The first training runs I ever did were bare-wristed.

I was in sixth grade, at my middle school鈥檚 cross-country practice. Our coach told us to run a lap around the school, maybe three-quarters of a mile. I sauntered around with my friends, unencumbered by any pressure to perform, as our coach smoked a cigarette in the parking lot. Eventually, we tacked on laps, running two, three, four times around the school grounds. I began to feel the drive to improve: I wanted to run more, to run faster, to keep up with the older kids.

My high school coach was the first to introduce the concept of timing our runs. He told us to go to Target and buy a simple stopwatch鈥攏o bells and whistles, no GPS, no heart-rate variability tracker鈥攋ust time. We used the Timex watches to track our training as we ran fartleks and interval workouts on local gravel trails. I was hooked by the improvement I saw in my race results, so I dedicated myself to running, tracking my progress, and aiming for a continuous upward trajectory.

A Runner鈥檚 Life, By the Watch

As I grew up, tracking progress became a more and more integral part of running culture. Watches became more advanced, and apps like Strava made data social. But still, the advice of my high school coach stuck with me: Don鈥檛 overcomplicate it. I continued to log my training in notebooks, writing out the routes, paces, and mileages manually. And despite having bought a Coros smartwatch in 2021, I often still ran with my blue 鈥渄umb鈥� Timex stopwatch.

My Timex battery finally died late last year. I had just set a big PR with a 2:26:42 marathon in Indianapolis, and I wasn鈥檛 too pressed about continuing an intense training block through the bitter cold of winter. So, when I got home after spending the holidays with my family, I decided to forgo the watch鈥攁ny watch鈥攅ntirely. It was time to get back to my roots.

Running Without a Watch

The first watchless run was an adjustment. Stepping out my door, I instinctively reached for my wrist, only to realize there was no button to push. So, I walked down the front steps, turned to my route, and got going. At stoplights, I looked down for a nonexistent activity to pause. Without it, I just kind of鈥� stood there.

As the days went by, I began to realize what a simple, even childlike, activity running is. Take away the ritualistic data collecting, the expensive gear, the constant tracking, and all you鈥檙e doing is moving your body through the world. It became a freeing feeling to walk outside and just go, no need to wait for the beep of satellite acquisition to tell me when to start. I could go as fast or as slow as I wanted, simply listening to my body to determine my pace on any given run. When I was done, the only things I had to show for it were some sweaty clothes and the rush of endorphins.

On my local bike path, running hard on a familiar stretch of road became a chance to release emotions I鈥檇 been holding. I channeled my frustration, my stress, and my pain into speed, pushing my body and savoring the challenge. I have no idea how fast I went, but I know I felt powerful.

Falling in Love With Running Again

Running is full of extrapolated life lessons: Consistency is key; everything in balance and moderation; pain is a part of growth. At the end of the month, I found all of these lessons reinforced, but a new one shone through: Trust your intuition.

The delicate balance between listening to and ignoring your body is a skill honed over years of running, but intuition goes beyond that. Intuition tells us why and how we run. It tells us to speed up when the world is overwhelming and infuriating and to slow down when the sunset turns the sky into a vibrant pastel painting. It reminds us that running is a natural part of who we are that connects us to ourselves and something greater.

Ditching the data and simplifying my runs for a month allowed me to tap back into the reasons I love running in the first place: The feelings of strength, of gratitude, of awe, the connection with my body and the world around me, the ability to challenge myself and push my limits.

As the seasons change and I begin training in earnest for races, I鈥檒l once again rely on a watch to inform my work. I鈥檒l keep track of my pace on my long runs, I鈥檒l time out my intervals, I鈥檒l aim to hit my splits. But regardless of the stats, I know my intuition will always be there to guide me.

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The post I Ran Without a Watch for a Month. It Completely Changed My Running. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Climbers are a notoriously picky bunch to shop for, so keep it simple this holiday season. The editors at Climbing have been testing non-stop in 2024, and we鈥檝e highlighted the best new gear that your hard-earned money can buy. We鈥檝e field tested everything on the list below鈥攆rom cushy socks and comfortable hardshells to innovative belay devices and ropes鈥攁nd can confidently say these will earn the appreciation of the climber in your life.

Best Gifts Under $75

Camp Nano 22 Rack Pack ($40)

The Nano 22 is billed as the lightest 鈥渇ully functional鈥� carabiner in the world, and we wholeheartedly agree. There are certainly lighter carabiners out there鈥攂ut they are typically much smaller and therefore a nightmare to handle when pumped or while wearing gloves. The Nano 22, meanwhile, has a surprisingly deep basket for its featherlight weight (22 grams), enabling us to clip them in a hurry when pumping out on long multi-pitches. These carabiners live on our alpine draws and cam slings when we鈥檙e shaving grams.

Arc鈥檛eryx Merino Wool Grotto Mid Sock ($30)

All but the least-kempt climbers in your life wear socks and, unlike spoiled children, will be thrilled to receive a fresh set. The Merino Wool Grotto Mid is among our favorites from Arc鈥檛eryx: its soft and comfortable Merino wool is blended with nylon for added durability over years of use, and it鈥檚 lightly cushioned for long approaches. Whether you鈥檙e hiking to the crag, cold-weather rock climbing, or powering up an ice pillar, the Grotto Mid provides a snug, slip-free fit.

Gifts Under $150

Edelrid Pinch ($120 USD/$170 CAD at the link below)

Edelrid鈥檚 new assisted-braking belay device, the Pinch, made waves earlier this year with its ability to attach directly to the belay loop鈥攏o carabiner required. (To open the Pinch, you must press a small, tilting button while the device is simultaneously rotated 90 degrees from your body.) Climbing testers were initially skeptical of the Pinch鈥檚 ability to stay locked while belaying, but after four months of steady testing, we are now confidently catching airy whippers and belaying on big walls without the added weight or clutter of an extra locker. The Pinch feeds rope just as smoothly as other popular assisted-braking devices, and offers a smoother lower and rappel thanks to a beefy handle. An anti-panic feature鈥攚hich locks the Pinch if lowering too quickly鈥攃an be disarmed if preferred.

Petzl Sirocco ($130)

The beloved Sirocco helmet is redesigned for 2024 and鈥攕omehow鈥攊s even better than before. Petzl has swapped its magnetic chin buckle for a plastic one (greater security), a bulbous forehead for a slimmed down silhouette (greater field of vision), and a better ventilation layout to encourage airflow while limiting the sand and dirt and ice that inevitably falls into big forehead vents while climbing adventurous terrain. Despite these extra features the Sirocco retains its 160-gram weight in S/M, making it our favorite ultralight helmet on the market.

Black Diamond Ultralight Ice Screw ($85-$90)

With instant bite, smooth boring, and easy-action handles, there is no need to run it out while climbing with BD鈥檚 Ultralight Ice Screws. The aggressive geometry on the steel teeth gives it a bulldog bite when placed on vertical ice, and the aluminum shaft鈥攁n ample 2cm in diameter鈥攍et us re-use most screw-holes on popular climbs that resembled Swiss cheese. Add in a snappy, fold-out plastic handle, and these things practically spin themselves in. BD has shaved 45 percent off the weight by pairing aluminum and steel鈥攅ncouraging us to bring a couple more up that crux pitch.

Petzl Swift RL Headlamp ($140)

The Swift RL is a brilliant headlamp for those needing long-lasting support on their nocturnal adventures. Whether you鈥檙e sessioning crispy crimps by moonlight, accepting benightment on Epinephrine, or foregoing bivy gear in Patagonia, the Swift RL鈥檚 1100 lumens and max burn time of 100 hours will surely outlast whatever sufferfest you鈥檝e imposed on yourself. The rechargeable Swift RL is efficient in more ways than one: its 100 grams comes with a 鈥淩eactive Lighting鈥� sensor that examines the ambient light and adjusts its brightness accordingly.

Gifts Under $300

Scarpa Arpia V ($169)

Designed for intermediate climbers, the Arpia V is both moderately downturned and asymmetrical, and gets especially high marks in both comfort and edging performance. It鈥檚 a supportive shoe, thanks to its full-length midsole and outsole, and should be attractive to heavier climbers who need stiff, supportive shoes while standing on small edges. That said, the Arpia V still has enough shape and toe-box sensitivity (thanks to the asymmetry and downturn) to let you curl into incut edges and feel small deviations underfoot. All in all, the Arpia V is an excellent shoe for intermediate climbers looking for something that will perform equally well on face climbs in the gym or outside.

Mammut 9.5mm Alpine Core Protect Rope ($290 in 60m)

Climbing-rope security has come a long way since the days of stiff hemp cords, and Mammut has taken their ropes to a new level with the Alpine Core Protect: a 9.5mm single rope that has a second sheathe woven with burly Aramid fibers. This rope handles and catches falls just as smoothly and softly as any of Mammut鈥檚 other 9.5mm ropes, but in the event of a dangerous fall over a sharp rock edge鈥攁s often found in mountainous environments鈥攖his Aramid-infused sheath will drastically increase its cut-resistance. We鈥檝e spent five months beating the crap out of this rope鈥攊ncluding on Minotaur Direct (5.11+; 500m) in the Bugaboos, Mt. MacDonald鈥檚 Northwest Ridge (5.8; 900m), and Buddha Nature Direct (WI 5; 120m)鈥攁nd have noticed zero premature wear. The Alpine Core Protect also comes in 8.0mm half ropes, if wandery routes are your thing.

Patagonia M10 Storm Pants ($279)

The new M10 Storm Pants is this year鈥檚 best climbing-apparel innovation. Ice climbers, alpinists, and backcountry rock climbers who need the weather-proof security of hardshell pants have historically had to sacrifice a significant amount of comfort and mobility, since run-of-the-mill hardshell pants stem and lunge about as well as a pair of suit trousers. Such a sacrifice is no longer necessary thanks to the M10, which fuses the mobility-first design of jujitsu pants with various , who has tested prototypes since 2019.

The M10 pants have a generously gusseted crotch鈥攜es, you can do the splits in them鈥攁n elastic waistband and cuffs, a thigh pocket, a diagonal zipped fly, and little else. Coming it at just 240 grams in medium, the M10s are surely the lightest fully-waterproof pants we鈥檝e ever worn, and have served us well while battling up ice pillars running with water and racing electrical storms in the rugged Purcell Mountains. Bonus: the M10 series also includes a . We鈥檝e been digging the latter for its unrestricted arm mobility and low-key profile while tucked into a harness.

La Sportiva Mandala ($209)

La Sportiva鈥檚 No Edge technology is about as close to the term 鈥渄ivisive鈥� as climbing technology gets: While the majority of climbing shoes have a defined, 90-degree intersection where the sole and rand meet in front of your toes, the shoes in the No Edge line have a rounded front, which La Sportiva achieved by wrapping the sole up around the toe so that it becomes toe-scumming patch on the top of the shoe. This design sacrifices some precision-edging performance, but it maximizes smedging鈥攖he ability to smear over edges and into divots鈥攁nd allows you to extend on the tip of your toe like a ballerina.

With the new Mandala, the No Edge tech is paired with its most supportive shoe yet, making it an attractive choice for boulderers and sport climbers alike. Tester Matt Samet wore his extensively on a 15-degree overhanging 5.14 project in the Flatirons, while editor Anthony Walsh trusted them while onsighting 30-meter 5.11 and 5.12 limestone routes around Canmore. As Walsh put it: 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 reach for these shoes for razor-thin edging (hello, !) or Font-style sloper problems (the !), but for everything else, they are in rotation. It鈥檚 what the La Sportiva Genius should have been.鈥�

Gifts $300+

Coros Apex 2 Pro Watch ($449)

The Coros Apex 2 Pro is a GPS sports watch that gives mountain athletes of all kinds the ability to accurately track their training and performances. It features a touch screen made of sapphire glass and three low-profile buttons. It鈥檚 got all the bells and whistles, including geo-location data from five satellites systems, a topographic map, heart rate data, a barometric altimeter, a 3D compass, a thermometer, an oximeter, and music storage鈥攑lus specific activity tracking including the 鈥淚ndoor Climbing鈥� mode. The Coros Apex 2 Pro takes all the and brings it to a new level with an increased battery life (now 21 days with stress monitoring, and 66 hours with full GPS tracking) and a slightly larger watch face. Climbers who struggle with either over- or under-doing it in the gym will benefit from the insight and accountability this watch can offer.

PAID ADVERTISEMENT BY MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT
Mountain Equipment Oreus Jacket ($449.95)

Endorsed by leading alpinists, the Oreus jacket from Mountain Equipment delivers superior warmth, functionality, and durability in challenging environments. This versatile jacket is crafted with innovative Aetherm Precision Insulation for down-like performance with the durability and weather resistance of synthetic fill. Between warmth, quick-drying performance, low weight, and pack size, it鈥檚 perfect for alpine climbing, ski touring, hill-walking and more as an outer layer, warm mid-layer, or lightweight belay jacket.

Black Diamond Hydra Ice Tool ($310)

Ice climbing tools have come so far since the medieval days of straight-shafted instruments that it can be difficult to wade through all the modern-day options. Most ice tools have a balanced swing weight, comfortable grip, and aggressively shaped shaft to minimize pump and bruised knuckles. So where does a would-be consumer go from there? We鈥檇 point them toward Black Diamond鈥檚 all-new Hydra, which is quickly becoming our favorite tool of all time.

One of our favorite things about the Hydra is how customizable you can make it depending on your objective. Its innovative head weights are the real headline here: Black Diamond sank the weights into the head itself, rather than bolting them onto the pick, simultaneously providing a more balanced swing weight and a lower profile. Thanks to this recessed head, ice climbers can opt for simple 5-gram 鈥渟pacers鈥� if they鈥檙e climbing warm, wet ice and don鈥檛 need the extra heft. Or, if swinging into bullet-hard ice in Canada, as we did on the north-facing Stanley Headwall last winter, drop in two 40-gram headweights to let the Hydras do the work. We鈥檝e also been going hybrid鈥攐ne light spacer, one heavy weight鈥攖o achieve that Goldilocks-swing at medium altitudes.

Head weights aside, the Hydra comes with a suit of tools that would make a mechanic jealous, including a long 鈥淎lpine鈥� spike for snow plunging, a 鈥淢icro鈥� spike, a full-size alpine hammer, micro hammer, adze, and handle spacers. And don鈥檛 get us started on their razor-sharp picks鈥�

The post The Best Gifts for the Climber in Your Life appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

鈥淩unning on empty鈥� is a common idiom that can be used to describe a number of scenarios where someone is worn out or unmotivated. For runners that are underfueling, it can be quite literal. Whether you are knowingly or unknowingly underfueling, there are important factors to know about your caloric and nutritional needs.听

Despite the prevailing myth that weight loss boils down to a simple calories in, calories out formula, a variety of lifestyle factors and their ensuing hormonal responses affect the ways our bodies respond to exercise and food. In an effort to maximize weight loss, many people (particularly women) eat as little as possible. 鈥淗igh-performing female athletes are at a high risk of underfueling,鈥� says Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD, and national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 鈥淭his can take place without them even knowing.鈥� There can also be such a focus on creating this calorie deficit that it can be easy to forget what calories actually do: fuel our bodies.

Your body responds to extreme caloric restriction by doing whatever it can to ensure your survival, mostly by conserving energy and putting calories toward its most basic functions. To do this, the body resorts to burning fewer calories. While in this survival mode your body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol, according to . And according to the Hormone Health Network, high levels of cortisol can cause changes to your sex drive and menstrual cycle and might even be linked to anxiety and depression.听

If you鈥檙e not eating enough food, it鈥檚 also likely that you have some sort of . According to the Micronutrient Information Center of Oregon State University, vitamin D, calcium, potassium, dietary fiber, and are commonly underconsumed in the U.S. Like eating too few calories, symptoms of micronutrient deficiency include fatigue, reduced immunity, lack of concentration, memory troubles, and mood fluctuations.听

This impacts your training in several ways. When the body feels it must prioritize essential functions (like regulating breathing, body temperature, and blood pressure), it doesn鈥檛 feel that it鈥檚 safe to put resources toward things like rebuilding muscle tissue, which is the process that enables it to build strength. Training sessions, therefore, become harder when we鈥檙e underfed. Though you may feel like you鈥檙e performing with all you鈥檝e got, you鈥檙e actually working at a severe energy disadvantage.

Without enough fuel, you can鈥檛 perform at your best. 鈥淲hen energy and intake is too low, it really cannot support the demands of health and high-level performance,鈥� says Ansari. For endurance athletes, it means running out of gas more quickly while racing or out on training runs. Even if you manage to push through a workout made difficult by a lack of fuel, your muscles can鈥檛 rebuild, and your body may even resort to using the protein from your muscles themselves.

Runners that chronically underfuel and overtrain are at risk of developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). The syndrome is characterized by impaired metabolic rate, menstrual function, bone health, immunity, protein synthesis, and cardiovascular health.

So, how do you know if you鈥檙e eating enough for your activity level? The list below of common symptoms should give you a better idea.

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5 Signs You Aren鈥檛 Eating Enough

1. You鈥檙e Constantly Tired

Food is energy. As mentioned above, if you鈥檙e not eating enough calories, your body is going to use the ones it does have to support vital functions. This means there aren鈥檛 any left to do the things you love. If you鈥檙e dragging your feet at the gym every day or while out on a run, chances are you could benefit from more food.

2. You鈥檝e Hit a Training Plateau

Have you been working out with greater intensity but aren鈥檛 seeing any results? Do you see, as Ansari describes, 鈥渄ecreased performance in the weight room, out on the track or trails,鈥� or feeling like you鈥檙e bonking or hitting the wall? Your body could be in starvation mode, fighting to preserve as many calories as it can.

If you鈥檝e hit a ceiling in your weight training and haven鈥檛 seen an increase in months, it鈥檚 likely that you need to eat more, both to fuel your training and to repair your muscles.

3. You Aren鈥檛 Regular

Only about five percent of Americans consume enough fiber each day, according to national consumption surveys. If you are under-eating, the chances of your body getting enough fiber grow slimmer, which can easily lead to constipation. Another factor to consider is dehydration, which also contributes to slower bowels.听

4. Your Brain Feels Foggy

Ansari, who works mostly with runners in high school and college, mentions that poor concentration in school is a symptom of underfueling. You may also feel that at work or even have trouble staying mentally alert during a workout. Your brain relies on proper nutrition to function, as well as the rest of your body.听

5. You Can鈥檛 Sleep, Even Though You鈥檙e Tired

Appropriate food intake allows for improved blood sugar control. The combination of consuming too few calories and over-exercising leaves your liver depleted of the glycogen stores it needs to keep your blood sugar stable, forcing your body to release stress hormones that eventually lead to the production of new glucose. When stress hormones are high, we have trouble falling鈥揳nd staying鈥揳sleep.

鈥淪omeone who is limiting carbs and/or overall calories may experience some sleep challenges,鈥� says Ansari. 鈥淐arbohydrates help to make tryptophan, an amino acid that increases sleepiness, more available to the brain.鈥澨�

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Adding Fuel to Your Tank

Unfortunately, it鈥檚 impossible to give a one-size-fits-all on how many calories your body needs, particularly since your energy expenditure varies every day. The USDA Dietary Guidelines estimate that adult women need anywhere from 1,600 to 2,400 calories a day. However, this baseline estimate doesn鈥檛 include the additional calories needed for intense exercise, as their definition of an active lifestyle for their purpose is 鈥減hysical activity equivalent to walking more than 3 miles per day鈥n addition to the activities of independent living.鈥澨�

While there are many bodyweight calculators available that can tell you what your ideal weight (and thus ideal calorie intake) should be for your age, gender, and height, both fail to consider things like frame size and muscle mass. Ansari recommends connecting with a registered dietitian to really figure out how to meet your needs.听

There are other simple steps you can take to start benefiting your nutrition, like adding more whole foods, especially fruits and vegetables, to your diet. This is especially important if you suspect you have a nutrient deficiency. An RD can help you determine if you need additional interventions like supplements or vitamins.听

You can use these rules to get started, but listening to your body and looking for the above clues鈥揾unger, fatigue, weight loss, fitness plateaus, etc.鈥攚ill serve as much more reliable indicators of your needs.

鈥淚 have worked with athletes who had been underfueling and experienced symptoms of RED-S,鈥� says Ansari. 鈥淎fter focusing on an eating pattern that stressed the importance of nutrition adequacy and timing nutrition appropriately around training, we were able to improve their pace, energy, and the athlete was able to say that they felt stronger than ever before.鈥�

The post Are You Eating Enough? Here Are 5 Signs You Might Not Be. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

It鈥檚 Halloween, which means there鈥檚 an abundance of candy laying around. I have some sitting on my counter right now, in fact, for guests to munch on鈥攐nly after I ate all the Almond Joys out of the bowl.

Most people would assume that there鈥檚 no Venn diagram where candy and running overlap, but 鈥渕ost people鈥� wouldn鈥檛 know that ultrarunning GOAT occasionally munches on Pear-flavored jelly beans during races. She鈥檚 a candy fiend, also vocal about her affection for Mike and Ikes, Dots, and Sour Patch Kids. Leadville Trail 100 champ Clare Gallagher buys her mid-run Sour Patch Kids in bulk. But it鈥檚 not just ultrarunners who dip into the candy jar. Two-time Olympian and Boston Marathon champ Des Linden has also been known to snack on sweets before a race鈥攍et鈥檚 not talk about the time she startled the world when she absolutely mutilated鈥擨 mean, ate a Kit-Kat鈥n a totally鈥ormal鈥ay鈥�

Suffice it to say, there are those who swear that popping a few gummy bears during a long run gives them the same energy boost as a gel. While I鈥檝e tested how it feels to I鈥檝e never packed candy in my running vest. To me, it seems too far-fetched that sweet treats can help our running practice, but let鈥檚 look at the facts.

This review is based on my own personal taste and experience running on the roads. If Halloween candy is your jam, I highly recommend you test this fueling strategy out for yourself on whatever running surfaces you enjoy

Is All Sugar Created Equally?

American College of Sports Medicine recommends runners consume 30-60 grams of carbs per hour for any run lasting longer than 90 minutes. Popular gels Gu and 贬眉尘补 both contain 100 calories and 22g of carbs, which isn鈥檛 too far off from many candies in my Halloween bucket.

Matthew Kadey, MS, is a Canada-based nutrition registered dietitian and author of Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sports+国产吃瓜黑料. He鈥檚 also an avid endurance athlete himself.

鈥淐ertainly the various types of candy can serve as an effective fuel source for exercise,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he sugar content can provide the same fast energy source as engineered sports products like gels. Besides, candy is typically much more enjoyable to eat and can help deal with palate fatigue. I think most of us will look more forward to stuffing in a fistful of gummy bears than sucking back a gel.鈥�

Straight from the expert鈥檚 mouth. Candy = fuel, right? However, Kadey has some warnings to heed.

鈥淭he sugar content of candy varies widely, so you need to know how much you are getting,鈥� he says. 鈥淪ome candy will provide fewer carb calories than gels, so you need more to get the amount of simple carbs to have a performance benefit. Some candy may provide a dose of carbs that could be problematic to untrained guts that may lead to gastro issues.鈥�

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He adds that many products are also lower in sodium compared to sports nutrition products, so you need to make sure you鈥檙e getting those electrolytes somewhere else. And if you are going to eat candy on your run, he recommends feasting on candy that鈥檚 mostly pure carbs (sugar) like gummy bears, Twizzlers, and Sour Patch Kids.

, CPT and certified running coach based in Utah, agrees that sometimes gels and candy aren鈥檛 all that different.

鈥淵our body鈥檚 preferred energy source is carbohydrates, and when you鈥檙e exercising and your body is under that kind of stress, it鈥檚 going to be looking for the most easily accessible fuel source, which is going to be simple carbs or sugars,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 love using candy in training, but in racing, having to eat something like four, five, or six pieces of candy in order to get the same amount of sugar or carbs from one gel is just not going to be convenient and easy.鈥�

He adds that you鈥檙e also taking a risk that the additives in candy might mess with your stomach.

鈥淚n addition, some gels have a glucose and fructose mix which maximizes the amount of carbohydrates that your body can process.鈥�

Below, I did a nutritional breakdown of a few fan-favorites, as well as my honest thoughts on how they tasted/performed during my long runs.

*Note: I鈥檓 not in an aggressive training block, therefore all 鈥渓ong鈥� runs I tested these candies on ranged from 6-12 miles on the roads.

贬眉尘补

• Calories: 100
• Carbs: 22g
• Sugars: 13g
• Sodium: 105mg

GU Energy Gels

• 100 calories
• Carbs: 22g
• Sugars: 7g
• Sodium: 60mg

Swedish Fish

• 110 calories
• Servings: 5 pieces
• Carbs: 27g
• Sugars: 23g
• Sodium: 25mg

Swedish Fish are delicious, but I didn鈥檛 love the fact that I had to eat about six pieces to reach 30g of carbs. I want my fuel to be low volume, and it took me a bit to get through this school of snacks. Plus, I found they got stuck in my molars so my tongue was doing backflips for the rest of the run to get stuff unstuck. Maybe most of the candy was left behind in my teeth, because I didn鈥檛 feel as energized as I wanted to with these. One bonus: they鈥檙e coated in wax, so you can put them directly into your vest pocket without them gumming up and getting melty.

Twizzlers

• 120 calories
• Servings: 3 pieces
• Carbs: 27g
• Sugars: 14g
• Sodium: 70mg

Twizzlers are another easy, seemingly unmeltable candy I can stick in my running vest. I had no problem chowing down on three strands of these, and they weren鈥檛 overly sweet, so I didn鈥檛 get that parched feeling after too much sugar. Plus, they have a decent amount of sodium, so a win for Twizzlers! Pro tip: I held all three in my hand and chomped down at the same time like one Twizzler banana.

Sour Patch Kids

• 110 calories
• Servings: 12 pieces
• Carbs: 27g
• Sugars: 24g
• Sodium: 25mg

Speaking of parched, I should have known Sour Patch Kids were going to be an issue. I鈥檓 not a sour-inclined person, so I was puckering up while mowing through 12 pieces. Plus, the little granules of sugar stuck to my sweaty fingers and got me all sticky, which I wasn鈥檛 a fan of. I definitely reaped the sugar buzz rewards, though, and felt great on my run.

Three Musketeers Fun Size

• 130 calories
• Servings: 2 bars
• Carbs: 23g
• Sugars: 20g
• Sodium: 55mg
• Fat: 4g

I was so hoping some kind of chocolate would work for me, but fun size Three Musketeers didn鈥檛 provide much fun to my run. While the carb and sugar count line up with a gel, the chocolate itself didn鈥檛 sit well with my stomach. I got a cramp shortly after and felt some churning and burning. They were the easiest to eat, however, being perfect bite-sized pieces.

Starburst

• 120 calories
• 6 pieces
• Carbs: 24g
• Sugars: 16g
• Fat: 2.5g

First and foremost鈥擨 only eat pink Starburst. Don鈥檛 ask me to trade for your yellow or red, I鈥檓 not interested. Secondly, these little squares were not great running fuel. You only have to eat six for 24g of carbs and 16g of sugar, but they鈥檙e hard. It took me forever to get through just one because I wanted to chew it really well鈥�hello, eating something hard and running is a recipe for a disaster.

Mini Twix

• 150 calories
• Servings: 3 pieces
• Carbs: 20g
• Sugars: 15g
• Sodium: 60mg
• Fat: 7g

Talk about scary鈥攈ave you ever had Mini Twix bars melt in your running vest? Well, I did. It might鈥檝e been due to the day鈥檚 heat, which is a factor out of my control, but each of these Mini Twix bars melted through their wrappers, so chocolate got all over my fingers. If they hadn鈥檛 melted, however, they would have been decent fuel. I enjoyed the layers of cookies over the nougat in the Three Musketeers, but still got some digestive distress.

Branch鈥檚 Mellowcreme Pumpkins

• 120 calories
• Servings: 4 pieces
• Carbs: 30g
• Sugars: 24g
• Sodium: 70mg

Full disclosure, I鈥檓 obsessed with this Halloween-specific candy. And I loved it even more out on my long run. Initially, I went to the store looking for Candy Corn, but stumbled upon these classic pumpkins instead. I only needed to eat four pieces to get all the carbs, calories, and sugar I need. And they鈥檙e delicious.

A Bittersweet Conclusion

There are a lot of reasons to eat Halloween candy, but in my opinion, for the purpose of fueling runs isn鈥檛 the best one. There are so many products out there that replicate exactly what we need, while candy just slightly misses the mark. As both experts in this article point out, candy isn鈥檛 always easy to consume, the volume isn鈥檛 ideal, and depending on the type, you鈥檙e not always going to get the right sugar and carb content that digests properly.

If I was going to continue using candy on my long runs, I鈥檇 opt for Mellowcreme Pumpkins (which, you鈥檇 be hard-pressed to find during a spring marathon training block) or Twizzlers. Both were easy enough to eat, gentle on my stomach, and gave me a heck of a sugar rush.

The post Can You Replace Running Gels with Halloween Candy? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Move over Amazon Prime Day: is here and the beloved retailer isn鈥檛 playing around. Whether you鈥檙e getting a head start on holiday shopping or looking to upgrade your ski gear this season, this year鈥檚 sale has some seriously good finds at even better prices.

In fact, some of our favorite skis of the year are deeply discounted during this limited-time sale. This includes our sister site SKI Mag鈥檚 pick for the best all-mountain ski, the for 40 percent off right now. With deals like this, you don鈥檛 have to wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday in hopes of scoring the best savings for winter gear. Instead, check out our favorite skis at irresistible prices that you can shop right now.

At a Glance

• ($450 $750)
• 听($1,025 $1,349)
• ($450 $800)

When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 mission to get more people outside. Learn more.

Salomon Stance 96 Skis (2024) for $450 ($750)

SKI Mag鈥檚 pick for the from their , the is a chameleon, and steeply discounted right now. The unisex ski impressed testers with its 鈥渟upreme versatility鈥� across terrain and snow conditions. 鈥淭his ski eases into a turn but settles in and holds strong,鈥� one tester shared. 鈥淭he tip lets the ski play over bumps and it feels like the ski has full suspension.鈥�

Another reviewer wrote, 鈥淭his model has life both for the person wanting to upgrade into a metal-laminate ski and the skilled skier who loves to find out how far they can tip a ski over on edge.鈥�

Read the full review here:

St枚ckli Montero AR Skis for $1,025 ($1,349)

Named one of the , the impressed our testers in the carving and hard-snow integrity categories. 鈥淭he Montero AR is very much your 鈥業 want to make a good turn鈥� ski,鈥� said one reviewer. 鈥淚t鈥檚 super fun to lay over and have complete confidence in, and, in a departure from the Laser series, it鈥檚 a bit more capable elsewhere on the mountain.鈥�

Read the full review here:

Nordica Enforcer 94 Skis for $450 ($800)

A past winner of the , the is a heavy hitter across flotation, crud performance, and balance of skills/versatility. Built with two sheets of metal and Nordica鈥檚 proprietary wood core blend, the ski has a strategically engineered rocker profile, a redesigned tip shape, and a modified construction. 鈥淚 think the 94 is a great do-it-all for someone looking to split time evenly between groomed terrain and variable snow off-piste,鈥� wrote one tester. 鈥淭he skis demand some attention but aren鈥檛 too burly to beat you up for being out of position. 鈥�

Read the full review here:

The post Score Our Favorite Skis for 40 Percent Off During Evo鈥檚 Anniversary Sale appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Kilian Jornet is many things: greatest ultra-trail runner of all-time. Greatest sub-ultra trail runner of all time. Father. Husband. Founder of an environmental nonprofit. Founder of an outdoor footwear and apparel company.

He鈥檚 also an enigma.

Jornet eschews the commercialization of a sport that he鈥檚 helped to grow. He loves the freedom of exploration but also the rigor of science. He鈥檚 intensely introverted yet is the most popular and public trail runner ever.

These incongruences are perhaps no better exemplified than through his current quest. While most of the top ultra-trail runners from around the world have descended upon Chamonix, France, for the this week, Jornet, too, is in the area. On August 24, he essentially ran a handful of miles along the backside of the UTMB course in Switzerland. He came even closer鈥攎uch closer鈥攕hortly thereafter.

But, and I鈥檓 sorry to disappoint you, Jornet is not here to race UTMB. He鈥檚 two weeks into an even bigger vision quest: link all 82 4,000-meter peaks in the Alps. He鈥檚 calling it the Alpine Connections project.

Of course, he hasn鈥檛 officially stated he鈥檚 trying to link all 82. He鈥檚 simply trying to 鈥渆xplore his physical, technical, and mental limits while connecting 4,000-meter peaks in the Alps.鈥� But if you know Jornet, one of the most anti-spray runners in this spray era, you know he wants to tag them all鈥攊n record time.

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Ueli Steck, the legendary 鈥淪wiss Machine,鈥� currently holds that record of 62 days. While most who have attempted this mind-blowing feat drove from one mountain to the next, Steck linked them via bike.

That鈥檚 the style Jornet chose, too. For environmental reasons. For the aesthetic of self-powered adventure. But like so many of the defining moments of his career, he has a camera crew following, in cars. (Since some of his outings on foot are point-to-point, it鈥檚 also not clear if his crew is transporting his bike from the start to the finish for him.) And he鈥檚 posting his progress on and , along with updates on the NNormal .

With just 30 peaks to go, the most imposing mountain left on his list is none other than Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in Western Europe at 15,766 feet. It happens to be the massif around which UTMB circumvents.

What inspired Jornet鈥攚ho lives on a farm in 脜ndalsnes, Norway, with his Swedish wife and elite runner Emelie Tina Forsberg and their two young daughters鈥攖o test himself so close yet so far from UTMB? We spoke with him earlier this summer to find out.

But First, What the Heck Is the Alpine Connections Project?

On August 10, Jornet outsprinted Kenya鈥檚 Philemon Kiriago down the finishing chute to win Sierre-Zinal by one and a half seconds. His time of two hours, 25 minutes, and 34.8 seconds bested his own course record by just one second. It was Jornet鈥檚 10th win at what many consider the most prestigious and competitive mountain running race in the world.

At just 19.3 miles with more than 7,200 feet of climbing, most of which is packed into the first 6 miles, it鈥檚 a test of VO2max more than anything. Jornet averaged 7:21 minute per mile pace鈥攏o, not grade adjusted pace鈥攐n the net-uphill alpine trail route with pitches up to 33 percent grade.

Apparently, it was just the tune-up he needed for weeks of 15 to 20 hour days climbing technical alpine routes and stringing them all together by foot and two wheels. He departed from Pontresina, Switzerland, to commence the Alpine Connections project just three days later on August 13. It鈥檚 the logical continuation of his (Re)discovering the Pyrenees project from last October, when Jornet linked all 177 peaks over 3,000-meters in the Pyrenees in eight days.

Alpine Connections is the Pyrenees project with the dial turned all the way up and then some. Over the first week of technical alpine climbing, running, and biking, he logged more than 91 hours with 330 miles and nearly 108,000 feet of gain.

How is he fitting in such big days, you may be wondering? Why, by hardly sleeping. Over the first three days he slept an average of 3 hours and 35 minutes a night. He bumped it up slightly to an average of 4 hours and 49 minutes on days four through seven.

In case that doesn鈥檛 sound challenging enough, the weather hasn鈥檛 made it any easier.

鈥淎s it had been raining (and snowing on the summits) the entire afternoon and night before, I left solo at 6:15 in the morning and had another relatively 鈥榮hort鈥� (8:40) day of climbing to make the most out of the conditions,鈥� Jornet wrote on on August 18, five days into the project. 鈥淪till, I am used to this 鈥楴orwegian鈥� weather that feels just like home, so I managed to summit D眉rrenhorn (4034m), Hohberghorn (4218m), Stecknadelhorn (4239m) and Nadelhorn (4327m).鈥�

Jornet was greeted by snow, rain, and copious amounts of fog while traversing glaciated peaks for much of that first week. Nonetheless, over the first week he had already submitted 51 of the 4,000-meter peaks over 825K (512 miles) of running, climbing, and biking and more than 52,000 meters (170,600 feet) of gain.

In his most recent update, Jornet shared that he took a full day off due to the weather. He used the time to try and refuel, rehydrate, and to heal the skin on his hands and feet.

Exclusive Kilian Jornet Interview听

Jornet, 36, has long been able to subvert the processes and platforms on which he鈥檚 made his name. After building up his cachet by traveling to鈥攁nd usually winning鈥攖he most prestigious trail races and mountain projects around the world, he announced several years ago that he would minimize airplane travel to a couple of times a year. A Salomon athlete for over a decade, he left the brand to take what he鈥檇 learned and start his own. And after winning UTMB four times, he along with 2023 runner-up Zach Miller proposed a boycott of the race last year until the organization cleans up some of its , including rampant global growth and its partnership with the car company Dacia.

We sat down with Jornet in person to unpack his relationship with the sport and himself.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

RUN: You say you鈥檙e in the best shape of your life. How did you get here?

Kilian Jornet: Training has been good and especially it鈥檚 been consistent. We had amazing weather this winter on the west coast of Norway with super good ice climbing and mountain climbing conditions. Blue sky, super cold for like two months, so we could climb a lot. This spring it was warmer here, which is surprising. We had some good dry trails.

I鈥檓 also doing less. When I go to races, there鈥檚 a lot of stuff you need to do. I鈥檓 an introvert, so being with people takes a lot of energy. After a race, I need to recover physically but also mentally because it takes a lot of energy. So I鈥檓 embracing less, which means I can train better.

And I鈥檓 doing things I like, like spending my time on NNormal or science projects and that鈥檚 giving me positive vibes and making me feel energized.

I think having stability in life, having a routine, makes training easier than racing. I can train better for a longer time. And then I can be more focused when I come to races.

Do you think 鈥渄ad strength鈥� is real?

No, it takes a lot of energy. But you also feel like you can get into a routine. I can train while the kids are at kindergarten, and then take the weekends easy. So maybe it helps to organize things. Normally I was training when I wanted to and now I can鈥檛. But you get into a routine and that might help. I鈥檓 more efficient and I train better.

 

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Before it was like, 鈥極h I have all the days, so I just go out for many, many hours. And I do what I want to. I go to that summit, or that other.鈥� Now it鈥檚 like, 鈥極h no, I have these hours, I have this goal, I want to train this way.鈥� I still have days where I say, 鈥極K, today is a mountain day, and so I go do whatever I want to do.鈥� But there are some other days where I know, 鈥極K, I have this time to train, so I do this session.鈥�

You love the science behind training, and you love just playing in the mountains. How do you strike that balance?

I studied sports science in school, so I probably was already nerdy when I was young. When I was like 16 or 17 years old, I was already doing tests. So it鈥檚 always been there in an observatory way. Like 鈥業 want to try this, and see what it implies. How can I analyze that from a science point of view?鈥� Not taking science and then applying it to me. It鈥檚 always been there in more of an exploratory way than a prescriptive way.

So you view science similarly to how you view the mountains: as an avenue for exploration?

Yeah, it鈥檚 a bit the same. When you go to a race, like I have gone to Zegama 12 times. That鈥檚 not a lot of exploration. But going to the mountains and doing projects there, it鈥檚 much more about exploring things and then seeing what鈥檚 happening.

Now that you鈥檙e launched NNormal, do you feel additional pressure to go and perform at key races to boost brand visibility?听

I would say the opposite. Because now, with NNormal I鈥檓 part of it. I decide what I want to do. Now it鈥檚 really like, 鈥榊eah, I want to do the race because I鈥檓 training well and I鈥檓 in shape and I want to do a nice race that I feel connected to somehow.鈥� Or I want to do this project in the mountains because it鈥檚 what I feel I want to do, and I don鈥檛 feel any kind of pressure. I know that it helps NNormal, of course, if I鈥檓 showing up. But not even racing, like we saw it last year with the project in the Pyrenees.

It was a last-minute thing, like I decided literally two weeks before that. Now that they analyze the press and social media and all that, that project had more exposure than when I did UTMB. So, it鈥檚 not only about racing and showing up and things. It鈥檚 more like, if you want to do something deeply, you will probably do it better. And if you do something in a good state of mind, probably you will get more inspired and do things that push me further than to set up a calendar and say, 鈥極K, I鈥檒l do that, that, that, that.鈥�

Because I know that it鈥檚 somehow comfortable. But to break this routine into things like even if it鈥檚 races that I want to push the effort or to do big projects that require a lot of energy, I think that needs to be in this space where I have the tranquility of knowing that I don鈥檛 have any pressure to do one thing or another.

Your versatility is mindblowing. Do you consciously sacrifice optimal performance at any particular race or objective to prioritize being able to do it all?

Yeah. Last year, for example, I was injured but the plan was to do a project at Everest, a link up there, and then to try and do some short and long races, and then to do a project in the mountains and a ski project.

Long term, I want this versatility. And then I know that if I want to perform on this project, well, I need to have specificity. So the specificity is in the short term. Like I say I know that to get in very good shape for a specific race or project,听 specific adaptations don鈥檛 take more than six to eight weeks. So the last six to eight weeks before a race or a project, if my training is specific I know that I can perform the best.

But yeah, I can do specificity multiple times in a year and do different kinds of projects. And at the end, I think that鈥檚 what keeps me so motivated. Because if I was only racing, I wouldn鈥檛 like it. And if听 I was doing just things in the mountains, probably then I would get slower and my capacities in the mountains will decrease, too.

Have your athletic goals shifted over time?

I used to be much more competition-centered at the beginning because then I was doing ski mountaineering season in the winter and dry running season in the summer. That was very structured for many years. And I think that also gave me all the base and fundamentals and the knowledge and all that to be able to do other things. It was many years just focused on training.

Then I started to put some projects on steeper skiing or mountaineering,听 but around this calendar. Like two racing seasons. And then at some point, they became more like separate things.

Where do you see your career going?

I don鈥檛 know actually, because I feel that I鈥檓 still in good shape. I鈥檓 still performing and I鈥檓 still improving things. So yeah, I still really like racing and like pushing myself in听 training. So I don鈥檛 know how long that will last, but as far as I see that I am happy pushing and racing, I will keep doing it.

And then I will stop doing international races, but I will still do local races because that鈥檚 fun. And then projects in the mountains, I will do that hopefully all the time I can. But of course professionally, there will be a moment that it will not be able to sustain my life. Then I think I will still do running and mountaineering for all my life as a pleasure.

You famously were a disciple of a fat adaptation nutrition strategy. Has that evolved at all?

I have shifted my nutrition in the day-to-day a lot over the years. When I was young, I couldn鈥檛 afford much, so I was just buying pasta or a big package of rice and tomato sauce. My nutrition was not very varied. As the years have gone on, I鈥檝e taken more care of that. We have a big garden so we get a lot of veggies from there. We try to eat a lot more foods that are fermented and this kind of thing. And I feel like performance-wise that has helped a lot.

In competitions, I鈥檓 eating much, much more now. But in training I鈥檓 not eating anything during training. Only if I do a very specific session, where I鈥檒l take gels or something like that. But will only happen about one time every month. If it鈥檚 a four hour session, I can take a gel every 30 minutes. If I鈥檓 doing two uphill thresholds and then maybe some flat, I鈥檒l take a gel between the uphill and the flat on the recovery. That鈥檚 very targeted for specific sessions.

In winter, I have a half a liter bottle and it doesn鈥檛 matter how long, if it鈥檚 eight hours, I take that. In summer, I don鈥檛 take anything. And I think that鈥檚 helping me in a way because I am developing听 some metabolic adaptations. If you have a better metabolism, it鈥檚 much more open, so then you don鈥檛 really need to train your gut for having much more intake because your metabolism is more flexible on switching from fat to carbs. So you don鈥檛 need to train the gut.

Someone who has a worse metabolism and let鈥檚 say wants to take 120 grams of carbs an hour in a race, they probably need a long gut training to be able to do that, even if he鈥檚 eating and I鈥檓 not eating during training. And then it鈥檚 just because the logistics are hard. If you鈥檙e in the mountains, you don鈥檛 want to have to carry a bunch of stuff.

The point is supplements and gels are great for racing, but for daily consumption the chemicals are not good.

Given the state of affairs with UTMB, do you think you鈥檒l ever go back?

Yeah, it鈥檚 a race I like. I like the volunteers, I have lived in Chamonix for many years. I love many things about the race. I don鈥檛 like many things, but I鈥檝e talked with the race organizers and I have a good relationship with them. Many times we agree that we just disagree. I鈥檓 not doing it this year because I have another project. But I think it鈥檚 good to disagree on things to build together, and I hope in the future there is change on some things that I don鈥檛 agree, like some things on the corporation side, like in the race acquisition or some vision with the impact of their entity when it comes to sponsorships, or their impact on the land.

So it鈥檚 things like that that we鈥檙e not on the same page. But we can discuss, and it鈥檚 good. But it鈥檚 a race I might go back to in the future, and I would love to do in the future.

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This year鈥檚 is right around the corner鈥攚hich means some of the best athletes in the trail-running universe will be meeting up in Chamonix, France, to test their mettle on one of the sport鈥檚 biggest stages.

With this year, athletes will have more to fight for than ever. And you can get a front seat to the action without leaving home. Here鈥檚 how to watch the 2024 UTMB World Series Finals, including the 50K championship, OCC, the 100K championship, CCC, and the grand finale 100-mile championship, the 106-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), from August 29-September 1.

Catch the Action Live

What started as a stand-alone race has transformed into a weeklong festival of alphabet soup acronyms. There are eight total races during the week from August 26-September 1, but the three races that make up the official UTMB World Series Final鈥攖he OCC, CCC, and UTMB鈥攚ill all be brought to you via drones, bike and runner follow cams, and non-stop commentary.

Last year, 国产吃瓜黑料 and UTMB World Series to make it easier to stream the UTMB鈥檚 top trail-running events. This year, the partnership continues鈥攚hich means you can watch 10 of the series鈥檚 best events live on 国产吃瓜黑料 TV.

The championships racing action starts on Thursday, August 29 with the OCC as runners start from Orsi猫res, Switzerland (and race the final third of the loop to Chamonix). The action continues straight into Friday morning with the start of CCC in Courmayeur, Italy (which sends runners along two thirds of the loop to Chamonix), and culminates with the cr猫me de la cr猫me, the full-loop UTMB, which kicks off in downtown Chamonix that evening at 6 P.M. local time. The 106-mile race with roughly 32,800 feet of climbing and descending is a time-honored test piece for lifelong ultrarunners, up-and-coming rookies, and elite-level pros alike. For many, it鈥檚 the most anticipated trail race of the year.

Race Schedule

How to Watch

All three races, OCC, CCC, and UTMB, will be available to watch for free on 国产吃瓜黑料 TV. If you鈥檙e sleeping and miss the action live, no sweat. will also be able to watch on demand after the finish anytime, on any device.

While You Wait

Looking for some pre-race inspo? You can watch the best of the UTMB World Series on demand鈥攊ncluding and the from earlier this year and the 鈥攐n 国产吃瓜黑料 TV. Plus tune into for previews, analysis, and real-time coverage as our editors report live from the slopes of Mont Blanc.

There are two ways to watch UTMB live and on demand:

• On the web at
• Via the 国产吃瓜黑料 Watch app (, , and Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV)

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Every year since 2019, The editors of听Backpacker have led a trip to Nepal, an annual pilgrimage that both pays homage to the region鈥檚 soaring peaks鈥攁nd chips in as the country continually heals from the tragic . This fall, we鈥檙e going back, and we鈥檙e hoping to take you with us.

So, what does this part-service, part-adventure trip look like? First, we鈥檒l meet up in Kathmandu. You鈥檒l get to rub shoulders with editors and fellow Backpacker readers, explore the city, and eat some incredible local food. Then, we鈥檒l spend about a week building classrooms for a school in the village of Kakani near Kathmandu. When the work is done, it鈥檚 time to play: We鈥檒l head out on a nine-day, beneath the ice-encrusted Himalayan peaks in the Nar Phu valley. We鈥檒l be accompanied by Nepali guides and porters, who provide us with unique local perspective on the natural landmarks, Buddhist monasteries, and historic communities we鈥檒l pass along the way.

While some basic fitness is required, you don鈥檛 need any serious backpacking experience (or construction know-how) to join us鈥攋ust a desire to help out, do some good, and experience the adventure of a lifetime. The trip is scheduled for October 12th to 31st, and there are only four spots left. 听

The post Want to Join Backpacker in Nepal? We鈥檝e Only Got Four Spots Left. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

It was a slow kill in a very fast race. Nikki Hiltz, easily recognizable in a distinctive black leopard print Lululemon onesie amid a sea of ubiquitous fluorescent kits, sprung out from lane one with the gun and settled on the rail. A hard-charging Elle St. Pierre led the field through the first 300 meters in nearly 45 seconds flat鈥攁 blazing 4:01 minute per mile pace. Yet Hiltz, tucked in fourth, looked unfazed, their orange, pink, and black Puma spikes bouncing off the track with each stride.

It was the women鈥檚 1500 meter final at the U.S. Olympic Trials for track and field on June 30 in Eugene, Oregon. And Hiltz was waiting.

In the buildup to that race, the 29-year-old Hiltz had put in months of training, logging 70 miles a week at their high-altitude training base in Flagstaff, Arizona, along with routine strength work and numerous speed and double lactate threshold sessions on the track. Unlike in years past, however, Hiltz approached this race with another layer of preparation.

They got serious about prioritizing their mental health last December, when they sought out a sports psychologist.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 going to set you apart [from your competitors] is your belief, your mindset, and your mental health,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淭he Olympics, the Olympic Trials, it鈥檚 a huge emotional thing. I want to cover all my bases so that I go in ready for anything.鈥�

Every week, Hiltz met with a sports psychologist to dive into 鈥渆verything you would possibly talk to a therapist about,鈥� as they put it. From their upbringing in Aptos, California, where they found a love for track as a youth and also began to experiment with their gender identity at age six, to career hiccups, and coming out, twice.

Hiltz had previously come out as gay while in college. And in 2021, their gender identity .

鈥淚t鈥檚 been really helpful to unpack,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淵ou bring it with you to the track. Whether or not it affects you during the race, it鈥檚 a part of you.鈥�

The result? Hiltz has had their best year on the track yet. They won their first global medal鈥攁 silver in the 1500 meters at the World Athletics Indoor Championships on March 3 in Glasgow鈥� and they made their first Olympic team in June by winning the 1500-meter finals in Eugene.

鈥淚鈥檝e found through working with her I can be more confrontational and assertive, and it doesn鈥檛 mean that people aren鈥檛 going to like me or make space for me,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been really helpful when it comes to things like correcting people who get my pronouns wrong or things like that. That has translated to being more confident on the track. I can take up space here.鈥�

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Making Changes

Working on enhancing their mental health has been a game-changer, especially in comparison to their mindset three years ago. In March 2021, on Transgender Day of Visibility, Hiltz, whose sex was assigned as female at birth, took to social media to publicly address their gender identity.

鈥淭he best way I can explain my gender is as fluid. Sometimes I wake up feeling like a powerful queen and other days I wake up feeling as if I鈥檓 just a guy being a dude,鈥� Hiltz wrote in an post.

Hiltz has expressed a desire to eventually have top surgery as well as hormone replacement therapy, the latter of which they will refrain from beginning until their competitive running career is over. As per official rules instituted by World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, athletes who were assigned female at birth are allowed to compete in women鈥檚 categories so long as they haven鈥檛 received hormone therapy.

The identity announcement on Instagram, which occurred two months before the Covid-delayed 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials, was met with a mix of support and hostility. Hiltz was inundated with public comments and private direct messages.

The political climate toward transgender people in America at the time was less than accepting. On a national level, transgender inclusivity鈥攑articularly in sports鈥攂ecame a political linchpin. In 2021, Arkansas became the first state in the country to ban gender-affirming health care for minors. Another 154 anti-trans bills followed that year, with the number rising each year thereafter.

鈥淚t was a really hard time,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 ready for that backlash. I did have a lot of love and support, but I wasn鈥檛 used to getting that much ugliness or hate. It really affected me later on that season.鈥�

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When Hiltz lined up at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June 2021, they showed early promise, winning their semi-final heat. But they crumbled in the final, finishing in last place, over 12 seconds behind winner St. Pierre. Their long-term dream of running for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics was over. Hiltz later revealed that stress-induced sickness leading into the race had impacted their performance. They felt neither confident nor calm going into the competition. Simply showing up despite feeling scared and vulnerable, however, was necessary to display inclusivity in sports, Hiltz says.

Their career continued to transition. Hiltz, who had been sponsored by Adidas since 2018, didn鈥檛 re-sign with the brand after their contract expired at the end of 2021. Instead, Hiltz joined Lululemon in 2022 as a brand ambassador, describing the partnership as a gut decision.

鈥淭his was a brand that understood what I was trying to do on the track and reach all of my personal goals, but also knew that I was trying to grow the sport in other ways,鈥� says Hiltz, who had relocated from San Diego to Flagstaff to train under Northern Arizona University track coach Mike Smith.

鈥淚t just felt right,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淢ike Smith is a great guy, and I feel like we connected right away. It was definitely a leap of faith. I was looking at the big picture鈥攖hat this was hopefully going to set me up for a good Olympic year in two years.鈥�

Making Progress

With time, patience, renewed confidence, and hard work, Hiltz progressed. In February 2023, they became the first openly nonbinary U.S. national champion when they won the 1500 meters at the U.S. indoor championships. Two months later, Hiltz won the U.S. 1-mile road running championship, and then in June they completed a sweep of U.S. championship events by winning the 1500 at the U.S. outdoor championships.

Two weeks later, at the Monaco Diamond League meet, they finished a strong sixth place in the fastest women鈥檚 mile in history, crossing the line in 4:16.35 to break the American mile record that had stood for 38 years.

Although they missed making the 1500 meter finals at last summer鈥檚 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hiltz has rebounded with a strong season so far in 2024. Not only did they win another indoor U.S. title in the 1500, they also brought home the silver medal in the event from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Scotland in March.

They believe their newfound priority on their mental fitness this season has kept them mentally and emotionally sound more than ever鈥攁nd racing to the top of the podium.

鈥淚t is hard work at times to prioritize this stuff, especially when you鈥檙e so busy, and life gets in the way, but I think it鈥檚 super important,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unlocked something in me and allowed me to excel at the next level.鈥�

For 100 consecutive days leading up to the Olympic Trials, they invested in a daily guided meditation practice using the app. Journaling also became a daily habit, writing clear goals as a way to manifest their ambitions. Hiltz has also maintained a list of inspirational and motivational words and quotes in the notes app on their smartphone, referring to it whenever they experience moments of doubt. This collective mental toolbox will continue to be part of their preparation leading into their Olympics Games debut.

Hiltz鈥� partner, , also an elite runner who competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at this year鈥檚 U.S. Olympic Trials, has seen positive results first-hand.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e done a great job of prioritizing their mental health during this Olympic build,鈥� Gee says. 鈥淚鈥檝e noticed meditation and working with a sports psychologist has contributed to their focus and resilience, which has led to confident performances this season.鈥�

That digging deep over the final 100 to outsprint the field and break the tape in the women鈥檚 1500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials, a race many consider to be the deepest American field ever assembled, with four Olympians, three national champions, and seven sub-4 minute performers.

Hiltz not only ran the second-fastest time ever of any American in the women鈥檚 1500, clocking a trials record of 3:55.33, they cemented a spot on Team USA, achieving a lifelong ambition. The result, a personal best for Hiltz, catapulted their ranking to in the women鈥檚 1500. Currently, they have the in the world heading into the Olympic Games, just ahead of American teammates Emily Mackay andPierre.

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The Olympic Trials win, on the last day of Pride Month, was of particular significance for Hiltz. In a post-race interview with NBC Sports, they said they had dedicated the race to the LGBTQ+ community, commenting, 鈥淭his is bigger than just me.鈥�

鈥淣ikki鈥檚 participation in the Paris Olympics as one of the few nonbinary athletes serves as an important moment for Queer representation in sports,鈥� Gee says. 鈥淚t underscores the fundamental right of transgender and nonbinary individuals to show up as their authentic selves and belong wherever they choose to be.鈥�

Hiltz has leaned into advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in sports and beyond throughout their pro career. They founded the annual in 2020, through which they have donated $172,000 to the, an organization that provides crisis and suicide intervention for LGBTQ+ youth. The 2024 race on October 12 will fundraise for the nonprofit, an organization that offers health and wellness care to the transgender community.

鈥淪omething I always go back to is a motto I live by: 鈥楤e the person you needed when you were younger.鈥� That has really driven me,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important because you鈥檙e making space for a young version of Nikki out there now.鈥�

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Onto the World Stage听

While Hiltz still gets inundated with comments about their trans and nonbinary identity鈥攂oth positive and negative鈥攑rioritizing their mental health and establishing a routine of mental wellbeing practices has helped them face and overcome the negativity.

鈥淚 feel very at peace with myself,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been so great to personally do the work to know that I belong, this is a legit thing, and trans people exist.鈥�

The Olympics will serve as an even greater platform for Hiltz to promote inclusivity while competing on running鈥檚 biggest stage. Hiltz, who will participate in the women鈥檚 1500 meters, beginning on August 6 in Paris, will be one of few nonbinary athletes across all sports who will compete in Paris.

鈥淣ow it鈥檚 the world that I have to race. That鈥檚 really exciting to me,鈥� Hiltz says. 鈥淓veryone is just leveling up right now. I鈥檓 excited to be a part of that, and to just go out there and see what I can do.鈥�

Their goal is to advance to the August 10 final to have an opportunity to race for a medal. They鈥檒l face a deep field that will include world record holder and two-time reigning Olympic champion

鈥淣ikki is a formidable competitor,鈥� Gee says. 鈥淭hey are strong, fast, strategic, and confident. With their current form and mentality, I believe they are capable of making the 1500 Olympic final and finishing in the top half of that race.鈥�

The post The Secret to Nikki Hiltz鈥檚 Olympic Breakthrough appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Backpacking is work鈥攆un work, but you still might want a drink when you鈥檙e done. A dehydrator isn鈥檛 just for meals; it allows for with unexpected ingredients that don鈥檛 compromise pack weight. Dehydrate berries and citrus for sunset sangria or limes for margaritas. Experiment with your favorite flavors or try this recipe on your next trip.

Backcountry Old Fashioned

Makes 2 servings

• A few drops of bitters
• 2 sugar cubes
• 4 orange slices
• 4 Bing cherries
• 100 mL bourbon

At home:

1. Add a few drops of bitters to two sugar cubes (enough to saturate but not disintegrate them).
2. Dehydrate the sugar cubes, orange slices, and cherries at 135掳F.
3. Pack your cocktail ingredients with two 50-mL nips of bourbon.

At camp: 听

1. Divide the ingredients into two cups and add one serving of bourbon to each.
2. Stir vigorously until the sugar mix dissolves, and enjoy.

The post The Secret to a Great Backcountry Cocktail? Your Dehydrator. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.