Blog Posts

http://globe-and-car.blogspot.com/

http://car-of-my-dream.blogspot.com/

Karl Benz was born in Karlsruhe on November 25, 1844, the son of an engine driver. His father died just two years after Karl's birth. Despite her limited financial means, his mother ensured that he received a good education.

Karl Benz attended high school, then studied at the Polytechnic College in Karlsruhe. This was followed by two years of practical study at Maschinenbau-Gesellschaft in Karlsruhe. Karl Benz was given his first paid employment as a technical draughtsman and designer by a manufacturer of weighing machines in Mannheim. On losing this position in 1868 he joined an engineering company which was primarily involved in bridge-building. This employment was followed by a short period in Vienna, likewise with a structural ironworking company.

In 1871 Karl Benz formed his first company together with the mechanical specialist August Ritter. Since Ritter was not a reliable partner, Karl Benz bought him out using the dowry of his bride Bertha Ringer, then managed the company alone.
Bertha Ringer and Karl Benz were married in 1872. Bertha Benz played a decisive role in the later success of the fledgling company. She undertook the world's first long-distance car journey, and is acknowledged as the first lady motorist in history. Karl and Bertha Benz had five children...

FOR MORE: http://globe-and-car.blogspot.com/

http://car-of-my-dream.blogspot.com/

What are Amino Acids?

All amino acids are found in the food we eat, in the form of protein. Protein is made up of chains of amino acids strung together, and when eaten they get digested and absorbed into the system as single units called amino acids. Once in the body, these amino acids are used predominantly for building body tissue such as muscle development, though there are other uses for amino acids such as for energy (~5%) and enzymes. Under certain condition there is a greater requirement for protein and amino acids, such as during periods of rapid growth like in teenagers, while undertaking resistance training, and when there is tissue repair such as after an injury or illness.

FOR MORE: http://sport-nutrition4u.blogspot.com/

http://sport-nutrition4u.blogspot.com/

Any athlete (professional, amateur or weekend warrior) searching for legitimate ways of enhancing their physical performance has undoubtedly heard of creatine. If used properly, this safe, legal and effective supplement will enhance your athletic performance in ways never before imagined.

Scientific research has shown that creatine promotes muscle growth, improves athletic performance and accelerates recovery following strenuous exercise. Moreover, new research is now showing that creatine enhances overall anabolic (tissue building) potential and promotes good health and longevity.

However, in order to reap creatine's full range of benefits it is imperative that one first sets the stage - metabolically speaking. Unfortunately, this information is not easily accessed by the layperson. Moreover, many creatine informational websites misinterpret existing scientific studies and disseminate potentially harmful advice about the "proper" use of creatine.

Dr. Alfredo Franco-Obregón now shares his insights about sports supplementation with a guide that reveals the truth about creatine and the many ways in which it can help you achieve your true athletic potential - at any age. Optimize your creatine use!
Taking exorbitant amounts of creatine is pointless and ultimately unsafe. Most of us can get away with taking much less creatine than suggested by the manufacturers, without sacrificing any of the gains.

The guide is written so that even a layperson will quickly learn how to implement a straightforward supplementing regimen into their daily routine that will allow them to reap creatine's full range of benefits at the most affordable price and with the least amount of stress to their system.
For the more scientifically minded, this comprehensive guide also analyzes the most recent scientific studies examining the effects of creatine supplementation on athletic performance and overall health. Obtaining this information is the first step to opening the door to a longer, more fruitful, athletic career.

FOR MORE: http://sport-nutrition4u.blogspot.com/

This might start sounding like a broken record, but come Saturday in Monaco, the great battle of wills between Astana teammates Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador will begin. Certainly, there will be other challengers, but these two are the main favorites for good reason and deserve all the hype. Lance and Alberto are very well matched physically so I think it will come down to the mental game to determine the winner of the 2009 Tour.

Right after the Giro, I wouldn't have given Lance much of a chance, but after being with him at the Nevada City Bicycle Classic, two weeks ago, and seeing how fit and motivated he was, Armstrong is a man on a mission. He is starting the race five pounds lighter than he ever did during his seven victories and his eyes show a keen focus and determination. Lance is not coming to France to ride in support of Alberto Contador.

Alberto Contador is probably feeling a bit lonely on Team Astana with only his old teammate from Liberty Seguros, Sergio Paulinho, as a trusted ally. Rumour has it that Contador might be getting some help from the riders on Caisse d'Epargne if he needs it. I am hoping that things remain civil on Astana. There is no need for a replay of the 1986 race where American Greg LeMond and Frenchman Bernard Hinault while they teammates, rode as rivals.

With all this talk of teammates and allies, it is probably fitting that the first stage of the Tour is a 9-mile(15km) individual time trial in the hills surrounding Monaco. That means a head-to-head battle between Lance and Alberto with the best man on the day assuming an edge in the fight for team leadership. With all the "Lance versus Alberto" hype in the past nine months, look for Contador to come out blazing, trying to prove that he is the true team leader of Astana.

However, Lance is a master tactician and will do everything in his power to try to match Contador. Unless we are talking Brett Favre, I am a fan of comebacks so I hope that Lance can match Alberto and if he does, the battle of wills will really be on.

You are probably thinking that the mental toughness of a rider is always part of the equation, but given that the two riders in question here are on the same team makes the mental aspect way more critical. Alberto and Lance will be spending way more time in close proximity than just during the race. Any gamesmanship can be played out long after each day's podium ceremony has concluded.

So, while it is clear that you have to be physically strong to win the Tour de France, this year's victor will also need to be as tough if not tougher mentally to prevail, especially if your name is Lance or Alberto.

Bruce

Well I am moving to Pensacola soon (October 2009). I am really excited to be going to a warm climate. England is very beautiful and cool but I miss the USA and all she has to offer. I am sure I will make some interesting people and hope to make a few close friends. Pensacola here I come!

Runner's knee is a relatively common condition and not exclusive to runners. Athletes who put considerable stress on their knees can be at risk. Included in that group are soccer players, jumpers and skiers.

Someone with runner's knee may experience dull, aching pain when doing routine things such as navigating stairs and kneeling. To learn more about this condition, its diagnosis and treatment, visit http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00382&return_link=0.

You'll find helpful information, including ways to prevent runner's knees such as:

• Use proper running form. Lean forward and keep your knees bent. Also, try to run on a clear, smooth, resilient, even, and reasonably soft surface. Never run straight down a steep hill. Walk down it, or run in a zigzag pattern.

Whether you are a seasoned veteran triathlete or a beginner triathlete, the following triathlon training tips will help you have a better race day.

Triathlon Tip #10
Train on the Bike you Race
One thing you must do is train on the bike you will use on race day.You don't have to have the most expensive bike at the race as long as you are comfortable on the one you use. Don't spend months training on one bike and use a different one for the race.

Triathlon Tip #9
Invest in Good Shoes
Spend the money on a good pair of shoes from a store that specializes in running. The expert employees will be able to fit your feet with the perfect shoe for your gait, foot shape and race ambitions. You will be on your feet for a good portion of the race so be sure to be comfortable.

Triathlon Tip #8
Train for the Water you will Race
If the triathlon has an open water start, practice in open water, rather than the pool. The more you practice in the conditions you will have at the race, the more prepared you will be on race day. If you are racing in the ocean, you may encounter choppy waves. To combat the chop use shorter strokes , then longer, more efficient strokes once the water smoothes out. During your training, focus on your swimming technique because this will make the largest difference in your results on race day. Make sure your breathing, kick, body position, and arm rotation are in the proper form.

Triathlon Tip #7
Train for Transitions
Training for transitions can save precious minutes on race day. Time how long it takes to change from your wetsuit to your cycling gear, then find ways to decrease this time such as stepping out of your wet suit while fastening your helmet, or putting your feet in your cycling shoes while they are already strapped into your pedals. You should grab your visor and race number and put it on while running out of T2. Why stand there and put it on.

Triathlon Tip #6
Don't Over Train
It is easy to get swept up in the excitement of training for a triathlon, but don't forget to plan days of rest in your training program. On race day, your adrenaline will help carry you through. Don't risk injury for a few extra hours of training. Be sure to rest your body and you will be much better off for it.

Triathlon Tip #5
Train For The Length of Race You Are Running
If you are running a sprint triathlon, train for speed not endurance. Interval training is a technique you can use for the type of all out racing you will be doing in a sprint. Introduce shorts intervals of running, cycling, or swimming at an increased pace, then slow your pace until your breathing has recovered. Repeat this technique during your training and you will get faster.

Triathlon Tip #4
Vary your Workout
If you normally train indoors, head outside for a trail run.
You need to provide yourself with a change every once in a while so your mind does not become bored with the same regimen day in and day out.

Triathlon Tip #3
Lubricate Your Body
Lubricate all contact points on your body with any number of commercially available body glides. You can find these at any fitness or running store. There is nothing worse than getting off the bike with a rash and then running for miles.

Triathlon Tip #2
Fuel Your Body
Running and bike stores stock an array of energy gels, drinks, and supplements. Energy gels and blocks are easy to carry in the pouch of a fuel belt and will keep your energy level high and your performance at its peak on race day. Every body has different needs so it will take some experimenting to figure out what works for your body.

Triathlon Tip #1
Slow and Steady Start Wins the Race
Many people have burned out midway through a race because they started out too fast. Since the first leg of a triathlon is in the water, plan to train and swim at a steady pace that you can sustain. You should train for the exact strategy you will use in your swimming portion. When entering the water, you should run until the water reaches knee-level, as this will maximize your efficiency. Prepare yourself mentally for the psychology of the other racers. Many of the racers will be sprinting from the very beginning of the race. You should stay relaxed and maintain proper breathing while building into your rhythm. While other racers will try to align themselves as close as possible to the first buoy, you should not follow the pack. Instead, feel comfortable starting outside, and then eventually come into the line as you near the first buoy. You can use the faster racers to make your swim more easy by drafting. While not legal for the bike, it is very legal and beneficial during the swim. As the faster racer passes by, slip in just behind them and you can feel the difference in your effort. Do not try and keep their pace, but instead stay with them only until you lose the benefit of their draft. By not over-expending energy in the water, you will be refreshed for the cycle and ready to go.

Training for a triathlon is an exciting, rewarding experience. The proper training and equipment can ensure that you finish strongly and safely in your next triathlon. I hope this triathlon training advice will be of some use to you. Visit my Triathlon Resources Page for more information.

I put a lot into training and preparing for this race, so I guess that's going to lead me to put a lot (i.e. long-winded) into this race report. Hopefully, though, some people reading this get some pointers for their first Ironman that I learned the hard way. My goal for this race was to get to Kona and this was my first shot at trying to qualify. When I signed up for this race last summer, I thought I would be living in Missoula, MT, but that didn't work out for a few reasons. I found it very difficult to peak for an early season Ironman training through a Wisconsin spring, but I did as much as I could and followed my training plan as closely as possible. I felt confident that my training was sufficient to finish the race in my goal time of 9:45, which would have been a qualifying time in my age for the past three years. After three excruciating weeks of tapering, I was ready to strap up and race.

I got to Coeur d'Alene on Thursday morning and the first thing I did was head to the morning swim. It was about 8:30 when I got in the lake and the water was rough; so rough the swim wasn't any fun. The lake is huge and gets extremely rough whenever there's a south wind over 10 mph. A great preview of race day... I got registered on Thursday and got a short bike and run in to get loosened up from the trip. I went to the morning swim again on Friday and Saturday and the water was much nicer both days, and the temperature was just about perfect at 62 degrees.

Sunday finally came, although it felt like it never would, and I felt rested and ready to go. I woke up a few hours before the race start and had my usual pre-race breakfast, oatmeal and apple sauce with some coffee. A got to the race site about two hours before the start, had a Powerbar and a banana and got my transition area ready.

I got my wetsuit on and headed down to the swim start at about 6:40 hoping to get a couple minute warm-up in, but it was so congested on the sidewalk it took almost 15 minutes to get to the beach. I elbowed my way to the front and just barely got wet before the gun went off. I didn't really have time to notice the 3-4 foot waves on the lake because of the 15 mph south wind. Swimming out was awful. I got about 400 meters into the swim and didn't think I could go any further. I wanted to quit. I actually stopped in the water and started swimming towards a kayak with about 2,400 people trying to swim over the top of me. Finally, I just stopped in the water for about a minute and composed myself. I put my head down, got into a good rhythm and pounded out a decent swim from then on. Not getting a warm-up in and getting mentally prepared was my first rookie mistake. My lap times were about 35 and 31 minutes. My 1:06:50 swim put me a little more than 6 minutes off my goal time, but I have never been so happy to get out of the water. That was the most difficult swim I have ever done.

Both of my transitions were a mess, especially T1. I probably lost about four or five minutes just because of poor transitions, which was another rookie mistake. I didn't really know how the wetsuit stripping worked, what to do with my gear bag once I got it or where I needed to change. I didn't spend enough time in transitions before the race. My wetsuit got stuck because I let one of the strippers start tugging on it instead of just taking it off myself. I opened my gear bag right away and then got yelled (rightfully so) to take everything in the tent to change so I had to pick everything up and stuff it back in my bag, which was ripped. Good times! The transitions were a great learning experience, but I was already at 1:11:00 into the race and even further behind my goal. No worries, though. I always tell myself that I'm going to have the best race I can from this point forward.

I got onto the bike and got into a good rhythm right away. I had heard many times that this course isn't as difficult as IM Wisconsin, so I thought I was in pretty good shape having ridden the entire IMWI course on a training ride. This course is every bit as difficult as IMWI. There are over 6,000 feet of climbing and several tricky, technical descents. My goal for the bike was to average 215 Watts, which I figured would give me a 5:15 bike split. I was hitting my nutrition and goal power for the first lap and most of the second, but the wheels started to come off at about mile 90. I had nothing left going up hills, which were relentless. I saw my average power drop from 216 to 208 when I checked it at mile 100. I decided not to look at that again. I just rode as steady as I could into T2, which was tough because the entire way back was into the wind. My bike split was a disappointing 5:24:00, and after another comical transition, got out on the run on dead legs with a total time of 6:38:00, about 13 minutes off my goal pace. I checked my power meter after the race and my average power dropped from 216 Watts to 196 Watts in the last 22 miles. Another lesson learned; 100 - 110 mile easy rides with a couple harder efforts don't get it done if you're trying to qualify for Kona. The long rides need to be 120 - 140 miles at mostly goal race pace with some extended half Ironman-pace intensity. I fell apart with a lot of biking to do and I'm not letting that happen again.

It was cool and cloudy all day, so the weather was nice for the run. My goal for the run was a 3:20 marathon, but I had my doubts after how my legs felt at the end of the bike. I just told myself to go out and hold my goal pace for as long as possible and see what would happen. Goal pace would put me just under 10 hours and I thought that might be good enough for a roll-down slot. I got my legs moving and actually felt good. I was rattling off one 7:20 mile after another and easily cruised up the big climb at mile 7. I hit the halfway point at about 1:39:00 and was feeling pretty good until right around mile 14 when I felt like I was about to bonk. I started to get dizzy and the next aid station was almost a mile away. I kept my pace to it, but I figured I would be doing a lot of walking during the second half of the run. I finally got to the aid station and downed 3 Gatorades, 3 Cokes, 2 orange slices, and a Powerbar. I walked for a few minutes to let my stomach settle and starting running again, but very slowly.

I started running normally again by mile 15, but thought I was going to be in for a long day. I could only hold about an 8 min/mile pace and my legs hurt like they never have before. I made a deal with myself then, and you have to be pretty crazy to do these in the first place, so that shouldn't be surprising. I told myself that I could walk, but only until I physically was unable to run any longer. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that never happened. I held about an 8 min/mile for the rest of the race and passing all the people that were either walking or stopped was a huge lift. At that point, I knew my spot at Kona would have to wait another year and I hurt badly. I kept going as hard as I could, though, because I asked myself, "What's going to replace your pain after this race?" That was enough motivation. My 8-minute miles felt like track intervals, but coming down that finish chute was an unbelievable feeling. I could see and hear my family yell for me as I finished and I got to ham it up on the jumbo-tron with some Hulkamania poses (yeah, I'm a dork) since there was no one else finishing around me. My run ended up being 3:32, which I was pretty happy with considering I had to stop for 3-4 minutes and felt like I was on the verge of passing out. My overall time was 10:10:32 and I missed the last Hawaii spot for my age group by a little less than 27 minutes. After a lot of lessons learned the hard way, I know I can come up with 27 minutes by next year.

Now that I'm not heading to Kona, my plan for the rest of the season has changed. I'm going to focus on the 70.3 distance and work to build bike endurance when I'm not racing. Here's my revised schedule, which includes four races in four weeks starting next weekend:

• Spring Meadow Olympic (Helena, MT)
• Spirit of Racine or Door County Half IM
• Castle Rock Sprint (Friendship, WI)
• Steelhead 70.3
• Garden City Olympic (Missoula, MT)
• Grand Columbian Half IM (Coulee, WA)
• Silverman Half IM or 70.3 World Championship

I really appreciate everyone that has helped me over the last few years in my pursuit of becoming an elite triathlete. The support I've gotten from my family, Redline Triathlon Club, the Sheboygan Masters Swim Group, friends, and co-workers has been amazing. I've gone from no endurance background and not even knowing how to swim, even one lap, to barely missing qualifying for the Ironman World Championship in just a few years. Thank you all.

Keep crankin!

James Fields