Amway’s Nutrilite spokesperson Kara Goucher is a top U.S. marathoner, Olympic qualifier and World Championship bronze medalist. She has faced many of the challenges common to female runners – and runners in general – at all levels, including battling back from injury, feeling the frustration of performance plateaus and juggling life as a new mom with a busy training schedule.
In this two-part series, Goucher will share her secrets to becoming a better, happier, healthier and more fulfilled runner! (These tips and more can also be found in her book, “Kara Goucher’s Running for Women: From First Steps to Marathons.”)
Don’t Be Scared: You are just as capable as anyone else. Go Public With Your Goal: You may want to keep your marathon aspirations on the down-low, but sharing your commitment with others will help you keep it. Train the Simple Way: Two short runs (5 miles or so each) during the week and a long run on the weekend. Extend the long run one mile each week until 10 miles, then 2 miles a week until 20. Train Day to Day: Don’t look ahead to the end goal, just work on reaching each week’s distance. Take in Fluids: You need fluid and energy replacement to keep your blood sugar up and your stored carbs (glycogen) going to your hardworking muscles when you run long runs. I’m a big fan of NUTRILITE® ROC2O Sports Drink Mix, which rehydrates you, has carbs and replenishes electrolytes (sodium and potassium) lost during long runs. Pick the Right Marathon for You: There are hundreds around the country to choose from. Big, small, hot, cold, hilly, flat – choose the one that suits you and your training best. Do it for the Right Reasons: Because you really want to. Not because your friends are running a marathon or you think you won’t be considered a “real runner” unless you run 26.2 miles. Set a Realistic Goal: For your first marathon, just focus on finishing, having a positive experience, and learning things that will enable you to run your best marathon in the future. Have a Plan B: What if the marathon you’ve trained for falls on a day with weather way hotter than anticipated, or torrential rain? Good to have a back-up marathon that you can run instead. Allow Enough Time to Train, But Not Too Much: Twelve to 16 weeks is typically enough time to gradually increase your endurance, anything longer can lead to injury or just plain burn out. Eat foods you normally eat on the evenings leading up to your race. Now is not the time to try out new dishes or new restaurants. Eat a carbohydrate-rich breakfast that’s easy to digest like cereal with toast and juice; pancakes or a bagel with eggs. Bring plenty of fluids and snacks with you to the start, as some races require you to be there hours before the gun goes off.
Stay tuned for more training tips in part two of Kara Goucher’s 26.2 Ways to Get Ready to Marathon!
Summer is upon us and while most of us are outdoors and active these days, how many are running qualifying times for the World Championships to be held in South Korea late this August?
Well, that is precisely what Kara Goucher, proud spokeswoman for Nutrilite, exclusively from Amway did last week at the USA Track & Field Championships in Eugene.
Kara ran a solid second place behind Shalane Flanagan and qualified for the 10,000 meter event. She was really focused on making this qualification because despite already making the team as a marathoner, she wanted to be able to run a shorter race in the high heat and humidity of South Korea. Considering she is less than a year from having her first child, I can’t say that I blame her!
To read up on Kara’s performance, and in particular to see how she is one of the few who are focusing on both being an elite runner and a mom, check out these great articles:
As you know by now, Kara is fueled by Nutrilite and in particular, ROC2O, Endurance Cubes and Double X are helping drive her to success (among other great Nutrilite products)…
Good luck Kara! See you in Philly this September for the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon.
Okay, so it's not so live anymore thanks to technical issues… but I did capture these thoughts live at the Nutrilite sponsored Reebok Grand Prix held on Randall's Island in New York City this past weekend.
We had a picture perfect day for educating over ten thousand consumers about the Nutrilite brand. It was sunny and warm with a pleasant breeze and the crowd was steady and heavy from noon until well after the gates were opened for the main event.
The Nutrilite tent was brimming with people excited to try our samples and learn more about the brand. The rocket packs – as they always are – were a tremendous hit, offering cool, thirst-quenching grape sports drink to old and young alike. Inside the booth, eager consumers received a Nutrilite track bag, a branded, exclusively designed event t-shirt, and noise-making thunder sticks.
Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables and Rhodiola sample cards were a huge hit, as were the ROC2O Antioxidant Enhanced Stick Packs. But the show-stealer's were the sports drink and the peanut butter pretzel and chocolate nut roll energy bars. Attendees were heard raving about the drink and bars even after the meet started and the rocket packs roamed the concourse throughout the event.
As for the meet itself, well, it was another solid showing for Jenn Stuczynski, Nutrilite's pole vaulter extraordinaire. Jenn easily whipped all contenders with a nice 4.81m (15 feet, 9 and 1/4 inch for the metrically challenged) and made some great attempts at her own American record. Had the wind stayed firmly at her back instead of crossing and swirling a bit, my gut says she would have made the 4.93m (16 feet, 2 inches) she was trying to clear.
In the end, she didn't quite make it, but her 4.81 was the highest in the world so far this year.
After her victory, Jenn spent some time with VIPs in the Nutrilite VIP area, high above the track (what a great bird's eye view of the festivities by the way) and then took 45 minutes with the crowd in a tent on the concourse. She interacted with kids, prospective vaulters and adults alike, once again representing the Nutrilite brand with class.
The rest of the event was a thrill to be a part of as well. Tyson Gay turned in one of the fastest 200m times ever and several other events went to the wire.
Be sure to check us out this coming Sunday as we are on the road with the Nutrilite mobile brand experience for our final Track & Field event of the season – the Prefontaine Classic. The Pre will be seen live, this Sunday on NBC, from 2 to 4 EDT. Our own Sanya Richards will be running in what looks to be a fantastic 400m field.
The Reebok Grand Prix was the site of two more victories for Jenn Stuczynski and Sanya Richards. Despite the severe storms and lengthy delays, Jenn vaulted to yet another victory while Sanya breezed to a win in the 400-meter Sprint. Liu Xiang pulled out of the 110-meter hurdle event due to a tight hamstring, but graciously addressed his supporters in the stands.
Jenn slightly missed the 16 ft, 5-1/2 inch mark while attempting to go for the world record in the Pole Vault event. She still managed to beat the field by nearly a foot to take first place honors. Sanya was also a winner in her event with a time of 50.04 – a whole 2/3 of a second faster than her next competition.
After three years as the "World's Fastest Man," Asafa Powell's world record in the men's 100M sprint was broken by fellow Jamaican, Usain Bolt. Bolt squeaked past Asafa's record by .02 seconds on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at the Reebok Grand Prix with a time of 9.72. Asafa, who has not been competing recently due to injury, looks forward to getting back on the track this summer and reclaiming his "World's Fastest Man" title. Asafa's return to racing is highly anticipated given this newly heated battle for the world record, and is sure to capture tremendous exposure and excitement during the coming months. We hope everyone will share in the excitement and rally to support our world class sprinter and original member of Team Nutrilite as the drama on the track unfolds this summer.
Make sure to check out the Nike Prefontaine Classic next Sunday, June 8 LIVE on NBC from 1pm – 3pm PT (4pm – 6pm ET).
NEW Team Nutrilite Track & Field Poster!! Be the first to get it at the Adidas Track Classic in L.A. on May 18!
All attendees at the Nutrilite-sponsored Adidas Track Classic will be able to pick up a FREE Team Nutrilite Track & Field poster, featuring Nutrilite-sponsored athletes Asafa Powell, Liu Xiang, Sanya Richards and Jenn Stuczynski.
In addition, Sanya Richards (American Record Holder 400-meter sprint) and Jenn Stuczysnki (American Record Holder Women's Pole Vault) will be signing autographs in the Nutrilite tent following their events.
It's gonna be a great event!! Hope to see you there!
More information about the Adidas Track Classic is available at www.adidastrackclassic.com.
Tickets can be ordered by calling Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone at 213-480-3232
or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. For
group ticket information, call 877-234-8425 or visit www.aegtickets.com
Nutrilite is a proud sponsor of the 2008 Tyson Invitational, and the exclusive vitamin, mineral and supplement brand of the event.
Get Your Tickets Now!
Tickets are now available for the 2008 Tyson Invitational, set for
Friday, February 15, 2008 at the Randal Tyson Track Center in
Fayetteville, Arkansas. The first event begins at 8 p.m.
Reserved seating tickets are $20, general admission tickets
are $10 and children under 12 get in free with a paying adult. Tickets
can be purchased by visiting www.tysoninvitational.org or by calling
1-800-766-4626.
Come Meet Nutrilite-Sponsored Athletes Jenn Stuczynski and Sanya Richards!
The women’s pole vault is one of the
premiere events this season. Three of the nation’s top pole vaulters,
Jenn Stuczynski, Stacy Dragila and April Steiner, will
be competing at 8:15 p.m.
Also, be sure to watch Sanya Richards, the American Record Holder for the 400-meter sprint!
