http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/annual-fundraising-event-to-benefit-two-causes-1.6554660
When his brother Patrick Xavier died in 1997 from complications of
Down syndrome, Alan Owens, 31, wanted to find a way to keep Patrick's
memory alive and, in turn, help those suffering from the same
disability.
Since its inception in 2004, the Patrick Xavier Owens Memorial
Foundation has raised more than $100,000 for the Association for
Children with Down syndrome, a school in Plainview that Patrick
attended.
These fundraising efforts have left Vincent Santo in awe.
"The Patrick Xavier Owens fundraiser is one of the highlights of the
year for ACDS," said Santo, director of development and corporate
relations for the ACDS. "I have watched [Alan] dedicate himself to this
cause with great passion, while balancing his work and growing family
commitments. I am truly in awe of what he has accomplished on ACDS'
behalf."
But on Saturday, this year's event will take on an additional meaning.
After superstorm Sandy left East Rockaway High School and its athletic
department in shambles, Owens decided to use the annual event to raise
money for both ACDS and his former high school’s sports program.
East Rockaway athletic director Dominick Vulpis is grateful for
Owens’ efforts: "Athletics at East Rockaway has always been more than
just winning — it's [about] teaching civility and life lessons learned
through sport," Vulpis said.
"Alan, a former student-athlete, is a prime example of this expected
outcome. As part of our program, we tell our athletes, ‘What goes
around, comes around’ in life and it's important to pay things forward
for the good of our community. As we continue to rebound [from
superstorm Sandy], love continues to repay our district."
Saturday’s events will begin with a three-on-three coed basketball
tournament at East Rockaway High School at 10:30 a.m., followed by a
Disney character party at 12:30 p.m. and conclude with a reception at
the Coral House in Baldwin at 7 p.m.
"This is a very special day that my family and I look forward to each
year — celebrating the life of Patrick with all of our friends and
family," said Owens, who was born and raised in East Rockaway along with
seven brothers and a sister.
"This will be the first year that the foundation will be donating to two
separate great schools that have both played major roles in my family's
lives over the past 25 years."
Santo said the funds received from the Patrick Xavier Memorial
Foundation have helped more than 1,000 families — from early childhood
through adulthood — suffering from a variety of developmental
disabilities, including Down syndrome and autism. And due to a shortfall
of government funding, the Patrick Xavier Memorial Foundation has
helped to keep ACDS afloat.
"Government funding has been held flat for many years and does not fully
cover the cost of providing educational and therapy services to our
children," Santo said.
"ACDS could not survive without the generosity of supporters like the
Owens family and their friends. [They] recognize that our staff cares
deeply for every family that we serve."
For more information, to purchase tickets or make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.acds.org.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
Long Island trainer provides drive for triathlon competitors
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/long-island-trainer-provides-drive-for-triathlon-competitors-1.6436417
“The joy is in the journey.”
It’s the mantra that Jose Lopez lives by.
And it became the mantra for two Long Island triathletes that Lopez helped train for this year’s Ironman World Championship.
On Saturday, the world will watch an elite crop of athletes take on an unforgiving terrain in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii when the 2013 Ironman World Championship is televised. The world will also get to see how Lopez helped his Long Island Ironman competitors -- Marc Blumencranz, 50, of Manhasset, and Bob Spina Jr., 50, of North Massapequa.
“I am lucky enough to be guided by Coach Lopez,” said Blumencranz, who is a member of Lopez’s Long Island Tri Coach program and successfully tackled his first world championship.
In reference to his mantra, Lopez explained that it was created as “a result of searching for the true meaning behind making the most out of the time spent balancing work, family and the sport we all love.”
Lopez, 50, started LITC -- a multi-sport discipline agency -- in 1998 as a way to help athletes, young and old, fulfill their triathlon dreams.
“One of the missions for my coaching company is to give back to the sport and support many youth who have a passion and dream of competing in the sport,” said Lopez, who also traveled to Hawaii to support Blumencranz and Spina. “We provide as much as we can to allow them to race locally and abroad.”
In preparation for the Ironman World Championship, Lopez said Blumencranz and Spina were regular participants in his track, interval biking, running and open-water workouts.
Blumencranz clearly remembers Lopez‘s intensity.
“Thanks to Coach Lopez, I have probably seen more of Long Island than I would have ever imagined,” he said. “Recently, we rode from Bob [Spina‘s] house in Massapequa to Montauk – truly an amazing 111-mile journey.”
Lopez, a certified USA Triathlon (USAT) coach, has an interesting history of his own.
The Mineola resident has been competing in triathlons since 1983, has received several USAT All-American honors and in 2008 he secured a spot on the USAT World Team for Olympic Distance. Lopez competed in his first Ironman – Cape Cod Endurance Ironman – in 1987 and has since competed in four more.
“I have always had a sincere passion and desire to share my love for the sport,” Lopez said. “I am a believer that anything worth having is worth sharing, so giving to others is a common theme for myself and those who choose to be involved with the LITC family.”
Editors note: NBC will air the 2013 GoPro Ironman World Championship event special this Saturday, Nov. 16 at 4:30pm EST.
“The joy is in the journey.”
It’s the mantra that Jose Lopez lives by.
And it became the mantra for two Long Island triathletes that Lopez helped train for this year’s Ironman World Championship.
On Saturday, the world will watch an elite crop of athletes take on an unforgiving terrain in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii when the 2013 Ironman World Championship is televised. The world will also get to see how Lopez helped his Long Island Ironman competitors -- Marc Blumencranz, 50, of Manhasset, and Bob Spina Jr., 50, of North Massapequa.
“I am lucky enough to be guided by Coach Lopez,” said Blumencranz, who is a member of Lopez’s Long Island Tri Coach program and successfully tackled his first world championship.
In reference to his mantra, Lopez explained that it was created as “a result of searching for the true meaning behind making the most out of the time spent balancing work, family and the sport we all love.”
Lopez, 50, started LITC -- a multi-sport discipline agency -- in 1998 as a way to help athletes, young and old, fulfill their triathlon dreams.
“One of the missions for my coaching company is to give back to the sport and support many youth who have a passion and dream of competing in the sport,” said Lopez, who also traveled to Hawaii to support Blumencranz and Spina. “We provide as much as we can to allow them to race locally and abroad.”
In preparation for the Ironman World Championship, Lopez said Blumencranz and Spina were regular participants in his track, interval biking, running and open-water workouts.
Blumencranz clearly remembers Lopez‘s intensity.
“Thanks to Coach Lopez, I have probably seen more of Long Island than I would have ever imagined,” he said. “Recently, we rode from Bob [Spina‘s] house in Massapequa to Montauk – truly an amazing 111-mile journey.”
Lopez, a certified USA Triathlon (USAT) coach, has an interesting history of his own.
The Mineola resident has been competing in triathlons since 1983, has received several USAT All-American honors and in 2008 he secured a spot on the USAT World Team for Olympic Distance. Lopez competed in his first Ironman – Cape Cod Endurance Ironman – in 1987 and has since competed in four more.
“I have always had a sincere passion and desire to share my love for the sport,” Lopez said. “I am a believer that anything worth having is worth sharing, so giving to others is a common theme for myself and those who choose to be involved with the LITC family.”
Editors note: NBC will air the 2013 GoPro Ironman World Championship event special this Saturday, Nov. 16 at 4:30pm EST.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Former NFLer Merril Hoge talks football safety with new helmet system
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/former-nfler-merril-hoge-talks-football-safety-with-new-helmet-system-1.6354411
Former NFL player and current ESPN analyst Merril Hoge almost lost his life to post-concussion syndrome in 1994.
“I was in cardiac arrest and intensive care for two days,” said Hoge, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears, and was one of the first players to undergo cognitive testing. “Not only did [a head injury] cost me my career, it almost cost me my life.”
At the time of his forced retirement, Hoge had the longest consecutive playing streak in the NFL. Since then, Hoge has made it a point to promote advancements in concussion prevention and recently spoke about technology advancement at a forum hosted by Riddell Sports in Manhattan.
Riddell Sports, based in Rosemont, IL and currently the world’s leading helmet maker, has been using the Head Impact Telemetry-Sideline Response System sensor units since 2003. The units are placed inside the helmets of athletes in amateur football programs who choose to participate. But Riddell Sports has recently expanded its technology to include the InSite Impact Response System, which was developed based on millions of data points secured through HIT-SRS.
Currently, more than a dozen high schools across the United States are using InSite, according to Thad Ide, Riddell Sports’ senior vice president of research and product development.
The impact systems, which are designed by New Hampshire-based Simbex, record data every time a player receives a hit to the head and transmit a warning signal to sideline medical personnel who are wearing specialized pagers.
“We think [this is] the game-changer,” Ide said. “[InSite] sends an alert -- or not -- to the sideline based on data. What’s alert-able and what’s not is based on skill level and playing position.”
Dr. Rick Greenwald, Simbex’s founder and president, said that during the last 10 years, two million-plus impacts have been recorded by schools using the technology. “Simbex specializes in biofeedback systems and makes that data actionable,” he said. “The data is used to inform athletes and the training staff. This is not a diagnosis of concussion, this is not a diagnostic tool -- this is to understand what happens on the field.”
Greenwald noted that one of the initial challenges of the HIT/SRS system -- which is very much like the air bag sensors in cars -- was to find appropriate placement on the athletes. “You have to be nonintrusive to measure things on the field in sports,” he said. “You have to find a way to measure athletes that doesn’t interfere with their job -- one of the great places to do that was inside the helmet.”
Scott Blatt, the athletic trainer at Westlake High School in Westlake Village, Calif., started using InSite with his football program this season and is part of the small group currently using this technology. “If an alert goes off, I’ll bring the athlete over to the sidelines and ask basic questions. If I’m comfortable, I’ll let them play -- if not, they’ll [go through] further evaluation. I’ve never had an athlete sustain a concussion and the monitor didn’t go off.”
Hoge believes that with the right preventions and technology in place, football can be played as a safe sport. “If you let kids sit on the couch, play [video games] and eat a doughnut, you’ve jeopardized their health -- [maybe] more than letting them play football with the right tools.”
Former NFL player and current ESPN analyst Merril Hoge almost lost his life to post-concussion syndrome in 1994.
“I was in cardiac arrest and intensive care for two days,” said Hoge, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears, and was one of the first players to undergo cognitive testing. “Not only did [a head injury] cost me my career, it almost cost me my life.”
At the time of his forced retirement, Hoge had the longest consecutive playing streak in the NFL. Since then, Hoge has made it a point to promote advancements in concussion prevention and recently spoke about technology advancement at a forum hosted by Riddell Sports in Manhattan.
Riddell Sports, based in Rosemont, IL and currently the world’s leading helmet maker, has been using the Head Impact Telemetry-Sideline Response System sensor units since 2003. The units are placed inside the helmets of athletes in amateur football programs who choose to participate. But Riddell Sports has recently expanded its technology to include the InSite Impact Response System, which was developed based on millions of data points secured through HIT-SRS.
Currently, more than a dozen high schools across the United States are using InSite, according to Thad Ide, Riddell Sports’ senior vice president of research and product development.
The impact systems, which are designed by New Hampshire-based Simbex, record data every time a player receives a hit to the head and transmit a warning signal to sideline medical personnel who are wearing specialized pagers.
“We think [this is] the game-changer,” Ide said. “[InSite] sends an alert -- or not -- to the sideline based on data. What’s alert-able and what’s not is based on skill level and playing position.”
Dr. Rick Greenwald, Simbex’s founder and president, said that during the last 10 years, two million-plus impacts have been recorded by schools using the technology. “Simbex specializes in biofeedback systems and makes that data actionable,” he said. “The data is used to inform athletes and the training staff. This is not a diagnosis of concussion, this is not a diagnostic tool -- this is to understand what happens on the field.”
Greenwald noted that one of the initial challenges of the HIT/SRS system -- which is very much like the air bag sensors in cars -- was to find appropriate placement on the athletes. “You have to be nonintrusive to measure things on the field in sports,” he said. “You have to find a way to measure athletes that doesn’t interfere with their job -- one of the great places to do that was inside the helmet.”
Scott Blatt, the athletic trainer at Westlake High School in Westlake Village, Calif., started using InSite with his football program this season and is part of the small group currently using this technology. “If an alert goes off, I’ll bring the athlete over to the sidelines and ask basic questions. If I’m comfortable, I’ll let them play -- if not, they’ll [go through] further evaluation. I’ve never had an athlete sustain a concussion and the monitor didn’t go off.”
Hoge believes that with the right preventions and technology in place, football can be played as a safe sport. “If you let kids sit on the couch, play [video games] and eat a doughnut, you’ve jeopardized their health -- [maybe] more than letting them play football with the right tools.”
Monday, October 14, 2013
Long Island competitors reflect on Ironman World Championship
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/long-island-competitors-reflect-on-ironman-world-championship-1.6251619
KAILUA-KONA, HI -- On Saturday, Marc Blumencranz of Manhasset, Adam Quinn of Port Jefferson Station and Bob Spina Jr. of North Massapequa were able to accomplish a feat that very few are even able to qualify for, let alone finish. The trio competed in -- and completed -- the 35th Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
For many, the mere thought of competing in a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run -- in succession -- could be a mental punishment. But for these three Long Islanders there was no better feeling than being crowned the title of an Ironman.
For Blumencranz, 50, and Quinn, 24, this was their first time competing in the world championship and, ironically, Quinn didn’t even start racing triathlons until this year. This was Spina’s fifth trip to the competition.
The three competed in a field of 2,134 worldwide competitors, representing 52 countries and 50 states. Blumencranz completed the course in 13:19:56, 1722 overall and 141/175 in the male 50-54 age group; Quinn finished in 10:31:58, 951 overall and 31/48 in the male 18-24 age group; Spina finished in 10:56:57, 1175 overall and 88/175 in the male 50-54 age group.
“At 75 miles the bike became the most frustrating experience in Ironman,” said Blumencranz, who suffered a potentially career-ending leg injury while running the Boston Marathon in April 2008. “What a great overall experience, even if an injury prevented me from reaching my time goal.”
Blumencranz dedicated his Kailua-Kona finish to a teammate’s son who is hospitalized at Cohen Children’s Hospital.
Known for its wicked currents, strong winds and intense heat, about 80,000 athletes attempt qualify for the Ironman World Championship each year through full or half Ironman-distance races held worldwide, or by lottery.
If attempting to quality through an Ironman race, only the most elite athletes who finish at the top of their age groups earn a spot at Kailua-Kona.
“As it was my first time in Kona, I had only heard the stories of the battles in the mass swim start, the relentless headwinds on the bike and the sweltering midafternoon heat during the marathon,” Quinn said. “All I can say is that the legends of Kona are true, and I now understand why it’s known as the hardest one-day endurance event on the world's toughest course.”
The overall men’s winner was Frederik Van Lierde of Belgium, who finished in 8:12:29. Mirinda Carfrae of Australia won the women’s division in 8:52:14 and set a new course record.
“It might not have been my best race, but I can say I conquered Kona alongside some of the fittest people in the world, and I had an absolute blast doing it,” Quinn said. “It was a long, tough day, but at the end I am able to call myself an Ironman. And that makes it all worth it.”
KAILUA-KONA, HI -- On Saturday, Marc Blumencranz of Manhasset, Adam Quinn of Port Jefferson Station and Bob Spina Jr. of North Massapequa were able to accomplish a feat that very few are even able to qualify for, let alone finish. The trio competed in -- and completed -- the 35th Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
For many, the mere thought of competing in a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run -- in succession -- could be a mental punishment. But for these three Long Islanders there was no better feeling than being crowned the title of an Ironman.
For Blumencranz, 50, and Quinn, 24, this was their first time competing in the world championship and, ironically, Quinn didn’t even start racing triathlons until this year. This was Spina’s fifth trip to the competition.
The three competed in a field of 2,134 worldwide competitors, representing 52 countries and 50 states. Blumencranz completed the course in 13:19:56, 1722 overall and 141/175 in the male 50-54 age group; Quinn finished in 10:31:58, 951 overall and 31/48 in the male 18-24 age group; Spina finished in 10:56:57, 1175 overall and 88/175 in the male 50-54 age group.
“At 75 miles the bike became the most frustrating experience in Ironman,” said Blumencranz, who suffered a potentially career-ending leg injury while running the Boston Marathon in April 2008. “What a great overall experience, even if an injury prevented me from reaching my time goal.”
Blumencranz dedicated his Kailua-Kona finish to a teammate’s son who is hospitalized at Cohen Children’s Hospital.
Known for its wicked currents, strong winds and intense heat, about 80,000 athletes attempt qualify for the Ironman World Championship each year through full or half Ironman-distance races held worldwide, or by lottery.
If attempting to quality through an Ironman race, only the most elite athletes who finish at the top of their age groups earn a spot at Kailua-Kona.
“As it was my first time in Kona, I had only heard the stories of the battles in the mass swim start, the relentless headwinds on the bike and the sweltering midafternoon heat during the marathon,” Quinn said. “All I can say is that the legends of Kona are true, and I now understand why it’s known as the hardest one-day endurance event on the world's toughest course.”
The overall men’s winner was Frederik Van Lierde of Belgium, who finished in 8:12:29. Mirinda Carfrae of Australia won the women’s division in 8:52:14 and set a new course record.
“It might not have been my best race, but I can say I conquered Kona alongside some of the fittest people in the world, and I had an absolute blast doing it,” Quinn said. “It was a long, tough day, but at the end I am able to call myself an Ironman. And that makes it all worth it.”
Friday, October 11, 2013
Ironman World Championship: Meet Long Island's competitors
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/ironman-world-championship-meet-long-island-s-competitors-1.6227146
When Long Island’s Marc Blumencranz enters the waters of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, for the start of the Ironman World Championship’s 2.4-mile swim on Oct. 12, there will be a lot more on his mind than simply crossing the finish line -- that is, after he completes the ensuing vicious 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run. For Blumencranz, this race is more than attaining the title of an Ironman.
“The son of one of my teammates [on Long Island Tri Coach] has been extremely ill for most of the season and is still hospitalized at Cohen Children's Hospital,” Blumencranz said. “Frankie has endured a lot more than I ever will competing in a race. He is the most amazing person and his parents are as special as they come. I plan on dedicating my Kona experience to him.”
Blumencranz, 50, from Manhasset, was introduced to swimming and biking only after suffering a potentially career-ending leg injury while running the Boston Marathon in April 2008. After being told by three orthopedists that he would never run again, Blumencranz took the advice of friend Andrew Motola and started to swim. “After getting comfortable in the pool,” Blumencranz said, “I decided to try cycling. I was hooked.” One year later, 2009, Blumencranz competed in his first triathlon, raced Ironman Lake Placid in 2011 and 2012, and is now entering into his first world championship.
Each year, the Ironman World Championship combines 2,000 of the world’s most elite triathletes in 140.6 miles of brutal currents, hills, crosswinds and heat. In what’s been labeled arguably the most difficult single-day sporting event on the planet, the Ironman World Championship requires competitors to qualify through yearly worldwide full or half Ironman-distance races by finishing at the top of their age groups, or by lottery.
Joining Blumencranz on the Big Island will be Long Islanders Adam Quinn, 24, of Port Jefferson Station and Robert Spina Jr., 50, of North Massapequa.
For Quinn, his first year competing in triathlons proved to be the charm. The Stony Brook University medical student qualified for the world championship at Ironman Lake Placid in July, which was his first Ironman and, ironically, his first year racing in triathlons. Quinn, who is a former cross country and track athlete at Binghamton University, swam two to three days per week, biked four to five and ran four in order to prepare for his first place age group finish -- 99th overall -- at Ironman Lake Placid.
“Earning the opportunity to compete at the Ironman World Championship is a dream come true,” Quinn said. “I don’t know if I will ever get the chance to race in Kona again, so I want to make the most of it. Other than that, I just want to leave it all on the course.”
Spina, who is also a member of Long Island Tri Coach, returns to Kailua-Kona for his fifth world championship quest and 15th Ironman, overall. The attorney, who practices in Lynbrook, qualified at Ironman Lake Placid, finishing fifth in his age group.
“I was in my 30s, then 40s,” Spina said about his previous trips to the world championship. “Now that I am 50, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be there again.”
Spina, who trained about 15 hours each week in preparation for the world championship, has molded himself into a workout veteran. “I’m older now and I consider myself a little wiser, so I don‘t spend a lot of time on the junk miles,” he said. “Every workout has to have a focus.”
And for Quinn -- even though physically spent -- finishing the Ironman World Championship on Kailua-Kona’s Alii Drive would be sweet.
“If I’m unable to walk once I cross that finish line,” Quinn continued, “I’ll know I’ve done all I could.”
When Long Island’s Marc Blumencranz enters the waters of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, for the start of the Ironman World Championship’s 2.4-mile swim on Oct. 12, there will be a lot more on his mind than simply crossing the finish line -- that is, after he completes the ensuing vicious 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run. For Blumencranz, this race is more than attaining the title of an Ironman.
“The son of one of my teammates [on Long Island Tri Coach] has been extremely ill for most of the season and is still hospitalized at Cohen Children's Hospital,” Blumencranz said. “Frankie has endured a lot more than I ever will competing in a race. He is the most amazing person and his parents are as special as they come. I plan on dedicating my Kona experience to him.”
Blumencranz, 50, from Manhasset, was introduced to swimming and biking only after suffering a potentially career-ending leg injury while running the Boston Marathon in April 2008. After being told by three orthopedists that he would never run again, Blumencranz took the advice of friend Andrew Motola and started to swim. “After getting comfortable in the pool,” Blumencranz said, “I decided to try cycling. I was hooked.” One year later, 2009, Blumencranz competed in his first triathlon, raced Ironman Lake Placid in 2011 and 2012, and is now entering into his first world championship.
Each year, the Ironman World Championship combines 2,000 of the world’s most elite triathletes in 140.6 miles of brutal currents, hills, crosswinds and heat. In what’s been labeled arguably the most difficult single-day sporting event on the planet, the Ironman World Championship requires competitors to qualify through yearly worldwide full or half Ironman-distance races by finishing at the top of their age groups, or by lottery.
Joining Blumencranz on the Big Island will be Long Islanders Adam Quinn, 24, of Port Jefferson Station and Robert Spina Jr., 50, of North Massapequa.
For Quinn, his first year competing in triathlons proved to be the charm. The Stony Brook University medical student qualified for the world championship at Ironman Lake Placid in July, which was his first Ironman and, ironically, his first year racing in triathlons. Quinn, who is a former cross country and track athlete at Binghamton University, swam two to three days per week, biked four to five and ran four in order to prepare for his first place age group finish -- 99th overall -- at Ironman Lake Placid.
“Earning the opportunity to compete at the Ironman World Championship is a dream come true,” Quinn said. “I don’t know if I will ever get the chance to race in Kona again, so I want to make the most of it. Other than that, I just want to leave it all on the course.”
Spina, who is also a member of Long Island Tri Coach, returns to Kailua-Kona for his fifth world championship quest and 15th Ironman, overall. The attorney, who practices in Lynbrook, qualified at Ironman Lake Placid, finishing fifth in his age group.
“I was in my 30s, then 40s,” Spina said about his previous trips to the world championship. “Now that I am 50, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be there again.”
Spina, who trained about 15 hours each week in preparation for the world championship, has molded himself into a workout veteran. “I’m older now and I consider myself a little wiser, so I don‘t spend a lot of time on the junk miles,” he said. “Every workout has to have a focus.”
And for Quinn -- even though physically spent -- finishing the Ironman World Championship on Kailua-Kona’s Alii Drive would be sweet.
“If I’m unable to walk once I cross that finish line,” Quinn continued, “I’ll know I’ve done all I could.”
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Ironman: A history and race day lookahead
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/ironman-a-history-and-race-day-lookahead-1.6227120
As the sun rises above the western mountains of the Kailua-Kona, Hawaii coast on Oct. 12, two-thousand of the world’s most elite athletes will take to the waters of Kailua Bay on the path to a dream -- being crowned with the title of an Ironman.
With a 17-hour time cutoff, the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile marathon -- all done in succession -- make the Ironman World Championship possibly the most physically demanding single-day athletic event on the planet.
About 80,000 athletes attempt to qualify for the world championship either through yearly worldwide full- and half-Ironman-distance races or by lottery. This year, the athletes will represent 48 states and 52 countries. Domestically, the largest number of athletes competing come from California (111), Hawaii (54), New York (53), Texas (49) and Colorado (47); Internationally, Australia (260), Germany (204), Canada (141), Great Britain (88) and Switzerland (73).
History of the race
Currently in its 35th year, the Ironman World championship has grown from a small field of 15 competitors -- 12 finishers -- in 1978.
The Ironman was originated by Honolulu’s Judy and John Collins, who suggested jelling together Hawaii’s three toughest endurance races -- the 2.4-mile Waikiki Rough water Swim, 112-mile Around-O’ahu Bike Race and 26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon.
On Feb. 18, 1978, the inaugural Hawaiian Iron Man Triathlon was born-and-raced in Waikiki. In 1981, the Ironman was shifted to the lava-laden fields of the Kailua-Kona coast, where competitors battle 45 mph crosswinds and 95-degree heat.
Maps and course descriptions are courtesy Ironman.com.
Swim
Without a doubt, the mass swim start is the most emotionally charged start in the sport, thanks to TV helicopters, enthusiastic spectators and the sun rising over Mount Hualalai.
Currents can be a factor and water temperature in Kailua Bay is typically around 79 degrees.
Bike
As cyclists make their way north along the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, from Kailua-Kona to the turnaround in Hawi, they can be exposed to intense trade winds that buffet much of the exposed western and northern coast of the Big Island.
The winds vary in intensity from steady to heavy blasts that can blow cyclists across the road. For this reason, disc wheels are not permitted. Winds may subside during the gradual climb to Hawi, but pick up again as athletes make their way to Transition Two.
Run
After exiting Transition Two, runners will wind through town before taking on Ali’i Drive, where spectators will pack the roads. Athletes will then retrace their steps, climb up Palani Road to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and make their way to the Natural Energy Laboratory Hawaii Authority (NELHA).
Unless cloud cover or nightfall spares them, high heat and humidity should be anticipated throughout the run course.
Long Island’s Elite Trio
Name: Marc J. Blumencranz
Age: 50
Residence: Manhasset
Occupation: Insurance broker, BWD Group LLC.
Previous Ironman World Championships: None
Quote: “I couldn't devote the hours to this without the support of my amazing wife Ellen. [She] is truly the best supporter of the time this sport requires.”
Name: Adam Quinn
Age: 24
Residence: Port Jefferson Station
Occupation: Medical student, Stony Brook University
Previous Ironman World Championships: None
Quote: “Thanks to the understanding of my professors and dean, I’m able to get the time off to travel to Hawaii. First and foremost, I want to enjoy the experience.”
Name: Robert Spina Jr.
Age: 50
Residence: North Massapequa
Occupation: Attorney, private practice
Previous Ironman World Championships: 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005
Quote: “A friend told me that the winds the past month [in Kailua-Kona] have been horrific, and they are expected to continue. . . . I’m lucky to be in the game. I’m appreciative to be in the game.”
In addition to Brian T. Dessart’s live Twitter updates, the 2013 Ironman World Championship can be viewed on www.ironman.com. NBC will air the event special on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 4:30 p.m.
As the sun rises above the western mountains of the Kailua-Kona, Hawaii coast on Oct. 12, two-thousand of the world’s most elite athletes will take to the waters of Kailua Bay on the path to a dream -- being crowned with the title of an Ironman.
With a 17-hour time cutoff, the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile marathon -- all done in succession -- make the Ironman World Championship possibly the most physically demanding single-day athletic event on the planet.
About 80,000 athletes attempt to qualify for the world championship either through yearly worldwide full- and half-Ironman-distance races or by lottery. This year, the athletes will represent 48 states and 52 countries. Domestically, the largest number of athletes competing come from California (111), Hawaii (54), New York (53), Texas (49) and Colorado (47); Internationally, Australia (260), Germany (204), Canada (141), Great Britain (88) and Switzerland (73).
History of the race
Currently in its 35th year, the Ironman World championship has grown from a small field of 15 competitors -- 12 finishers -- in 1978.
The Ironman was originated by Honolulu’s Judy and John Collins, who suggested jelling together Hawaii’s three toughest endurance races -- the 2.4-mile Waikiki Rough water Swim, 112-mile Around-O’ahu Bike Race and 26.2-mile Honolulu Marathon.
On Feb. 18, 1978, the inaugural Hawaiian Iron Man Triathlon was born-and-raced in Waikiki. In 1981, the Ironman was shifted to the lava-laden fields of the Kailua-Kona coast, where competitors battle 45 mph crosswinds and 95-degree heat.
Maps and course descriptions are courtesy Ironman.com.
Swim
Without a doubt, the mass swim start is the most emotionally charged start in the sport, thanks to TV helicopters, enthusiastic spectators and the sun rising over Mount Hualalai.
Currents can be a factor and water temperature in Kailua Bay is typically around 79 degrees.
Bike
As cyclists make their way north along the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, from Kailua-Kona to the turnaround in Hawi, they can be exposed to intense trade winds that buffet much of the exposed western and northern coast of the Big Island.
The winds vary in intensity from steady to heavy blasts that can blow cyclists across the road. For this reason, disc wheels are not permitted. Winds may subside during the gradual climb to Hawi, but pick up again as athletes make their way to Transition Two.
Run
After exiting Transition Two, runners will wind through town before taking on Ali’i Drive, where spectators will pack the roads. Athletes will then retrace their steps, climb up Palani Road to the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and make their way to the Natural Energy Laboratory Hawaii Authority (NELHA).
Unless cloud cover or nightfall spares them, high heat and humidity should be anticipated throughout the run course.
Long Island’s Elite Trio
Name: Marc J. Blumencranz
Age: 50
Residence: Manhasset
Occupation: Insurance broker, BWD Group LLC.
Previous Ironman World Championships: None
Quote: “I couldn't devote the hours to this without the support of my amazing wife Ellen. [She] is truly the best supporter of the time this sport requires.”
Name: Adam Quinn
Age: 24
Residence: Port Jefferson Station
Occupation: Medical student, Stony Brook University
Previous Ironman World Championships: None
Quote: “Thanks to the understanding of my professors and dean, I’m able to get the time off to travel to Hawaii. First and foremost, I want to enjoy the experience.”
Name: Robert Spina Jr.
Age: 50
Residence: North Massapequa
Occupation: Attorney, private practice
Previous Ironman World Championships: 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005
Quote: “A friend told me that the winds the past month [in Kailua-Kona] have been horrific, and they are expected to continue. . . . I’m lucky to be in the game. I’m appreciative to be in the game.”
In addition to Brian T. Dessart’s live Twitter updates, the 2013 Ironman World Championship can be viewed on www.ironman.com. NBC will air the event special on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Ironman triathlete details journey to Hawaii
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/ironman-triathlete-details-journey-to-hawaii-1.6226164
Leading up to the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Oct. 12 I received an exclusive peek inside the training and specifics that accompany being an Ironman triathlete.
My subject?
Well, it’s my brother, Kevin, who’s on the verge of entering his eighth world championship and has completed 13 full-distance (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run) Ironman races, and over 20 halfers (70.3 total miles). Kevin, 45, formerly of East Rockaway, N.Y., now resides with his family in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Note: The Ironman triathlon series consists of full- and half-distance qualification races worldwide. The most elite athletes from those competitions receive an opportunity to enter a field of 1,800-plus in the annual world championship.
Where was your first triathlon and what made you eventually graduate into an Ironman competitor?
It was a sprint distance race in Connecticut that I raced with former New York Islander Bobby Nystrom and friend Ed DeNave. We all were looking for a challenge and this seemed to be a good one. I was hooked from then on and loved it. I made the jump to Ironman in 1994 when I won a lottery slot, after the St. Anthony’s triathlon in Tampa, Fla.
Take us through a breakdown of your training regimen leading up to an Ironman race.
I usually do a focus of 18 weeks specific to Ironman and build up to 18-20 hours a week of training during my peak. This year was a little different as I raced Ironman Texas in May, then took some training time off and started up again in mid-July. Therefore, this year was closer to a 12-14 week focus.
Please touch on nutrition, in the weeks leading up to an Ironman and anything special you like to eat/drink in the hours (night before) the race.
My nutrition is always pretty good so there’s not much change when I’m training. I focus on very little processed food and try to eat a well-balanced diet. The night before an Ironman race is always the same — a 6oz. filet, pasta or quinoa, salad and a glass or two of red wine.
Also, what about during- and post-race nutritional intake?
During the race I do have a pretty specific plan between Power Bar products and Osmo nutrition (hydration) products. I have specific requirements with amounts that are based off my body weight and time. Post-race is anything I feel like, no restrictions.
What Ironman competitions stand out in your mind, and why? Where were your best performances?
All the Hawaii races stand out — from my first, to my slowest [where I] battled with hyponatremia. [And during] my last race I had to drop out because of a double flat. This race stands out because I was at mile 40 of the bike and my race was over, so I salvaged the day and worked the aid station for the next three hours. I was able to help all my friends racing and gained a new perspective of the race. Overall, my best Ironman was in Arizona — 9 hours, 10 minutes — and my best Hawaii [time] was 9 hours, 27 minutes.
You mentioned a problematic medical condition called hyponatremia. Please explain.
I suffered hyponatremia, which is basically too much water and not enough sodium, and this caused me to walk the second-half of the marathon. I learned a lot from this day and it changed my overall hydration plan from then on.
Whenever you feel your body has had enough, what motivation do you use to keep yourself going?
Sometimes the motivation is rest to make sure I can get the most out of my training. During a race, the motivation is to get to the finish line as fast as possible where I can stop for good. If you stop or slow down during a race, you’re just prolonging the bad feelings you might be having.
The world championship in Hawaii has quite a history and is known for its extreme toughness. Are there any places on the course that are extremely brutal?
It’s actually in Hawaii because of three races that took place there and a number of guys wanted to see who the best athletes were — swimmers, bikers or runners. The toughest part on the course is typically at the Natural Energy Lab. It comes at approximately mile 17 of the run and can get very hot. By this time in the race, you’ve been racing all day and fatigue is/has set in.
Looking forward to Oct. 12, how do you feel, physically, and what are your goals compared to your other world championship appearances?
I feel good — tired of training though — and I want the time from now to then to go by faster. My goals are to simply go as fast as I can on race day. I don’t set time goals because conditions may not warrant the goal times you think you can meet.
Through your own training for Ironman races, how do you feel your physical conditioning has varied with age and what advice do you have for other athletes who would like to make this type of training long-term.
My fitness has gotten better as I’ve gotten older. Racing for over 20 years I’ve learn a lot about what works and what doesn’t, when to train and when to rest. Rest is the key. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that recovery is slower so you just have to adjust, learn what workouts are important and which are a waste of time — get rid of the waste. The advice I’d give is to remain as balanced as possible. Training can take a lot of time, but I always make sure it’s third on my priority list after family and job.
Leading up to the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Oct. 12 I received an exclusive peek inside the training and specifics that accompany being an Ironman triathlete.
My subject?
Well, it’s my brother, Kevin, who’s on the verge of entering his eighth world championship and has completed 13 full-distance (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run) Ironman races, and over 20 halfers (70.3 total miles). Kevin, 45, formerly of East Rockaway, N.Y., now resides with his family in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Note: The Ironman triathlon series consists of full- and half-distance qualification races worldwide. The most elite athletes from those competitions receive an opportunity to enter a field of 1,800-plus in the annual world championship.
Where was your first triathlon and what made you eventually graduate into an Ironman competitor?
It was a sprint distance race in Connecticut that I raced with former New York Islander Bobby Nystrom and friend Ed DeNave. We all were looking for a challenge and this seemed to be a good one. I was hooked from then on and loved it. I made the jump to Ironman in 1994 when I won a lottery slot, after the St. Anthony’s triathlon in Tampa, Fla.
Take us through a breakdown of your training regimen leading up to an Ironman race.
I usually do a focus of 18 weeks specific to Ironman and build up to 18-20 hours a week of training during my peak. This year was a little different as I raced Ironman Texas in May, then took some training time off and started up again in mid-July. Therefore, this year was closer to a 12-14 week focus.
Please touch on nutrition, in the weeks leading up to an Ironman and anything special you like to eat/drink in the hours (night before) the race.
My nutrition is always pretty good so there’s not much change when I’m training. I focus on very little processed food and try to eat a well-balanced diet. The night before an Ironman race is always the same — a 6oz. filet, pasta or quinoa, salad and a glass or two of red wine.
Also, what about during- and post-race nutritional intake?
During the race I do have a pretty specific plan between Power Bar products and Osmo nutrition (hydration) products. I have specific requirements with amounts that are based off my body weight and time. Post-race is anything I feel like, no restrictions.
What Ironman competitions stand out in your mind, and why? Where were your best performances?
All the Hawaii races stand out — from my first, to my slowest [where I] battled with hyponatremia. [And during] my last race I had to drop out because of a double flat. This race stands out because I was at mile 40 of the bike and my race was over, so I salvaged the day and worked the aid station for the next three hours. I was able to help all my friends racing and gained a new perspective of the race. Overall, my best Ironman was in Arizona — 9 hours, 10 minutes — and my best Hawaii [time] was 9 hours, 27 minutes.
You mentioned a problematic medical condition called hyponatremia. Please explain.
I suffered hyponatremia, which is basically too much water and not enough sodium, and this caused me to walk the second-half of the marathon. I learned a lot from this day and it changed my overall hydration plan from then on.
Whenever you feel your body has had enough, what motivation do you use to keep yourself going?
Sometimes the motivation is rest to make sure I can get the most out of my training. During a race, the motivation is to get to the finish line as fast as possible where I can stop for good. If you stop or slow down during a race, you’re just prolonging the bad feelings you might be having.
The world championship in Hawaii has quite a history and is known for its extreme toughness. Are there any places on the course that are extremely brutal?
It’s actually in Hawaii because of three races that took place there and a number of guys wanted to see who the best athletes were — swimmers, bikers or runners. The toughest part on the course is typically at the Natural Energy Lab. It comes at approximately mile 17 of the run and can get very hot. By this time in the race, you’ve been racing all day and fatigue is/has set in.
Looking forward to Oct. 12, how do you feel, physically, and what are your goals compared to your other world championship appearances?
I feel good — tired of training though — and I want the time from now to then to go by faster. My goals are to simply go as fast as I can on race day. I don’t set time goals because conditions may not warrant the goal times you think you can meet.
Through your own training for Ironman races, how do you feel your physical conditioning has varied with age and what advice do you have for other athletes who would like to make this type of training long-term.
My fitness has gotten better as I’ve gotten older. Racing for over 20 years I’ve learn a lot about what works and what doesn’t, when to train and when to rest. Rest is the key. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that recovery is slower so you just have to adjust, learn what workouts are important and which are a waste of time — get rid of the waste. The advice I’d give is to remain as balanced as possible. Training can take a lot of time, but I always make sure it’s third on my priority list after family and job.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Justin Bieber’s workout routine all about upper body
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/justin-bieber-s-workout-routine-all-about-upper-body-1.6200107
Justin Bieber’s workout routine is all about his upper body.
“We all want impressive chest and arms,” Bieber told Newsday, during his recent tour in Asia.
And for the pop star’s trainer, it’s all about adding more size to Bieber’s 5-foot-9, 137-pound frame.
“Justin was about 120 pounds when we started,” said personal trainer Patrick Nilsson. “I want to put at least 20 more pounds on him.”
Nilsson, who’s been training Bieber full time since September 2012, built a workout center inside the 19-year-old’s Southern California home, where the two focus on sculpting Bieber’s body.
“I was more excited than anything,” Nilsson told Newsday in an exclusive coast-to-coast interview. “This is what every personal trainer wants -- to train someone like Justin.”
Nilsson, 29, who was born in Sweden and holds a bachelors degree in kinesiology, began training Bieber after the two were connected through the pop star’s manager. Bieber was Nilsson’s first celebrity client.
Whether on tour or at Bieber’s home gym, the duo train together five times a week, approximately 40 minutes per session.
During their training sessions, they target mainly what Nilsson describes as “meat and potato exercises,” involving compound movements which train more than one muscle group at a time.
Bieber generally performs 12 total sets per body part, four sets per exercise, with 8-12 (sometimes 12-15) repetitions per set.
Shaping the Canadian-born pop star’s upper-body is a priority. “His chest and shoulders -- we need to build those up,” Nilsson explained. “It’s all about looks.”
Bieber’s favorite body parts to work out (and his strongest): chest and biceps -- a weekly combo session he refers to as “fun day.” During these workouts, Bieber performs barbell flat and incline bench presses, burnout flys and push-ups, jelled with the supplementation of biceps exercises in-between each chest routine.
“It's a fun day,” Bieber said. “Who doesn't like working out chest and biceps?”
For his back, Nilsson puts Bieber through a rigorous combination of cable or dumbbell rows, dumbbell shrugs and multi-grip pull-ups, while adding in triceps extension, weighted dips, skull crushers and a close-grip bench press for Bieber’s triceps.
To help mold his shoulders, Bieber executes a barbell or dumbbell military press, dumbbell lateral raises and reverse flys.
Nilsson said when he first started working with Bieber that his legs were in much better shape than his upper body because of his intense on-stage routines. When they do work on Bieber’s leg training, he enjoy plyometrics, a leg press and lunges. Nilsson would like to eventually incorporate deadlifts into Bieber’s routine.
Bieber’s abdominal core training is a necessity for a chiseled six-pack look. His favorite exercise is Roman Chair leg raises, which is combined with front/side crunches and twisting leg raises.
“I want him to look like Marky Mark,” Nilsson said, jokingly. “I feel like this is what he needs to get where he wants to be. He’s definitely leaner and a lot stronger.”
During his on-stage performances, Bieber receives an immense cardiovascular workout, so Nilsson makes sure to limit Bieber’s auxiliary aerobic work, in order to avoid unnecessary fatigue and caloric expenditure.
“We don’t do a lot of cardio work because of his routines,” Nilsson continued, “and I want to put some size on him. His cardiac output is so high already.”
With an intense lifestyle such as Bieber’s, sometimes allocating time for appropriate nutrition can be a task within itself, but with the help of Nilsson, he finds time for familiar foods.
“It’s more about making sure he eats,” Nilsson said of Bieber. “He’s the only client I allow to have McDonald’s whenever he wants. But he also likes chicken breast, whitefish, salmon, turkey, steak, rice, mashed and regular potatoes and weird greens like cauliflower.”
Most importantly, strength and conditioning programs help to mold self-discipline, motivation and a desire for excellence; Bieber has already accomplished just that.
When asked about his goals, Bieber said laughingly, “Reaching perfection. [But] I've reached perfection, so it's all about maintaining now.”
Nilsson has big plans in-store for Bieber’s fitness future.
“[Justin’s] so motivated -- it’s the first thing he asks for in the morning,” Nilsson explained. “The total goal is to look like he’s well built, but I want him to feel really good too. Once that’s done, I would love for him to work on his athletics and be able to touch a basketball hoop -- fun stuff like that.”
Justin Bieber’s workout routine is all about his upper body.
“We all want impressive chest and arms,” Bieber told Newsday, during his recent tour in Asia.
And for the pop star’s trainer, it’s all about adding more size to Bieber’s 5-foot-9, 137-pound frame.
“Justin was about 120 pounds when we started,” said personal trainer Patrick Nilsson. “I want to put at least 20 more pounds on him.”
Nilsson, who’s been training Bieber full time since September 2012, built a workout center inside the 19-year-old’s Southern California home, where the two focus on sculpting Bieber’s body.
“I was more excited than anything,” Nilsson told Newsday in an exclusive coast-to-coast interview. “This is what every personal trainer wants -- to train someone like Justin.”
Nilsson, 29, who was born in Sweden and holds a bachelors degree in kinesiology, began training Bieber after the two were connected through the pop star’s manager. Bieber was Nilsson’s first celebrity client.
Whether on tour or at Bieber’s home gym, the duo train together five times a week, approximately 40 minutes per session.
During their training sessions, they target mainly what Nilsson describes as “meat and potato exercises,” involving compound movements which train more than one muscle group at a time.
Bieber generally performs 12 total sets per body part, four sets per exercise, with 8-12 (sometimes 12-15) repetitions per set.
Shaping the Canadian-born pop star’s upper-body is a priority. “His chest and shoulders -- we need to build those up,” Nilsson explained. “It’s all about looks.”
Bieber’s favorite body parts to work out (and his strongest): chest and biceps -- a weekly combo session he refers to as “fun day.” During these workouts, Bieber performs barbell flat and incline bench presses, burnout flys and push-ups, jelled with the supplementation of biceps exercises in-between each chest routine.
“It's a fun day,” Bieber said. “Who doesn't like working out chest and biceps?”
For his back, Nilsson puts Bieber through a rigorous combination of cable or dumbbell rows, dumbbell shrugs and multi-grip pull-ups, while adding in triceps extension, weighted dips, skull crushers and a close-grip bench press for Bieber’s triceps.
To help mold his shoulders, Bieber executes a barbell or dumbbell military press, dumbbell lateral raises and reverse flys.
Nilsson said when he first started working with Bieber that his legs were in much better shape than his upper body because of his intense on-stage routines. When they do work on Bieber’s leg training, he enjoy plyometrics, a leg press and lunges. Nilsson would like to eventually incorporate deadlifts into Bieber’s routine.
Bieber’s abdominal core training is a necessity for a chiseled six-pack look. His favorite exercise is Roman Chair leg raises, which is combined with front/side crunches and twisting leg raises.
“I want him to look like Marky Mark,” Nilsson said, jokingly. “I feel like this is what he needs to get where he wants to be. He’s definitely leaner and a lot stronger.”
During his on-stage performances, Bieber receives an immense cardiovascular workout, so Nilsson makes sure to limit Bieber’s auxiliary aerobic work, in order to avoid unnecessary fatigue and caloric expenditure.
“We don’t do a lot of cardio work because of his routines,” Nilsson continued, “and I want to put some size on him. His cardiac output is so high already.”
With an intense lifestyle such as Bieber’s, sometimes allocating time for appropriate nutrition can be a task within itself, but with the help of Nilsson, he finds time for familiar foods.
“It’s more about making sure he eats,” Nilsson said of Bieber. “He’s the only client I allow to have McDonald’s whenever he wants. But he also likes chicken breast, whitefish, salmon, turkey, steak, rice, mashed and regular potatoes and weird greens like cauliflower.”
Most importantly, strength and conditioning programs help to mold self-discipline, motivation and a desire for excellence; Bieber has already accomplished just that.
When asked about his goals, Bieber said laughingly, “Reaching perfection. [But] I've reached perfection, so it's all about maintaining now.”
Nilsson has big plans in-store for Bieber’s fitness future.
“[Justin’s] so motivated -- it’s the first thing he asks for in the morning,” Nilsson explained. “The total goal is to look like he’s well built, but I want him to feel really good too. Once that’s done, I would love for him to work on his athletics and be able to touch a basketball hoop -- fun stuff like that.”
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Looking at concussions in high school sports
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/looking-at-concussions-in-high-school-sports-1.6103070
A crushing helmet-to-helmet blow. A quick whipping of the head and neck caused by a jolting hit. A devastating face-plant into the sometimes-unforgiving turf. These are just a few of the ways high school football athletes can fall victim to head trauma and suffer a potentially harmful concussion.
With the fall high school sports season now underway on Long Island, it’s essential athletes are protected from the possibility of brain injury that sometimes accompanies head trauma. Unfortunately, concussions in high school football are sometimes all-too-common.
Concussions occur from a violent jarring or shaking that results in a disturbance of brain function, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Simply, the brain ricochets off the skull. While many concussions are considered minor traumatic brain injuries, its symptoms range from mild (confusion, headache, light-sensitivity) to severe (loss of consciousness, convulsions, coma). And maybe even death.
“In younger players who are not as muscular, the neck muscles supporting the head may not be as strong, which can worsen the effect of head injuries,” said top-rated Long Island pediatric neurologist Dr. Robin Smith. “The short-term consequences include post-concussion syndrome -- significant, persistent and often disabling headaches which can be difficult to treat. Other problems include difficulty with concentration, which impacts their academic performance and mood; sleep difficulties with anxiety and even depression. These can persist for weeks or even months.”
Dr. Smith, who works for NRAD Medical Associates in Woodbury and is affiliated with Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, said repeated concussions can have long-term consequences, including cognitive impairment. “There is evidence to indicate that even supposedly minor head injuries cause injury to the brain at a microscopic level -- interruption in normal metabolic processes and contusions (bruising) of the brain tissue,” he said.
Each year, emergency rooms across the country treat an estimated 173,285 sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, in people age 19 and younger, the Centers for Disease Control reports. Of those reported injuries, 55,007 are related to football.
While those at the helm of Long Island‘s football and athletic programs, recognize that concussions are an inevitable risk, preventative measures have been put in place.
“The safety of all our student-athletes is paramount,” said Tom Combs, Suffolk’s Section XI Football Chairperson. “Unfortunately, concussions are a part of all sports, including football. Through proper equipment, techniques and knowledge of what a concussion is, the players are as safe today as they have ever been.”
Patrick Pizzarelli, Nassau County’s Section VIII football coordinator, said though there’s been an increase in reported concussion injuries, he attributes it to a higher level of awareness and education among coaches and parents.
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s aggressive approach to increase concussion awareness started on July 1, 2012 when it initiated the Concussion Management and Awareness Act, requiring all public and charter schools to comply, beginning with the 2012-13 school year. The mandate requires coaches, physical education teachers, nurses and athletic trainers to complete an approved course on concussion management, and sets standards for the care of athletes who have suffered even minor brain trauma.
“There have been rule changes, [such as] not using your head to block or tackle,” Pizzarelli said. “Also, athletes are taken off the field if suspected of head trauma. I believe we are ahead of other areas in the country.”
The state requires athletes that have suffered head trauma to remain out of play for 24 hours. Dr. Smith said he requires his patients to be symptom-free for approximately one week before he clears them for return to sports.
“There is a rare and somewhat controversial entity of second-impact syndrome where the athlete has a concussion and then returns to play while still symptomatic, and sustains a second -- apparently minor -- head injury,” he said. “This leads to a cascade of events with swelling of the brain and sometimes catastrophic consequences, and even death.”
Moving forward, Dr. Smith offers proactive advice for high school football programs and the further recognition of concussions: “From a public health point of view, it’s important to recognize concussions -- in terms of the frequency -- so that the scope of the problem can be identified and also to enable further studies into the long term consequences,” he stated. “[But] athletes with recurrent concussions should seriously consider not participating in contact sports.”
A crushing helmet-to-helmet blow. A quick whipping of the head and neck caused by a jolting hit. A devastating face-plant into the sometimes-unforgiving turf. These are just a few of the ways high school football athletes can fall victim to head trauma and suffer a potentially harmful concussion.
With the fall high school sports season now underway on Long Island, it’s essential athletes are protected from the possibility of brain injury that sometimes accompanies head trauma. Unfortunately, concussions in high school football are sometimes all-too-common.
Concussions occur from a violent jarring or shaking that results in a disturbance of brain function, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Simply, the brain ricochets off the skull. While many concussions are considered minor traumatic brain injuries, its symptoms range from mild (confusion, headache, light-sensitivity) to severe (loss of consciousness, convulsions, coma). And maybe even death.
“In younger players who are not as muscular, the neck muscles supporting the head may not be as strong, which can worsen the effect of head injuries,” said top-rated Long Island pediatric neurologist Dr. Robin Smith. “The short-term consequences include post-concussion syndrome -- significant, persistent and often disabling headaches which can be difficult to treat. Other problems include difficulty with concentration, which impacts their academic performance and mood; sleep difficulties with anxiety and even depression. These can persist for weeks or even months.”
Dr. Smith, who works for NRAD Medical Associates in Woodbury and is affiliated with Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, said repeated concussions can have long-term consequences, including cognitive impairment. “There is evidence to indicate that even supposedly minor head injuries cause injury to the brain at a microscopic level -- interruption in normal metabolic processes and contusions (bruising) of the brain tissue,” he said.
Each year, emergency rooms across the country treat an estimated 173,285 sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, in people age 19 and younger, the Centers for Disease Control reports. Of those reported injuries, 55,007 are related to football.
While those at the helm of Long Island‘s football and athletic programs, recognize that concussions are an inevitable risk, preventative measures have been put in place.
“The safety of all our student-athletes is paramount,” said Tom Combs, Suffolk’s Section XI Football Chairperson. “Unfortunately, concussions are a part of all sports, including football. Through proper equipment, techniques and knowledge of what a concussion is, the players are as safe today as they have ever been.”
Patrick Pizzarelli, Nassau County’s Section VIII football coordinator, said though there’s been an increase in reported concussion injuries, he attributes it to a higher level of awareness and education among coaches and parents.
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s aggressive approach to increase concussion awareness started on July 1, 2012 when it initiated the Concussion Management and Awareness Act, requiring all public and charter schools to comply, beginning with the 2012-13 school year. The mandate requires coaches, physical education teachers, nurses and athletic trainers to complete an approved course on concussion management, and sets standards for the care of athletes who have suffered even minor brain trauma.
“There have been rule changes, [such as] not using your head to block or tackle,” Pizzarelli said. “Also, athletes are taken off the field if suspected of head trauma. I believe we are ahead of other areas in the country.”
The state requires athletes that have suffered head trauma to remain out of play for 24 hours. Dr. Smith said he requires his patients to be symptom-free for approximately one week before he clears them for return to sports.
“There is a rare and somewhat controversial entity of second-impact syndrome where the athlete has a concussion and then returns to play while still symptomatic, and sustains a second -- apparently minor -- head injury,” he said. “This leads to a cascade of events with swelling of the brain and sometimes catastrophic consequences, and even death.”
Moving forward, Dr. Smith offers proactive advice for high school football programs and the further recognition of concussions: “From a public health point of view, it’s important to recognize concussions -- in terms of the frequency -- so that the scope of the problem can be identified and also to enable further studies into the long term consequences,” he stated. “[But] athletes with recurrent concussions should seriously consider not participating in contact sports.”
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Brian Dessart answers your health and fitness questions
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/brian-dessart-answers-your-health-and-fitness-questions-1.6010167
Q: I have looked all over to find some kind of relief for muscle cramps in my legs. Since this has been happening, I have found how prevalent this is even in younger adults. I have been to doctors and an acupuncturist with no results. I started taking magnesium with the hope that it would help, but it didn‘t. Do you have any suggestions?
-Celia Sanchez, Lindenhurst, NY
A: Muscle cramps are very common among the general population and can affect athletes, those moderately active and the sedentary. These painful contractions, which are also referred to as a charley horse, can be caused by a nerve malfunction, dehydration, muscle overuse/strain, lack of blood flowing to the muscles or not getting enough electrolytes/minerals in your diet.
When the cramps occur there are several self-remedies you can take advantage of, such as gently massaging the cramped region, stretching, and applying ice to sore muscles and heat to tight muscles.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons makes specific recommendations in regard to stretching:
Calf Stretch: Lean forward against a wall with one leg in front of the other. Straighten your back leg and press your heel into the floor. Your front knee is bent. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.
Hamstring Stretch: Sit up tall with both legs extended straight in front of you. Your feet are neutral -- not pointed or flexed. Place your palms on the floor and slide your hands toward your ankles. Hold for 30 seconds.
Quadriceps Stretch: Hold on to a wall or the back of a chair for balance. Lift one foot and bring your heel up toward your buttocks. Grasp your ankle with your hand and pull your heel closer to your body. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.
Keep in mind -- you should never stretch to the point of pain, and each stretch should be preceded by a warm-up, such as lightly jogging in place or walking briskly.
If the muscle cramps are happening often or if there’s no obvious cause, you should see your doctor, as this could be a sign of an underlying medical condition and may require different treatment.
Q: Say you've had a long day at work and feel exhausted. But you've managed to make it to the gym. What strategies do you use to get yourself in the right mindset for a great workout? Is there a particular exercise or kind of exercise you choose? A warm-up? An energy drink? Back squatting a relatively heavy weight works for me, but I'm hoping for a secondary strategy.
-Newsday’s Adam Fusfeld, New York, NY
A: It's definitely difficult to get in the right mindset after an exhausting day of work, but I would recommend some type of light cardiovascular warm-up preceding your resistance workout. The bikes and elliptical gliders work very well and are relatively low impact on the joints. The warm-up doesn't have to be anything too aggressive -- its purpose is to increase blood flow throughout the body's muscles, which is normally achieved when you begin to reach a light sweat. But keep the resistance on the cardio machines low. Turn it up enough to add a light amount of tension, so you're doing the work and the machine isn't in motion by itself. You don't want to be exhausted, even further, after finishing your warm-up.
If you don't want to use cardio machines, another idea would be to do a round of body weight calisthenics -- jumping-jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, etc. Either way, make sure you bring your body to a light sweat before beginning your resistance workout.
You should warm-up before every resistance training workout. This will help to make your muscles more fluid and allow for less chance of injury. If you decide to stretch, do this after your warm-up and never before. Stretching cold can actually tear muscle fibers.
Stay away from energy drinks. They are loaded with sugars and caffeine-like ingredients, and can provide a large energy crash, as well. I'm not a fan of any type of unnecessary nutritional/dietary supplementation. Been there, tried that. I’ve even ended up in the hospital, from the ingestion of creatine monohydrate, which was considered a "safe" supplement.
Q: Is there a way to prevent RLS -- Restless Leg Syndrome?
-Lorraine McDonnell Dessart (AKA my mom), North Ft. Myers, Fla. (formerly of East Rockaway, NY)
A: To my wonderful mother: Even though you know my phone number very well, I will be more than happy to answer your question.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) defines RLS as a neurological disorder characterized by throbbing, pulling, creeping or other unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable, and sometimes overwhelming, urge to move them.
Symptoms occur primarily at night when a person is relaxing, or at rest, and can increase in severity during the night. Moving the legs relieves the discomfort. Often called paresthesias (abnormal sensations) or dysesthesias (unpleasant abnormal sensations), the sensations range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful. Restless Leg Syndrome affects as many as 10-percent of the U.S. population, according to the Institute.
According to NINDS, Restless Leg Syndrome is generally a lifelong condition, with no cure, and in most cases its cause is unknown. But there are lifestyle changes and activities that may help to reduce symptoms in those mildly to moderately affected by RLS.
NINDS recommends the following: decreased use of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco; correcting deficiencies in iron, folate and magnesium; changing or maintaining a regular sleep pattern; a program of moderate exercise; and massaging the legs, taking a hot bath, or using a heating pad or ice pack.
Note: A trial of iron supplements is recommended by NINDS, only for individuals with low iron levels. Although many people find some relief with such measures, rarely do these efforts completely eliminate symptoms. Medications are usually helpful but no single medication effectively manages RLS for all individuals.
Trials of different drugs may be necessary, and your doctor will help in prescribing common drugs used to treat RLS. In addition, medications taken regularly may lose their effect over time, making it necessary to change medications periodically.
Q: My 14-year-old son wants to weight train this summer, and he’s in puberty already. Will this affect his growth?
-Peter Cullen, Huntington, NY
A: If resistance training is done correctly, with good form and under proper supervision, your son shouldn’t have any problems. In fact, resistance training at an early age can help your child’s sports performance, increase his resistance to sports-related injuries and help in the development of motor skills.
There’s always been the worry of stunting growth if resistance training is started at an early age. While this is a reasonable concern, it’s not as common as many are led to believe. The National Strength and Conditioning Association notes that a growth plate fracture has not been reported in any youth resistance training study that adhered to established training guidelines.
Of course, you should consult with your family doctor before your son starts a training regimen. For further information on this topic, please refer to Newsday’s Daily Apple post: Is resistance training a safe option for children?
Q: I have looked all over to find some kind of relief for muscle cramps in my legs. Since this has been happening, I have found how prevalent this is even in younger adults. I have been to doctors and an acupuncturist with no results. I started taking magnesium with the hope that it would help, but it didn‘t. Do you have any suggestions?
-Celia Sanchez, Lindenhurst, NY
A: Muscle cramps are very common among the general population and can affect athletes, those moderately active and the sedentary. These painful contractions, which are also referred to as a charley horse, can be caused by a nerve malfunction, dehydration, muscle overuse/strain, lack of blood flowing to the muscles or not getting enough electrolytes/minerals in your diet.
When the cramps occur there are several self-remedies you can take advantage of, such as gently massaging the cramped region, stretching, and applying ice to sore muscles and heat to tight muscles.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons makes specific recommendations in regard to stretching:
Calf Stretch: Lean forward against a wall with one leg in front of the other. Straighten your back leg and press your heel into the floor. Your front knee is bent. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds.
Hamstring Stretch: Sit up tall with both legs extended straight in front of you. Your feet are neutral -- not pointed or flexed. Place your palms on the floor and slide your hands toward your ankles. Hold for 30 seconds.
Quadriceps Stretch: Hold on to a wall or the back of a chair for balance. Lift one foot and bring your heel up toward your buttocks. Grasp your ankle with your hand and pull your heel closer to your body. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.
Keep in mind -- you should never stretch to the point of pain, and each stretch should be preceded by a warm-up, such as lightly jogging in place or walking briskly.
If the muscle cramps are happening often or if there’s no obvious cause, you should see your doctor, as this could be a sign of an underlying medical condition and may require different treatment.
Q: Say you've had a long day at work and feel exhausted. But you've managed to make it to the gym. What strategies do you use to get yourself in the right mindset for a great workout? Is there a particular exercise or kind of exercise you choose? A warm-up? An energy drink? Back squatting a relatively heavy weight works for me, but I'm hoping for a secondary strategy.
-Newsday’s Adam Fusfeld, New York, NY
A: It's definitely difficult to get in the right mindset after an exhausting day of work, but I would recommend some type of light cardiovascular warm-up preceding your resistance workout. The bikes and elliptical gliders work very well and are relatively low impact on the joints. The warm-up doesn't have to be anything too aggressive -- its purpose is to increase blood flow throughout the body's muscles, which is normally achieved when you begin to reach a light sweat. But keep the resistance on the cardio machines low. Turn it up enough to add a light amount of tension, so you're doing the work and the machine isn't in motion by itself. You don't want to be exhausted, even further, after finishing your warm-up.
If you don't want to use cardio machines, another idea would be to do a round of body weight calisthenics -- jumping-jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, etc. Either way, make sure you bring your body to a light sweat before beginning your resistance workout.
You should warm-up before every resistance training workout. This will help to make your muscles more fluid and allow for less chance of injury. If you decide to stretch, do this after your warm-up and never before. Stretching cold can actually tear muscle fibers.
Stay away from energy drinks. They are loaded with sugars and caffeine-like ingredients, and can provide a large energy crash, as well. I'm not a fan of any type of unnecessary nutritional/dietary supplementation. Been there, tried that. I’ve even ended up in the hospital, from the ingestion of creatine monohydrate, which was considered a "safe" supplement.
Q: Is there a way to prevent RLS -- Restless Leg Syndrome?
-Lorraine McDonnell Dessart (AKA my mom), North Ft. Myers, Fla. (formerly of East Rockaway, NY)
A: To my wonderful mother: Even though you know my phone number very well, I will be more than happy to answer your question.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) defines RLS as a neurological disorder characterized by throbbing, pulling, creeping or other unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable, and sometimes overwhelming, urge to move them.
Symptoms occur primarily at night when a person is relaxing, or at rest, and can increase in severity during the night. Moving the legs relieves the discomfort. Often called paresthesias (abnormal sensations) or dysesthesias (unpleasant abnormal sensations), the sensations range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful. Restless Leg Syndrome affects as many as 10-percent of the U.S. population, according to the Institute.
According to NINDS, Restless Leg Syndrome is generally a lifelong condition, with no cure, and in most cases its cause is unknown. But there are lifestyle changes and activities that may help to reduce symptoms in those mildly to moderately affected by RLS.
NINDS recommends the following: decreased use of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco; correcting deficiencies in iron, folate and magnesium; changing or maintaining a regular sleep pattern; a program of moderate exercise; and massaging the legs, taking a hot bath, or using a heating pad or ice pack.
Note: A trial of iron supplements is recommended by NINDS, only for individuals with low iron levels. Although many people find some relief with such measures, rarely do these efforts completely eliminate symptoms. Medications are usually helpful but no single medication effectively manages RLS for all individuals.
Trials of different drugs may be necessary, and your doctor will help in prescribing common drugs used to treat RLS. In addition, medications taken regularly may lose their effect over time, making it necessary to change medications periodically.
Q: My 14-year-old son wants to weight train this summer, and he’s in puberty already. Will this affect his growth?
-Peter Cullen, Huntington, NY
A: If resistance training is done correctly, with good form and under proper supervision, your son shouldn’t have any problems. In fact, resistance training at an early age can help your child’s sports performance, increase his resistance to sports-related injuries and help in the development of motor skills.
There’s always been the worry of stunting growth if resistance training is started at an early age. While this is a reasonable concern, it’s not as common as many are led to believe. The National Strength and Conditioning Association notes that a growth plate fracture has not been reported in any youth resistance training study that adhered to established training guidelines.
Of course, you should consult with your family doctor before your son starts a training regimen. For further information on this topic, please refer to Newsday’s Daily Apple post: Is resistance training a safe option for children?
Monday, August 19, 2013
Ironman lessons learned from the sidelines
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/ironman-lessons-learned-from-the-sidelines-1.5917664
A 2.4-mile swim. Followed by a 112-mile bike. Concluded with a 26.2-mile marathon. I call this 140.6 miles of hell. For others, it’s a slice of heaven.
The Ironman triathlon series brings together some of the toughest and most motivated athletes this universe has to offer. The intensity of the trio of events, all done in succession, makes this competition arguably the toughest single-day sporting event on the planet.
Each Ironman race -- hosted domestically and abroad -- is considered a qualifier for the world championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii each October. Competitors have the option of qualifying in the full Ironman distance of 140.6 miles or half Ironman, 70.3 miles.
The Ironman molds itself deep within my persona. No, I’ve never competed, nor have I ever wanted to. I would die. But my brother, Kevin, is a different kind of animal. The kid’s a freak. A stud. More of one than I’ll ever be or ever desire to be.
On May 18, Kevin, 45, qualified for the world championship, again, after finishing first in his age-group, 32nd overall, at Ironman Texas. He crushed the course. “The run was brutal, but I was able to salvage it,” Kevin said, in reference to the intense heat. “I trained to run a sub 3:15 marathon, but I knew during the first 10 steps that my plan had to change. It changed very quickly.” He still finished with the fastest marathon in his age-group.
As if the competition’s bodily abuse isn’t enough, even getting to Texas to compete can be a stressful experience. Kevin paid a hefty $100 to check-in his need-a-second-mortgage racing bike, which ended up on a different flight.
But I’m allowed bragging rights, too. After all, Kevin’s my brother, and I’ve watched him grow into a helluva competitor. With his stellar finish at Ironman Texas, Oct. 12 will be his eighth time competing in the Ironman World Championship. Kevin’s completed 13 full-distance Ironman races, and 20-plus halfers. In 2006, he set the course record for his age-group at Ironman Arizona. That, alone, is nuts.
Interestingly enough, many years ago, Kevin got his initial triathlon itch from New York Islanders-great and friend, Bobby Nystrom. Kevin, who worked in the National Hockey League for more than a decade, with the Islanders, Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils, competed in his first triathlon in a duo with Nystrom. And Kevin hasn’t stopped since.
Long Island born and raised, my big bro is now the director of Coaching Education and Athlete Development for USA Cycling in Colorado Springs, Colo., and co-owner, with his wife Tina, of Colorado Springs Swim School/Swim Colorado Inc. In fact, through Kevin’s athletic successes, he’s been able to interact with some of the most respectable athletes sports has to offer. Sure, there’s Nystrom and Kevin’s buddy Mark Deleon from New Jersey, who helped teach him the skills needed to qualify for Ironman, but the one who’s strongly ingrained in my memory is Sheila Isaacs, of Shoreham.
In 2004, the then-67-year-old grandmother completed the Ironman World Championship with a little more than five minutes left before the race’s 17-hour midnight cutoff. With the completion of that race, she finished her 100th triathlon and became the first known person to finish a triathlon in all 50 states. I was there to witness that milestone.
As Oct. 12 approaches, I’ll be looking forward to traveling back to Hawaii to support my brother. There’s a certain indescribable energy that fills the Kailua-Kona community around that time of year. It’s an electricity that only the Ironman World Championship can generate.
I’ll bring the Mai Tais.
Po'okela. Hana Hou.
A 2.4-mile swim. Followed by a 112-mile bike. Concluded with a 26.2-mile marathon. I call this 140.6 miles of hell. For others, it’s a slice of heaven.
The Ironman triathlon series brings together some of the toughest and most motivated athletes this universe has to offer. The intensity of the trio of events, all done in succession, makes this competition arguably the toughest single-day sporting event on the planet.
Each Ironman race -- hosted domestically and abroad -- is considered a qualifier for the world championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii each October. Competitors have the option of qualifying in the full Ironman distance of 140.6 miles or half Ironman, 70.3 miles.
The Ironman molds itself deep within my persona. No, I’ve never competed, nor have I ever wanted to. I would die. But my brother, Kevin, is a different kind of animal. The kid’s a freak. A stud. More of one than I’ll ever be or ever desire to be.
On May 18, Kevin, 45, qualified for the world championship, again, after finishing first in his age-group, 32nd overall, at Ironman Texas. He crushed the course. “The run was brutal, but I was able to salvage it,” Kevin said, in reference to the intense heat. “I trained to run a sub 3:15 marathon, but I knew during the first 10 steps that my plan had to change. It changed very quickly.” He still finished with the fastest marathon in his age-group.
As if the competition’s bodily abuse isn’t enough, even getting to Texas to compete can be a stressful experience. Kevin paid a hefty $100 to check-in his need-a-second-mortgage racing bike, which ended up on a different flight.
But I’m allowed bragging rights, too. After all, Kevin’s my brother, and I’ve watched him grow into a helluva competitor. With his stellar finish at Ironman Texas, Oct. 12 will be his eighth time competing in the Ironman World Championship. Kevin’s completed 13 full-distance Ironman races, and 20-plus halfers. In 2006, he set the course record for his age-group at Ironman Arizona. That, alone, is nuts.
Interestingly enough, many years ago, Kevin got his initial triathlon itch from New York Islanders-great and friend, Bobby Nystrom. Kevin, who worked in the National Hockey League for more than a decade, with the Islanders, Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils, competed in his first triathlon in a duo with Nystrom. And Kevin hasn’t stopped since.
Long Island born and raised, my big bro is now the director of Coaching Education and Athlete Development for USA Cycling in Colorado Springs, Colo., and co-owner, with his wife Tina, of Colorado Springs Swim School/Swim Colorado Inc. In fact, through Kevin’s athletic successes, he’s been able to interact with some of the most respectable athletes sports has to offer. Sure, there’s Nystrom and Kevin’s buddy Mark Deleon from New Jersey, who helped teach him the skills needed to qualify for Ironman, but the one who’s strongly ingrained in my memory is Sheila Isaacs, of Shoreham.
In 2004, the then-67-year-old grandmother completed the Ironman World Championship with a little more than five minutes left before the race’s 17-hour midnight cutoff. With the completion of that race, she finished her 100th triathlon and became the first known person to finish a triathlon in all 50 states. I was there to witness that milestone.
As Oct. 12 approaches, I’ll be looking forward to traveling back to Hawaii to support my brother. There’s a certain indescribable energy that fills the Kailua-Kona community around that time of year. It’s an electricity that only the Ironman World Championship can generate.
I’ll bring the Mai Tais.
Po'okela. Hana Hou.
Monday, July 29, 2013
FDNY calendar 'hero' and fitness writer, Brian Dessart tells all
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/fdny-calendar-hero-and-fitness-writer-brian-dessart-tells-all-1.5788394
OK, my secret is out. I really didn’t try and hide it, I just kept talking about it to a minimum.
Recently, I was selected to appear as Mr. August in the FDNY’s 2014 Calendar of Heroes, which was released to the public on July 22. No doubt, this is slightly awkward to write about, but kind of cool in its own weird sense.
I’ve repeatedly been asked one question since the calendar’s release: “What type of training does it take to prepare?”
Basically, it takes dedication, jelled with a dose of discipline. Since 18 years old -- I’m 34 now -- I’ve always been a gym rat and followed a strict workout regimen. But as with anything else, doing something over-and-over can -- and will -- lead to staleness.
So, since February 2012, I have paired up with my younger quasi-bro, Seany Bohan, who shares a similar heart for strength and conditioning. Simply, we were both able to motivate each other and break through stagnancy and plateaus by constantly switching our workout programs, either by the type of training method (blitz/pyramid/split-routine) or tinkering with our sets and repetitions every couple of months. And it worked. We would train four to five days each week, leaving two to three random days for recovery.
As for cardio, I’ve always been a bit of a freak in this area, so it was never an issue. We preceded every workout with a cardio session -- some brief, some more lengthy, but I never made cardio my focus.
Ironic as it sounds, an average one-mile run burns a little over 100 calories. Sorry for the letdown. More importantly, being in good cardio condition -- besides the cardiac benefits -- helps to raise your resting metabolic rate, which is the ability to burn calories while the body’s at rest.
Nutrition was probably the difficult thing to stick with. Working in a firehouse, food is readily available. And this guy loves to eat. Constantly. Our meal portions are hearty and generous, and not always the lowest in calories. But I still chose to clear my plate, no matter what was put in front of me.
When it comes to food, I have very little self-control at work, no matter how hard I try. But my most intense focus were meals during my time off -- keeping my overall fat content under control and my saturated fats close to zero. I’m a big nutritional label reader. That’s what happens growing up in a household with a mother who was always into cooking heart-healthy meals. Thanks, Mom.
Supplements? Nope, not one. And no performance-enhancing drugs either. Several years ago, the ingestion of a relatively safe legal dietary supplement -- in its pure form -- put my body into metabolic shock and landed me in the emergency room. My potassium, which helps controls heart function, was dangerously low. The following months of doctors’ visits and testing were awful. Never again.
I recently reached out to my calendar colleagues to get a look inside their training techniques. A handful of their responses were interesting. Mr. May, Al Coombs, implemented kickboxing and various leg-lift exercises to help achieve core body definition, while Mr. January, Recordo Demetrius, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, enjoyed utilizing outdoor strength training by flipping truck tires, pounding sledgehammers and rolling logs. Mr. April, Ralph Ciccarelli, and Mr. March, Robert Morgan, are both personal trainers. Ciccarelli trained in a circuit format to keep his heart rate constantly elevated, while Morgan drank distilled water to help flush excess sodium from his body. Lastly, Mr. September, Noel Reyes, trained on replicated obstacle courses, in preparation for his appearances on "American Ninja Warrior."
But most importantly, no matter how hard we trained or what we looked like, the calendar proceeds benefit the FDNY Foundation, which is the “official not-for-profit [arm] of the FDNY established to promote fire safety in New York City and the professional development, training and education of members of the FDNY,” according to the foundation’s website. The 2013 calendar raised almost $200,000.
Check out the FDNY Foundation and see what they stand for. They’re a phenomenal organization, doing great things for the FDNY, its members and families.
Cheers.
The 2014 FDNY Calendar of Heroes:
Cover: Firefighter Jose Cordero, Engine 257, Brooklyn
January: Firefighter Recordo Demetrius, Engine 304, Queens
February: Firefighter Shane Clarke, Engine 9, Manhattan
March: Firefighter Robert Morgan, Engine 325, Queens
April: Firefighter Ralph Ciccarelli, Ladder 135, Queens
May: Firefighter Al Coombs, Engine 224, Brooklyn
June: Lt. Brian Garguilo, Ladder 76, Staten Island
July: Firefighter Anthony Picozzi, Ladder 84, Staten Island
August: Firefighter Brian Dessart, Ladder 121, Queens
September: Firefighter Noel Reyes, Ladder 128, Queens
October: Firefighter Rob Derrig, Ladder 133, Queens
November: Firefighter Anthony Holz, Engine 5, Manhattan
December: FF Joe Guarneri, Ladder 79, Staten Island
OK, my secret is out. I really didn’t try and hide it, I just kept talking about it to a minimum.
Recently, I was selected to appear as Mr. August in the FDNY’s 2014 Calendar of Heroes, which was released to the public on July 22. No doubt, this is slightly awkward to write about, but kind of cool in its own weird sense.
I’ve repeatedly been asked one question since the calendar’s release: “What type of training does it take to prepare?”
Basically, it takes dedication, jelled with a dose of discipline. Since 18 years old -- I’m 34 now -- I’ve always been a gym rat and followed a strict workout regimen. But as with anything else, doing something over-and-over can -- and will -- lead to staleness.
So, since February 2012, I have paired up with my younger quasi-bro, Seany Bohan, who shares a similar heart for strength and conditioning. Simply, we were both able to motivate each other and break through stagnancy and plateaus by constantly switching our workout programs, either by the type of training method (blitz/pyramid/split-routine) or tinkering with our sets and repetitions every couple of months. And it worked. We would train four to five days each week, leaving two to three random days for recovery.
As for cardio, I’ve always been a bit of a freak in this area, so it was never an issue. We preceded every workout with a cardio session -- some brief, some more lengthy, but I never made cardio my focus.
Ironic as it sounds, an average one-mile run burns a little over 100 calories. Sorry for the letdown. More importantly, being in good cardio condition -- besides the cardiac benefits -- helps to raise your resting metabolic rate, which is the ability to burn calories while the body’s at rest.
Nutrition was probably the difficult thing to stick with. Working in a firehouse, food is readily available. And this guy loves to eat. Constantly. Our meal portions are hearty and generous, and not always the lowest in calories. But I still chose to clear my plate, no matter what was put in front of me.
When it comes to food, I have very little self-control at work, no matter how hard I try. But my most intense focus were meals during my time off -- keeping my overall fat content under control and my saturated fats close to zero. I’m a big nutritional label reader. That’s what happens growing up in a household with a mother who was always into cooking heart-healthy meals. Thanks, Mom.
Supplements? Nope, not one. And no performance-enhancing drugs either. Several years ago, the ingestion of a relatively safe legal dietary supplement -- in its pure form -- put my body into metabolic shock and landed me in the emergency room. My potassium, which helps controls heart function, was dangerously low. The following months of doctors’ visits and testing were awful. Never again.
I recently reached out to my calendar colleagues to get a look inside their training techniques. A handful of their responses were interesting. Mr. May, Al Coombs, implemented kickboxing and various leg-lift exercises to help achieve core body definition, while Mr. January, Recordo Demetrius, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, enjoyed utilizing outdoor strength training by flipping truck tires, pounding sledgehammers and rolling logs. Mr. April, Ralph Ciccarelli, and Mr. March, Robert Morgan, are both personal trainers. Ciccarelli trained in a circuit format to keep his heart rate constantly elevated, while Morgan drank distilled water to help flush excess sodium from his body. Lastly, Mr. September, Noel Reyes, trained on replicated obstacle courses, in preparation for his appearances on "American Ninja Warrior."
But most importantly, no matter how hard we trained or what we looked like, the calendar proceeds benefit the FDNY Foundation, which is the “official not-for-profit [arm] of the FDNY established to promote fire safety in New York City and the professional development, training and education of members of the FDNY,” according to the foundation’s website. The 2013 calendar raised almost $200,000.
Check out the FDNY Foundation and see what they stand for. They’re a phenomenal organization, doing great things for the FDNY, its members and families.
Cheers.
The 2014 FDNY Calendar of Heroes:
Cover: Firefighter Jose Cordero, Engine 257, Brooklyn
January: Firefighter Recordo Demetrius, Engine 304, Queens
February: Firefighter Shane Clarke, Engine 9, Manhattan
March: Firefighter Robert Morgan, Engine 325, Queens
April: Firefighter Ralph Ciccarelli, Ladder 135, Queens
May: Firefighter Al Coombs, Engine 224, Brooklyn
June: Lt. Brian Garguilo, Ladder 76, Staten Island
July: Firefighter Anthony Picozzi, Ladder 84, Staten Island
August: Firefighter Brian Dessart, Ladder 121, Queens
September: Firefighter Noel Reyes, Ladder 128, Queens
October: Firefighter Rob Derrig, Ladder 133, Queens
November: Firefighter Anthony Holz, Engine 5, Manhattan
December: FF Joe Guarneri, Ladder 79, Staten Island
Thursday, July 18, 2013
LI beach provides surfing opportunity to quadriplegic athletes
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/li-beach-provides-surfing-opportunity-to-quadriplegic-athletes-1.5718457
Ten athletes who have suffered spinal cord injuries will enjoy a day of surfing Friday, thanks to a national nonprofit agency dedicated to rehabilitating such injuries.
Empower SCI, founded in 2010, directs an annual two-week residential rehabilitation program, which this year began on July 14 at Stony Brook University.
During the span of the program, 10 athletes participate in adaptive surfing, kayaking, cycling and dance, aquatic and rhythm therapy, a quad rugby demo game with Jarrett Dreyer and the New York Warriors, yoga and other sports chair demos. In addition, the athletes receive therapy with physical therapists, occupational therapists and a rehabilitation counselor.
This week, through the use of surfboards and in connection with the Testaverde Fund for Spinal Cord Injury, program participants will have the opportunity to leave their wheelchairs on the shore and catch some waves at LI’s Long Beach.
According to Anthony Testaverde, president of the Testaverde Fund, the surfing event was organized under the motivation of his son Joe, a LI teen and surfing enthusiast, who was left paralyzed in his hands and legs after a swimming pool diving accident on July 4, 2000.
Jennifer McCallson, 33, an Empower peer mentor and quadriplegic, was paralyzed after a gymnastics accident shattered her first and fifth vertebrae at age 20. She said the surfing event will be a thrill for the program participants and that being set loose in the ocean is a special experience.
“The thought of being in the mighty ocean, independent of my wheelchair, feeling my freed body get splashed by the waves, getting saltwater up my nose and stinging my eyes, forms a lump in my throat and brings tears to my eyes,” McCallson said, speaking about the experience.
President and co-founder of Empower SCI, Carrie Callahan, said another benefit of surfing is just breaking the conception that it is impossible.
“It is addictive to help others accomplish things they never dreamed they could accomplish,” she said. “Surfing is just one [of those things] that once you break your neck, you think, ‘I could never do that again.’ And then comes Empower SCI to prove you wrong.”
Callahan said an entirely volunteer staff, which sacrifices their vacation days in order to make the program run successfully, supports the Empower SCI curriculum.
“If you are a part of it, you understand that the pay might not be in cash, but it’s lasting and can be life changing,” Callahan said. “Empower SCI is about the power of thought, the power of motivation and the power that one person -- and a group of people -- can bring to each other. And it’s not just the participants that win in this program -- our volunteers leave the program reinvigorated, with a new passion in life.”
And what was Callahan‘s spark to starting this special program? Simple: To provide a life-altering experience, one athlete at a time.
“When someone is trying to cope with a drastic injury like an injury to the spinal cord, they aren't focused on how to live their life well,” Callahan continued, “They are focused on survival. And this is the time that we, as a society, provide them with their most intensive rehabilitation. Empower SCI is the return to recreation, return to happiness, return to life.”
The adaptive surfing event will be held Friday, July 19 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Lido West Beach, off Lido Blvd., one block west of Marvel Dairy Whip. For more information click here.
Ten athletes who have suffered spinal cord injuries will enjoy a day of surfing Friday, thanks to a national nonprofit agency dedicated to rehabilitating such injuries.
Empower SCI, founded in 2010, directs an annual two-week residential rehabilitation program, which this year began on July 14 at Stony Brook University.
During the span of the program, 10 athletes participate in adaptive surfing, kayaking, cycling and dance, aquatic and rhythm therapy, a quad rugby demo game with Jarrett Dreyer and the New York Warriors, yoga and other sports chair demos. In addition, the athletes receive therapy with physical therapists, occupational therapists and a rehabilitation counselor.
This week, through the use of surfboards and in connection with the Testaverde Fund for Spinal Cord Injury, program participants will have the opportunity to leave their wheelchairs on the shore and catch some waves at LI’s Long Beach.
According to Anthony Testaverde, president of the Testaverde Fund, the surfing event was organized under the motivation of his son Joe, a LI teen and surfing enthusiast, who was left paralyzed in his hands and legs after a swimming pool diving accident on July 4, 2000.
Jennifer McCallson, 33, an Empower peer mentor and quadriplegic, was paralyzed after a gymnastics accident shattered her first and fifth vertebrae at age 20. She said the surfing event will be a thrill for the program participants and that being set loose in the ocean is a special experience.
“The thought of being in the mighty ocean, independent of my wheelchair, feeling my freed body get splashed by the waves, getting saltwater up my nose and stinging my eyes, forms a lump in my throat and brings tears to my eyes,” McCallson said, speaking about the experience.
President and co-founder of Empower SCI, Carrie Callahan, said another benefit of surfing is just breaking the conception that it is impossible.
“It is addictive to help others accomplish things they never dreamed they could accomplish,” she said. “Surfing is just one [of those things] that once you break your neck, you think, ‘I could never do that again.’ And then comes Empower SCI to prove you wrong.”
Callahan said an entirely volunteer staff, which sacrifices their vacation days in order to make the program run successfully, supports the Empower SCI curriculum.
“If you are a part of it, you understand that the pay might not be in cash, but it’s lasting and can be life changing,” Callahan said. “Empower SCI is about the power of thought, the power of motivation and the power that one person -- and a group of people -- can bring to each other. And it’s not just the participants that win in this program -- our volunteers leave the program reinvigorated, with a new passion in life.”
And what was Callahan‘s spark to starting this special program? Simple: To provide a life-altering experience, one athlete at a time.
“When someone is trying to cope with a drastic injury like an injury to the spinal cord, they aren't focused on how to live their life well,” Callahan continued, “They are focused on survival. And this is the time that we, as a society, provide them with their most intensive rehabilitation. Empower SCI is the return to recreation, return to happiness, return to life.”
The adaptive surfing event will be held Friday, July 19 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Lido West Beach, off Lido Blvd., one block west of Marvel Dairy Whip. For more information click here.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Summer nutrition: Getting that 'beach body'
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/summer-nutrition-getting-that-beach-body-1.5660382
With summer finally upon us, many fitness fanatics are packing the health clubs in a last-ditch effort to sculpt their figures -- the infamous beach-body mantra. Many of these people are targeting weight loss in a specific area of the body and practice what’s called spot reduction -- the false belief that training a certain area of the body will result in weight loss in that area.
The truth is that weight loss is an overall depletion of body fat and cannot be achieved in just one specific area. In other words, an excessive sit-up program might give you stellar six-pack abs, but they could still be hidden beneath an undesirable layer of fat, invisible until appropriate weight loss is achieved. The same holds true with a perceived spot reduction in the waistline and gluteus.
To achieve your beach-body goals, a good exercise program should be coupled with a good diet.
“Healthy eating means getting a variety of foods in moderation and not overindulging in what should be special, occasional treats,” said Dr. Rachel Johnson, American Heart Association (AHA) national spokesman and Professor of Nutrition at The University of Vermont. “Many people eat unconsciously and this often leads to weight gain.”
We also reached out to Biochemist and Certified Nutritionist Dr. Yu-Shiaw Chen, of Long Island Nutrition and author of Healthy Eating Wholesome Living, for some simple tips to summer nutrition.
Go for rainbow color nutrition. “It’s easy to tell nutrition by the color of fruits and vegetables,” Chen said. “Research has found a correlation between the chemicals in colorful foods and decreased risks of certain diseases. Examples of rainbow color nutrition are red peppers, orange color carrots, yellow squash, green broccoli and white cauliflower.”
Get plenty of antioxidants in fresh produce. “Antioxidants are health-promoting compounds in plants that help fight against free radical damage,” she explained. “The more antioxidants you ingest, the better protection you gain toward your immune system. Examples of antioxidants include lycopene in tomatoes and anthocyanin in blueberries.”
Take advantage of summer seasonal fruits. “Summer brings us terrific fruits such as watermelon, strawberries, peaches, pineapples, nectarines, cherries, mangoes, papayas, grapes and bananas,” Chen stated. “Fruits are best consumed in their own season when they are fully ripen and nutrients are at their peak.”
Watch out for high calorie food, such as deep fried food. “High calorie food takes a lot of energy to digest,” she said. “It is a good idea to reduce their consumption or avoid [them altogether].”
With the beach season now upon us, an adequate and healthy diet, combined with a quality structured exercise program, will help mold those looking to sculpt their bodies for a Long Island summer.
With summer finally upon us, many fitness fanatics are packing the health clubs in a last-ditch effort to sculpt their figures -- the infamous beach-body mantra. Many of these people are targeting weight loss in a specific area of the body and practice what’s called spot reduction -- the false belief that training a certain area of the body will result in weight loss in that area.
The truth is that weight loss is an overall depletion of body fat and cannot be achieved in just one specific area. In other words, an excessive sit-up program might give you stellar six-pack abs, but they could still be hidden beneath an undesirable layer of fat, invisible until appropriate weight loss is achieved. The same holds true with a perceived spot reduction in the waistline and gluteus.
To achieve your beach-body goals, a good exercise program should be coupled with a good diet.
“Healthy eating means getting a variety of foods in moderation and not overindulging in what should be special, occasional treats,” said Dr. Rachel Johnson, American Heart Association (AHA) national spokesman and Professor of Nutrition at The University of Vermont. “Many people eat unconsciously and this often leads to weight gain.”
We also reached out to Biochemist and Certified Nutritionist Dr. Yu-Shiaw Chen, of Long Island Nutrition and author of Healthy Eating Wholesome Living, for some simple tips to summer nutrition.
Go for rainbow color nutrition. “It’s easy to tell nutrition by the color of fruits and vegetables,” Chen said. “Research has found a correlation between the chemicals in colorful foods and decreased risks of certain diseases. Examples of rainbow color nutrition are red peppers, orange color carrots, yellow squash, green broccoli and white cauliflower.”
Get plenty of antioxidants in fresh produce. “Antioxidants are health-promoting compounds in plants that help fight against free radical damage,” she explained. “The more antioxidants you ingest, the better protection you gain toward your immune system. Examples of antioxidants include lycopene in tomatoes and anthocyanin in blueberries.”
Take advantage of summer seasonal fruits. “Summer brings us terrific fruits such as watermelon, strawberries, peaches, pineapples, nectarines, cherries, mangoes, papayas, grapes and bananas,” Chen stated. “Fruits are best consumed in their own season when they are fully ripen and nutrients are at their peak.”
Watch out for high calorie food, such as deep fried food. “High calorie food takes a lot of energy to digest,” she said. “It is a good idea to reduce their consumption or avoid [them altogether].”
With the beach season now upon us, an adequate and healthy diet, combined with a quality structured exercise program, will help mold those looking to sculpt their bodies for a Long Island summer.
Friday, June 21, 2013
The truth about health supplements
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/the-truth-about-health-supplements-1.5538911
Lining drugstore shelves across the country, nutritional and dietary supplements can be found in any number of varieties. Boasting promises of slimmer waistlines, bulked-up muscle mass and increased performance, these products are both widely used and largely unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Recently, both NBC News and USA Today published reports with disturbing facts about the dietary supplement industry, including the news that items currently on the shelves — diet supplements Fat Zero, Fruit & Plant Slimming and Extreme Body Slim — contain sibutramine, a prescription diet drug that was previously yanked from the U.S. market in 2010 because of its potential to damage the heart.
How did that fact go unnoticed? Well, it’s because the legislation surrounding the dietary supplement industry is outdated and misguided.
Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (that’s nearly 20 years ago), supplements are defined as a food and not a drug, which restricts the FDA in the testing and regulation of nutritional and dietary supplements. Basically, the products do not need to be preapproved by the FDA prior to hitting the shelves.
Dr. Amy Eichner, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s Special Advisor on Drugs and Supplements, said that should be a red flag for consumers.
“Because of the way they are regulated, there is no FDA oversight or quality control prior to supplement products reaching the shelves,” she said. “Although adverse events are grossly underreported, there are reports of very serious adverse events — and deaths — from the use of supplements in the performance, weight loss, sexual enhancement and body building categories.”
Eichner added that it is “impossible” for consumers to be sure of a supplement’s safety and that “hundreds, if not thousands of sport supplements … are contaminated or spiked with synthetic steroids, stimulants and experimental chemicals that have no place in food.”
In an interview with USA Today on Tuesday, Dr. Paul Offit, chief of the division of infectious diseases at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and author of the book, “Do You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine,” touched on more of the gray matter surrounding the multibillion dollar dietary supplements industry — its politics. He said it uses “lawsuits, lobbyists and legislation to protect their market.”
What does he mean by that?
This could be a part of it: According to the Center for Responsive Politics, since 1990, federal candidates and political parties have received more than $11 million in contributions from the manufacturers of nutritional and dietary supplements and those directly linked to the industry.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who drafted the 1994 legislation, has received more than $355,000, of which $85,200 was received during the 1994 election cycle.
Eichner said at the time of the legislation, there were only a “handful” of vitamins and traditional medicines on the market. But since then, the industry has surged.
“Now supplements are a 60 billion dollar industry. DSHEA is woefully inadequate to deal with the types of products currently on the market,” she said.
Rather than reaching for pills or powders to help achieve your desired results, Eichner recommends that athletes just stick to a proper diet and exercise.
“There is no magic pill, powder or liquid to help you reach your goals,” she said.
Lining drugstore shelves across the country, nutritional and dietary supplements can be found in any number of varieties. Boasting promises of slimmer waistlines, bulked-up muscle mass and increased performance, these products are both widely used and largely unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Recently, both NBC News and USA Today published reports with disturbing facts about the dietary supplement industry, including the news that items currently on the shelves — diet supplements Fat Zero, Fruit & Plant Slimming and Extreme Body Slim — contain sibutramine, a prescription diet drug that was previously yanked from the U.S. market in 2010 because of its potential to damage the heart.
How did that fact go unnoticed? Well, it’s because the legislation surrounding the dietary supplement industry is outdated and misguided.
Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (that’s nearly 20 years ago), supplements are defined as a food and not a drug, which restricts the FDA in the testing and regulation of nutritional and dietary supplements. Basically, the products do not need to be preapproved by the FDA prior to hitting the shelves.
Dr. Amy Eichner, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s Special Advisor on Drugs and Supplements, said that should be a red flag for consumers.
“Because of the way they are regulated, there is no FDA oversight or quality control prior to supplement products reaching the shelves,” she said. “Although adverse events are grossly underreported, there are reports of very serious adverse events — and deaths — from the use of supplements in the performance, weight loss, sexual enhancement and body building categories.”
Eichner added that it is “impossible” for consumers to be sure of a supplement’s safety and that “hundreds, if not thousands of sport supplements … are contaminated or spiked with synthetic steroids, stimulants and experimental chemicals that have no place in food.”
In an interview with USA Today on Tuesday, Dr. Paul Offit, chief of the division of infectious diseases at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and author of the book, “Do You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine,” touched on more of the gray matter surrounding the multibillion dollar dietary supplements industry — its politics. He said it uses “lawsuits, lobbyists and legislation to protect their market.”
What does he mean by that?
This could be a part of it: According to the Center for Responsive Politics, since 1990, federal candidates and political parties have received more than $11 million in contributions from the manufacturers of nutritional and dietary supplements and those directly linked to the industry.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who drafted the 1994 legislation, has received more than $355,000, of which $85,200 was received during the 1994 election cycle.
Eichner said at the time of the legislation, there were only a “handful” of vitamins and traditional medicines on the market. But since then, the industry has surged.
“Now supplements are a 60 billion dollar industry. DSHEA is woefully inadequate to deal with the types of products currently on the market,” she said.
Rather than reaching for pills or powders to help achieve your desired results, Eichner recommends that athletes just stick to a proper diet and exercise.
“There is no magic pill, powder or liquid to help you reach your goals,” she said.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Long Island fitness buffs embrace pyramid training
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/long-island-fitness-buffs-embrace-pyramid-training-1.5045404
To most of the world, pyramids are synonymous with ancient Egypt, but to fitness buffs it’s the favored form of resistance training.
The name may be foreign to some, but pyramid training has struck the fitness scene as the most popular method of resistance training. Unlike those training methods that cause a muscle to fail in a single set, pyramids spark the same reaction over the course of multiple sets.
Ascending pyramids are generally the easiest to perform. The initial set is started with the weight low and repetitions high. With each set, the weight is increased, while a normal body-fatigue-reaction causes a decrease in repetitions.
Descending pyramids are the complete opposite of ascending: the weight is started high and repetitions low. As the weight is decreased on each set, the amount of repetitions is naturally increased.
And then there are the ever-grueling complete triangle pyramids. This combination of ascending and descending pyramid training starts off with the weight low and repetitions high, as if an ascending pyramid is being performed. Once a peak is reached and only a couple repetitions can be done, the body’s energy is exhausted through a complete descending pyramid.
As a general rule, ascending, descending and complete triangle pyramids are most effective when done two to three times per week, involving multiple body parts and three to five sets per exercise. But complete triangles can climb as high as 10 sets per exercise. All repetitions should be done slow and controlled, while practicing quality form.
As with any type of resistance training, the main objective of pyramids is to bring the body to muscle failure, as this is the time the muscular system is most effective in generating strength and growth.
But exercise physiologist Kathy Leistner notes that this type of training should only be done with healthy, uninjured people. "I work in a rehabilitation facility where training this way when the body is in the process of healing will not be a wise choice," she said. "When a trainee is fit and needs to add variety to a workout, [pyramid training] is a useful opportunity to stimulate muscle growth."
Blitzing the body
While many resistance training fanatics opt to work out multiple body parts per training session, blitzing is an intense method that focuses on strength training a single muscle group per workout. Blitzing, when combined with pyramid training, is virtually guaranteed to build muscular strength and size.
When a blitz is performed, a variety of exercises are executed for a single muscle. For example, a blitz workout for chest may include flat bench, incline bench, decline bench and flys -- all hitting the same muscle from different angles, ranging from three to five sets per exercise using ascending, descending or complete triangle pyramids.
"A blitz is a good challenge to the muscles," Leistner said, "but one that I would recommend be done as a special workout."
Due to the intensity of blitzing and stress placed on the targeted muscle, it’s wise to leave 48 to 72 hours before retraining the same body part. A sample blitz schedule may include: Monday: chest, Tuesday: back, Wednesday: shoulders, Thursday: legs, Friday: chest/back option, Saturday/Sunday: off.
Blitzing should keep the duration and volume the same as those training methods that incorporate multiple body parts during a single workout. Even though it can be used by any population, it’s wise to have a solid resistance training foundation before attempting this type of program.
"I don't believe blitzing is good for a beginner," Leistner said. "Beginners need to focus on a full body training routine and proper form while executing the exercises."
To most of the world, pyramids are synonymous with ancient Egypt, but to fitness buffs it’s the favored form of resistance training.
The name may be foreign to some, but pyramid training has struck the fitness scene as the most popular method of resistance training. Unlike those training methods that cause a muscle to fail in a single set, pyramids spark the same reaction over the course of multiple sets.
Ascending pyramids are generally the easiest to perform. The initial set is started with the weight low and repetitions high. With each set, the weight is increased, while a normal body-fatigue-reaction causes a decrease in repetitions.
Descending pyramids are the complete opposite of ascending: the weight is started high and repetitions low. As the weight is decreased on each set, the amount of repetitions is naturally increased.
And then there are the ever-grueling complete triangle pyramids. This combination of ascending and descending pyramid training starts off with the weight low and repetitions high, as if an ascending pyramid is being performed. Once a peak is reached and only a couple repetitions can be done, the body’s energy is exhausted through a complete descending pyramid.
As a general rule, ascending, descending and complete triangle pyramids are most effective when done two to three times per week, involving multiple body parts and three to five sets per exercise. But complete triangles can climb as high as 10 sets per exercise. All repetitions should be done slow and controlled, while practicing quality form.
As with any type of resistance training, the main objective of pyramids is to bring the body to muscle failure, as this is the time the muscular system is most effective in generating strength and growth.
But exercise physiologist Kathy Leistner notes that this type of training should only be done with healthy, uninjured people. "I work in a rehabilitation facility where training this way when the body is in the process of healing will not be a wise choice," she said. "When a trainee is fit and needs to add variety to a workout, [pyramid training] is a useful opportunity to stimulate muscle growth."
Blitzing the body
While many resistance training fanatics opt to work out multiple body parts per training session, blitzing is an intense method that focuses on strength training a single muscle group per workout. Blitzing, when combined with pyramid training, is virtually guaranteed to build muscular strength and size.
When a blitz is performed, a variety of exercises are executed for a single muscle. For example, a blitz workout for chest may include flat bench, incline bench, decline bench and flys -- all hitting the same muscle from different angles, ranging from three to five sets per exercise using ascending, descending or complete triangle pyramids.
"A blitz is a good challenge to the muscles," Leistner said, "but one that I would recommend be done as a special workout."
Due to the intensity of blitzing and stress placed on the targeted muscle, it’s wise to leave 48 to 72 hours before retraining the same body part. A sample blitz schedule may include: Monday: chest, Tuesday: back, Wednesday: shoulders, Thursday: legs, Friday: chest/back option, Saturday/Sunday: off.
Blitzing should keep the duration and volume the same as those training methods that incorporate multiple body parts during a single workout. Even though it can be used by any population, it’s wise to have a solid resistance training foundation before attempting this type of program.
"I don't believe blitzing is good for a beginner," Leistner said. "Beginners need to focus on a full body training routine and proper form while executing the exercises."
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Running marathons: A personal reflection
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/running-marathons-a-personal-reflection-1.5125820
I’m not going to speak about the details surrounding the Boston Marathon tragedy. Growing up in a family of competitive runners and triathletes, I’m thankful none of them were there. And hopefully those responsible will receive the justice they deserve.
On May 5, the 40th RXR Long Island Marathon is set to pound the pavement of our Nassau County streets, bringing together both professional and amateur athletes. Some will be running for themselves, others will bring a more competitive edge, and then there will be those who have a story behind their 26.2-mile quest.
Every time May approaches, I think back to 2003. It was my first year competing in the Long Island Marathon — my first time running an extended long distance. I was running with a group in memory of my friend’s father who had recently been killed in a tragic car accident. We chose to compete in the half marathon distance of 13.1 miles and not crossing the finish line wasn’t an option. We had to do it for him. And we did.
In 2004, I decided to run the half marathon distance again, but in a duo with my buddy and quasi-brother Ray. We had been training together for months, running side-by-side, back and forth to Long Beach in order to make sure our mileage was enough to finish the race. We had a continuous 10-mile run under our belts and were confident that it would be enough to get us over the finish line. And it was. But down the final stretch, with the finish in sight, there was no way Ray was going to allow me to cross before him. His pride was too great. He revved his motor as my gas tank ran, literally, on fumes.
“Congratulations, you beat me,” I remember saying — with the utmost sarcasm — immediately following the race. But I was proud of Ray. The five-second difference in our finishes didn’t matter — it’s an experience we still talk about nine years later.
In 2005, I got a little nutty. I had only trained for the half marathon and was running solo. Until this point, 13.1 miles was the farthest my guts would carry me. But on mile 11.1, on that day, something came over me. I got a little stupid. As the 3,000-plus half marathoners went right, I veered left to a journey of another 15.1 miles. There was no backing down. There was no turning back. What had I just done? My body wasn't ready for that type of abuse. Was I really that much of a moron? I guess I was.
I remember keeping to myself during most of my trek up and down the Wantagh Parkway. I was hurting. My mind was saying yes, while my body was crying no. But one runner befriended me and suggested a strategy to push me through. Thanks, man, but unless he could quickly implant new muscles in my legs, I was going to drop.
Then, there she was on mile 23, my savior — a woman running directly in front of me, slow and controlled, but with her hands and arms cupped. I couldn’t understand what she was holding until I jogged alongside her and took a look. In fact, she wasn’t grasping anything. The woman runner was physically disabled and 3.2 miles away from completing the Long Island Marathon. Suddenly, the pain, whining and feeling of sorrow for sad-self went away. She was all I needed to get me through.
There was no thought of winning. No sense of breaking any time records. No age group accolades. But there was the motivation of the woman I just witnessed and the lasting memory I will always hold close to me.
I’m not going to speak about the details surrounding the Boston Marathon tragedy. Growing up in a family of competitive runners and triathletes, I’m thankful none of them were there. And hopefully those responsible will receive the justice they deserve.
On May 5, the 40th RXR Long Island Marathon is set to pound the pavement of our Nassau County streets, bringing together both professional and amateur athletes. Some will be running for themselves, others will bring a more competitive edge, and then there will be those who have a story behind their 26.2-mile quest.
Every time May approaches, I think back to 2003. It was my first year competing in the Long Island Marathon — my first time running an extended long distance. I was running with a group in memory of my friend’s father who had recently been killed in a tragic car accident. We chose to compete in the half marathon distance of 13.1 miles and not crossing the finish line wasn’t an option. We had to do it for him. And we did.
In 2004, I decided to run the half marathon distance again, but in a duo with my buddy and quasi-brother Ray. We had been training together for months, running side-by-side, back and forth to Long Beach in order to make sure our mileage was enough to finish the race. We had a continuous 10-mile run under our belts and were confident that it would be enough to get us over the finish line. And it was. But down the final stretch, with the finish in sight, there was no way Ray was going to allow me to cross before him. His pride was too great. He revved his motor as my gas tank ran, literally, on fumes.
“Congratulations, you beat me,” I remember saying — with the utmost sarcasm — immediately following the race. But I was proud of Ray. The five-second difference in our finishes didn’t matter — it’s an experience we still talk about nine years later.
In 2005, I got a little nutty. I had only trained for the half marathon and was running solo. Until this point, 13.1 miles was the farthest my guts would carry me. But on mile 11.1, on that day, something came over me. I got a little stupid. As the 3,000-plus half marathoners went right, I veered left to a journey of another 15.1 miles. There was no backing down. There was no turning back. What had I just done? My body wasn't ready for that type of abuse. Was I really that much of a moron? I guess I was.
I remember keeping to myself during most of my trek up and down the Wantagh Parkway. I was hurting. My mind was saying yes, while my body was crying no. But one runner befriended me and suggested a strategy to push me through. Thanks, man, but unless he could quickly implant new muscles in my legs, I was going to drop.
Then, there she was on mile 23, my savior — a woman running directly in front of me, slow and controlled, but with her hands and arms cupped. I couldn’t understand what she was holding until I jogged alongside her and took a look. In fact, she wasn’t grasping anything. The woman runner was physically disabled and 3.2 miles away from completing the Long Island Marathon. Suddenly, the pain, whining and feeling of sorrow for sad-self went away. She was all I needed to get me through.
There was no thought of winning. No sense of breaking any time records. No age group accolades. But there was the motivation of the woman I just witnessed and the lasting memory I will always hold close to me.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Is resistance training a safe option for children?
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/is-resistance-training-a-safe-option-for-children-1.5045315
Here’s something to keep in mind: The art of resistance training -- if done correctly and with good form -- will not stunt growth.
For years the general fitness public has embraced the idea that resistance training posed a risk to adolescents because it could lead to stunted growth as a result of growth plate fractures.
While it is a reasonable concern, research says the problem is often caused by human error. Most growth plate fractures have been seen in those adolescents who train incorrectly, lift objects that are too heavy, or fall into another object while training. This has been recorded primarily in poorly supervised, heavy, over-the-head type lifts.
Growth plates (their scientific name is epiphyseal plates) are located at the ends of long bones, primarily in the arms and legs. While the child is growing, the bones elongate from these plates. If the growth plates are damaged, the bone’s blood and nutrient supply may be disturbed, resulting in growth trauma.
An epiphyseal plate fracture has not been reported in any youth resistance training study that adhered to established training guidelines, according to the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
A doctor should always be consulted before starting any exercise regimen and that's especially true for children, but a properly designed and supervised resistance training program can help promote exercise habits in children and adolescents, improve motor skills, contribute to enhanced sports performance and increase a young athlete’s resistance to sports-related injuries. It can also lessen their risk of developing heart problems, the NSCA notes.
Programs for adolescents should focus on the basics, making the exercises easy to learn and leaving less room for error. Even though there is no minimum age for resistance training, children can begin to enjoy a regimen as early as ages 6 to 8, as long as they are mentally and physically competent.
To start, try calisthenics -- jumping jacks, pushups, sit-ups, etc. -- which younger people tend to enjoy. Calisthenics, which are aerobic in nature, enforce the use of a child's own body weight, without the use of added foreign weight such as dumbbells. They are also a good way to practice muscular coordination.
Stay away from plyometric exercises during the beginning phases of resistance training. While jumping onto and off objects may seem like the norm for some, others can easily lose their balance, slip and even fall off the top of the plyometric boxes, causing injury.
Eventually, more advanced exercises can be added to a routine, but with caution. External weights may be used, such as elastic bands, dumbbells or plate-loaded machines but proper form should first be taught, stressed and supervised, and the weight should be kept light. In the beginning stages of the resistance program, the repetitions should range from 10 to 15 per set, and one to three sets should be performed encompassing a variety of upper- and lower-body exercises, specifically focusing on movements that strengthen the abdominal and lower back areas.
A general overall fitness rule regarding repetitions is: two to five for strength/power (anaerobic), six to 12 for size (anaerobic/aerobic) and more than 12 for endurance (aerobic). As a child advances through the routine, it can be progressed by increasing the number of sets and/or decreasing the number of repetitions.
Children should train less than adults do, typically two to three times a week on nonconsecutive days, allowing 48 to 72 hours between sessions. Each workout should be preceded by a five- to 10-minute dynamic warm-up, such as hops and skips.
Done correctly, beginning a resistance program early in life cannot only be beneficial for a child’s short- and long-term health but can also pave the road to a hearty athletic career.
Here’s something to keep in mind: The art of resistance training -- if done correctly and with good form -- will not stunt growth.
For years the general fitness public has embraced the idea that resistance training posed a risk to adolescents because it could lead to stunted growth as a result of growth plate fractures.
While it is a reasonable concern, research says the problem is often caused by human error. Most growth plate fractures have been seen in those adolescents who train incorrectly, lift objects that are too heavy, or fall into another object while training. This has been recorded primarily in poorly supervised, heavy, over-the-head type lifts.
Growth plates (their scientific name is epiphyseal plates) are located at the ends of long bones, primarily in the arms and legs. While the child is growing, the bones elongate from these plates. If the growth plates are damaged, the bone’s blood and nutrient supply may be disturbed, resulting in growth trauma.
An epiphyseal plate fracture has not been reported in any youth resistance training study that adhered to established training guidelines, according to the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
A doctor should always be consulted before starting any exercise regimen and that's especially true for children, but a properly designed and supervised resistance training program can help promote exercise habits in children and adolescents, improve motor skills, contribute to enhanced sports performance and increase a young athlete’s resistance to sports-related injuries. It can also lessen their risk of developing heart problems, the NSCA notes.
Programs for adolescents should focus on the basics, making the exercises easy to learn and leaving less room for error. Even though there is no minimum age for resistance training, children can begin to enjoy a regimen as early as ages 6 to 8, as long as they are mentally and physically competent.
To start, try calisthenics -- jumping jacks, pushups, sit-ups, etc. -- which younger people tend to enjoy. Calisthenics, which are aerobic in nature, enforce the use of a child's own body weight, without the use of added foreign weight such as dumbbells. They are also a good way to practice muscular coordination.
Stay away from plyometric exercises during the beginning phases of resistance training. While jumping onto and off objects may seem like the norm for some, others can easily lose their balance, slip and even fall off the top of the plyometric boxes, causing injury.
Eventually, more advanced exercises can be added to a routine, but with caution. External weights may be used, such as elastic bands, dumbbells or plate-loaded machines but proper form should first be taught, stressed and supervised, and the weight should be kept light. In the beginning stages of the resistance program, the repetitions should range from 10 to 15 per set, and one to three sets should be performed encompassing a variety of upper- and lower-body exercises, specifically focusing on movements that strengthen the abdominal and lower back areas.
A general overall fitness rule regarding repetitions is: two to five for strength/power (anaerobic), six to 12 for size (anaerobic/aerobic) and more than 12 for endurance (aerobic). As a child advances through the routine, it can be progressed by increasing the number of sets and/or decreasing the number of repetitions.
Children should train less than adults do, typically two to three times a week on nonconsecutive days, allowing 48 to 72 hours between sessions. Each workout should be preceded by a five- to 10-minute dynamic warm-up, such as hops and skips.
Done correctly, beginning a resistance program early in life cannot only be beneficial for a child’s short- and long-term health but can also pave the road to a hearty athletic career.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Cool weather fitness on Long Island
http://www.newsday.com/news/health/the-daily-apple-1.4760551/cool-weather-fitness-on-long-island-1.5014205
If you’re the type to find exercising outdoors entirely too grueling during the hot and humid summer months, take advantage of a comparatively cool spring on Long Island this year to move your routine into the fresh air.
During spring, lower pollen levels and less-humid air makes breathing easier during outdoor fitness activities. Even though the possibility is not completely eliminated, there is also less of a chance of suffering a heat-related illness, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and critical heat stroke. While proper hydration is still critical, the body will have less of a challenge cooling itself during the colder months.
“The [cooler months] are an excellent time to bring your workouts to the great outdoors,” said Robert Bristol, a certified athletic trainer and assistant athletic trainer at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue. “[People] may find it easier to push themselves due to the decreased probability of heat-related [ailments] that impair performance. However, hydration is a must as you can still succumb to the effects of dehydration if you don't properly prepare yourself.”
Here’s what some of Long Island’s athletes and exercise specialists had to say about seasonal exercise activities:
Jogging and biking
Jogging and biking are great ways to achieve quality aerobic workouts and we’re lucky Long Island hosts a list of outdoor trails. In particular, Belmont Lake State Park in North Babylon and Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead both offer great fitness facilities for aerobic buffs. These parks — along with many of Long Island’s state parks — offer hiking trails with spectacular views for those who are interested in a more relaxed, explorative challenge. Cold Spring Harbor State Park boasts 40 acres of hilly terrain, which is sure to intrigue anyone interested in a day of both fitness and fun.
“And if you live farther east, try biking to Wildwood State Park in Wading River,” said Ironman Triathlon World Championship finisher Sheila Isaacs of Shoreham, who, at age 67, was the first known athlete to complete a triathlon in all 50 states. “It’s a great place to run — on the trails or the beach. It’s beautiful.”
Swimming
While Long Island's waterways still remain cool temperature-wise, long-distance and sprint swimming at the beaches can be appropriately replaced with public indoor pool facilities, such as the Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow and Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood. Swimming, being one of the most effective full-body exercises, has an extremely positive impact on cardiovascular performance when it’s done on a regular basis.
“Swimming not only increases the size of the heart's chambers, but also the thickness of its walls,” said Lisa Hiller, an exercise physiologist and U.S. Masters Swimming coach at Excel Swimming in Garden City. “This powerful combination increases the amount of blood that your heart pumps per beat. The more a person incorporates swimming into their workouts, the lower their resting heart rate will become and it will be easier to recover from a hard workout.”
As the days continue to get longer but before the summer heat sets in, take advantage of this spectacular time of year by adding an outdoor fitness training ingredient into your exercise routines.
And discover Long Island. The healthy way.
If you’re the type to find exercising outdoors entirely too grueling during the hot and humid summer months, take advantage of a comparatively cool spring on Long Island this year to move your routine into the fresh air.
During spring, lower pollen levels and less-humid air makes breathing easier during outdoor fitness activities. Even though the possibility is not completely eliminated, there is also less of a chance of suffering a heat-related illness, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and critical heat stroke. While proper hydration is still critical, the body will have less of a challenge cooling itself during the colder months.
“The [cooler months] are an excellent time to bring your workouts to the great outdoors,” said Robert Bristol, a certified athletic trainer and assistant athletic trainer at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue. “[People] may find it easier to push themselves due to the decreased probability of heat-related [ailments] that impair performance. However, hydration is a must as you can still succumb to the effects of dehydration if you don't properly prepare yourself.”
Here’s what some of Long Island’s athletes and exercise specialists had to say about seasonal exercise activities:
Jogging and biking
Jogging and biking are great ways to achieve quality aerobic workouts and we’re lucky Long Island hosts a list of outdoor trails. In particular, Belmont Lake State Park in North Babylon and Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead both offer great fitness facilities for aerobic buffs. These parks — along with many of Long Island’s state parks — offer hiking trails with spectacular views for those who are interested in a more relaxed, explorative challenge. Cold Spring Harbor State Park boasts 40 acres of hilly terrain, which is sure to intrigue anyone interested in a day of both fitness and fun.
“And if you live farther east, try biking to Wildwood State Park in Wading River,” said Ironman Triathlon World Championship finisher Sheila Isaacs of Shoreham, who, at age 67, was the first known athlete to complete a triathlon in all 50 states. “It’s a great place to run — on the trails or the beach. It’s beautiful.”
Swimming
While Long Island's waterways still remain cool temperature-wise, long-distance and sprint swimming at the beaches can be appropriately replaced with public indoor pool facilities, such as the Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow and Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood. Swimming, being one of the most effective full-body exercises, has an extremely positive impact on cardiovascular performance when it’s done on a regular basis.
“Swimming not only increases the size of the heart's chambers, but also the thickness of its walls,” said Lisa Hiller, an exercise physiologist and U.S. Masters Swimming coach at Excel Swimming in Garden City. “This powerful combination increases the amount of blood that your heart pumps per beat. The more a person incorporates swimming into their workouts, the lower their resting heart rate will become and it will be easier to recover from a hard workout.”
As the days continue to get longer but before the summer heat sets in, take advantage of this spectacular time of year by adding an outdoor fitness training ingredient into your exercise routines.
And discover Long Island. The healthy way.
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