Alicia Kendig, Carmichael Training Systems Sports Dietitian, writes The athletic supplement business is a multi-million dollar industry with products promising big boosts in performance from pills, powders, or liquids. As a sports dietitian, I’m bombarded by questions nearly every day regarding the benefits of these manufactured nutrients.

You know the feeling. In the process of tapering for races, trying to check off your swimming, cycling and running workouts, and traveling to triathlons, you suddenly realize that you haven't been to the gym for a long time...a very long time.

By Neal Henderson MS CSCS, Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, Sport Science Director For years, well intentioned coaches and exercise physiologists have given endurance athletes very strong recommendations to ensure high carbohydrate intake during training and racing to optimize performance.

I’m not a fan of the word diet. Not that I think one shouldn’t watch what they eat, it’s the fact that the word diet usually means calorie restriction, hunger, avoiding your favorite foods and unpleasantness in general. So I use the term food choices.

Couer D' Alene Ironman commenced this past week. As a triathlon coach, I have a myriad of athletes competing in the race. Some did well. Others struggled. But with each athlete, a few days after the race (before post-race amnesia sits in) I sit down with a notepad, via phone, text, or face-to-face, and discuss the highs and lows of their long day.

Fast forward to Tuesday or Wednesday after your Ironman. It's very likely that you're sitting on the couch, with your shattered legs on the coffee table, scratching your sunburned head as you try to remember your dog's name--which you've forgotten--because all you've thought about for the past 6-9 months is Ironman.

The finish line can seem awfully far away when you are plagued by gastrointestinal (GI) distress on race day. To be clear, the "GI tract" refers to the digestive system, or the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Symptoms can range from heartburn, nausea and vomiting to cramping, bloating and diarrhea.

With just about seven days left before the race, athletes are in full-on taper mode, packing and reviewing final preparations before making the trek to beautiful Coeur d'Alene, ID. Without a doubt, a large part of pre-race anxiety is due to not knowing what race day will bring in terms of the course, weather, the competition, etc.

The evolution of the bicycle shifting continues. Shimano now has its new electronic Dura Ace Di2 gruppo. Sure there have been other companies that have tried to master this but I think Shimano is on to something with this one. Shimano Dura Ace

If you find yourself injured or laid up with inflammation, follow this exact protocol for enhanced connective tissue healing, fast recovery from injury-produced inflammation, and a quick return to your training and competition after a strain, sprain or crash.