views of Tianjin Province and an epic workout: 5,164 steps of the Great Wall, which are climbed twice throughout the course. The experience is also available in 5 km, 10 km and half-marathon form. Photo courtesy of greatwallmarathon.com
Every June in Africa, a crop of the fittest amateur athletes take on the Mt. Kilimanjaro challenge. The route is a 10.5 km loop that is run four times, and each year the race is won by a nonprofessional runner. The pastoral landscape with Mt. Kilimanjaro on the horizon guarantees a scenic run, making this one of the most exotic marathons. Photo courtesy of Re: womansday.com would like to post a photo of Mt. Kilimanjaro Marathon for …Christina Helbig.
The Polar Circle Marathon takes runners through the arctic tundra of Greenland—giving new meaning to the term icy hot. Runners blaze through uneven gravel roads and thick ice caps—with occasional snowfall—while absorbing the beautiful landscape of one of the least populated corners of the world. Photo courtesy of albatrostravel.co.za
Listed in the Guinness World Records as the highest-altitude setting of any marathon in the world, the Everest Marathon—which began in 1987—takes runners on a journey through some very rough terrain. With a starting point of 17,000 feet above sea level, the course is mostly downhill (with two very steep uphill challenges), and is reserved for the more experienced athlete. Photo courtesy of Alison Greer
What started out as a fundraiser in 2000 has become one of the world’s most grueling marathons. Geared toward challenge-seeking runners, its course is set on the harsh dirt-road terrain of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy at an average altitude of 5,500 feet above sea level. Runners enjoy breathtaking views and, if they are lucky, glimpses of Africa’s big game animals. Photo courtesy of sokomoto.com
One of the hardest to get into—a 3-year waiting period is the norm for a runner not participating with a charity or running club—this marathon receives 100,000 applications each year. Being cheered on by spectators while running through all five New York City boroughs is a truly unforgettable experience. Though the last leg of the race goes through Central Park, the energy and magnificence of the city is ever present the entire 26.2 miles. Photo courtesy of Martineric via flickr.com
From the Balboa Park starting point, around the San Diego Zoo and alongside the harbor, runners in this California marathon are serenaded during the entire race. The course contains 26 entertainment stages and 40 cheerleader squads that serve up adrenaline-pumping excitement the whole way through. Photo courtesy of The Competitor Group
This marathon—described as a mixture between Mardi Gras, Woodstock and Halloween—is in Pauillac, France. Runners head to the starting line to await a sip of wine and a trapeze act dangling overhead. The course navigates through vineyards and includes 22 refreshment stands and 21 food stands—which feature a variety of snacks, such as beef, oysters and ice cream. A red carpet decorates the last 100 meters of the race and runners are greeted with more wine once they cross the finish line. Photo courtesy of marathondumedoc.com
This marathon course is mostly downhill—competitors run from Amman, which sits 900 meters above sea level, to the Dead Sea finishing line, which sits 400 meters below sea level. Since there is minimal shade in the desert-like setting, runners have to make sure they bring sunscreen to protect their skin from the excess of direct sunlight. Photo courtesy of Thomas Ritter via panoramio.png
Athens Marathonin Greece Most historically significant marathon
The word marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, which tells the story of a Greek messenger sent from the town of Marathon to Athens with the announcement that the Persians had been defeated. It is said that he ran the entire distance. Now, runners who participate in the 26.2-mile challenge—held on the exact same ground—are said to be running in the footsteps of one of many heroes who gave birth to Western civilization. Photo courtesy of Apostolos Greek Tours
The recent review of research that pooh-poohed vitamin C for colds isn’t the last word. Some researchers argue that the dosage used in many of the studies reviewed by the Cochrane Collaboration was too low (500 milligrams), and that because you lose a lot of C when you urinate, you need repeated dosing to knock out a cold.
“Taking C early on can help reduce the severity of colds, but it’s not clear why,” says Mary L. Hardy, MD, medical director of the Simms/Mann–University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Integrative Oncology. She recommends taking 500 mg twice a day at the first sign of a cold and continuing for five to seven days. In fact, studies show that among people who are under physical stress (marathonrunners, skiers, and those living in very cold climates) 1,000 mg of C daily cuts the incidence of colds in half.
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The recent review of research that pooh-poohed vitamin C for colds isn’t the last word. Some researchers argue that the dosage used in many of the studies reviewed by the Cochrane Collaboration was too low (500 milligrams), and that because you lose a lot of C when you urinate, you need repeated dosing to knock out a cold.
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