WEEK 16

(Eddie Bauer Mud Run at Teva Mountain Games 2011)

WEEK 16: 40 Days / 325 left to go!

Hey there Folks. Finally getting up to date here with this post for Week 16. Fun news is that over the weekend we had a blast representing Native in every way possible amongst almost every event at the Teva Mountain Games. I had a decent half marathon that made me excited about growing on a path of fitness with my running with a 28:30 PR over last years time. The mud run I was outkicked at the end and lost my mud queen throne that I had for the past 2 years. Darn! The 10k Spring Runoff was more of a mountain adventure this year with snow packs, ice patches, mud pits and was just gnarly. The melting phase is way past due right now so I just chugged along and took it comfortable rather than an outright race.

I also started off my Monday with meeting up with my Coach Lee Troop planning out the next 14 weeks to prepare for my big race on 9/11/11 at the Chicago Half Marathon. I am excited to work with him very closely on this goal and see what I can drum up after 9 months of training come race date with these next 14 weeks specifically focused on that day. It will be a great adventure and I am ready to take it on. I feel so lucky to have this opportunity and amazing training mates at Boulder Express and amazing sponsors to help us all achieve our goals!

So lets take a look at Fish Oil for this weeks Max Muscle Sports Nutrition of Boulder Tip of the week...

So what is it good for? Well, researchers are finding that fish oil supplements taken daily provide amazing benefits to a person's health and mental capacities. There are many more studies being completed yet it is overall showing you will have a longer and healthier life. The omega fatty acids found in fish oil supplements have been proven to help with painful ailments like arthritis, cystitis, psoriasis, and prostatis. There is additional evidence that Omega-3 Fatty Acids may help soothe those who suffer from IBS.

Both Omega 3 and Omega 6 are classed as essential fatty acids in that the body needs them in order to survive, but cannot produce them and has to source them from our diet. Both have different roles in the body. Omega 6 promotes inflammation and growth and helps the blood to clot whereas Omega 3 does the opposite. Omega 6 is in plentiful supply, however, Omega 3 is only found in any significant quantities in oily fish. As we continue to pollute our waters, our fish are now contaminated with deadly toxins that can accumulate in the body over time and lead to even more health problems. So, we have a tragic situation where we are contaminating the very thing that we need to restore health.

You can also get pure high quality fish oil by eating fresh fish, without the risk of ingesting harmful contaminants. It is now well documented that fish oil appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cardiac arrest, reduce inflammation and pain associated with arthritis, possibly lower blood pressure, the level of bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the body, and can generally boost the immune system. It doesn’t stop there, it is demonstrating considerable success in the treatment of mood and mind related disorders such as Bipolar disease, schizophrenia, ADHD and depression. It can help slow down the ageing process and helps the brain to develop and function effectively. What is fish oil good for? In short, fish oil is good for keeping us in an optimal balance between omega 3 and omega 6 that is vital for good health.

From a LIVESTRONG tid bit I bring you LANCE ARMSTRONG's story and where LIVESTRONG came from. This is from the website:

At age 25, Lance Armstrong was one of the world's best cyclists. He proved it by winning the World Championships, the Tour Du Pont and multiple Tour de France stages. Lance Armstrong seemed invincible and his future was bright.

Then they told him he had cancer.

Next to the challenge he now faced, bike racing seemed insignificant. The diagnosis was testicular cancer, the most common cancer in men aged 15–35. If detected early, its cure rate is a promising 90 percent. Like most young, healthy men, Lance ignored the warning signs, and he never imagined the seriousness of his condition. Going untreated, the cancer had spread to Lance's abdomen, lungs and brain. His chances dimmed.

Then a combination of physical conditioning, a strong support system and competitive spirit took over. He declared himself not a cancer victim but a cancer survivor. He took an active role in educating himself about his disease and the treatment. Armed with knowledge and confidence in medicine, he underwent aggressive treatment and beat the disease.

During his treatment, before his recovery, before he even knew his own fate, he created the Lance Armstrong Foundation. This marked the beginning of Lance's life as an advocate for people living with cancer and a world representative for the cancer community.

Lance Armstrong's victories in the 1999–2005 Tours de France are awe-inspiring, but the battle against cancer has just begun—not just for him, but for all cancer survivors and people just like him who think cancer could not affect them. He plans to lead this fight, and he hopes that you join him. This is a life he owes to cancer. This is his choice to LIVESTRONG.

Cheers!