CLIFcast

Babies. They take a ton of thought and planning, right? We asked these four CLIF® athletes – who all had pandemic pregnancies – to share their experiences with us; mountain biker Catherine Pendrel, ultra-runner Stephanie Howe, triathlete Sarah Piampiano and snowboarder Kimmy Fasani.   This podcast is not intended to provide medical or nutrition advice, or make health or nutrition claims about Clif Bar & Company products.  

At Clif, the health of our planet is incredibly important to us–and so is the health of our Clifsters. With Bike for Power, a special one-of-a-kind project at the Clif gym, we found a way to take care of our planet and our people at the same time! When employees pedal our spin bikes, they generate power back to the electrical grid. Joe Phillips and Lauren Kanouse, the two Clifsters who spearheaded this pedal power project, told us they hope to generate enough electricity to support a three bedroom, two bath house for 10 days! Take a listen...

The Boston Marathon is one of those items you find on bucket lists: It’s a dream come true for many, and regardless of how it all turns out, it’s an amazing experience. As you will hear on this ClifCast, it’s like running through a parade. The enthusiasm of the crowd is both exciting and deeply touching. Here, we speak with a handful of runners on how they train, what they eat and their best advice is for the big day.

When food analyst turned activist Robyn O’Brien was feeding breakfast to her four kids, one of them had a severe allergic reaction which caused her alarm. She went on a mission to better understand our food system and, in so doing, discovered she wanted to fix it. Called “food’s Erin Brockovich,” we spoke with O’Brien about the current and evolving state of food manufacturing in the US and her role in bringing awareness and change to it. We also hear from Matthew Dillon whose own experience with the food system has been an inspiration to Robyn and her movement.  

We discuss the latest USDA Dietary Guidelines to understand their implications for us as athletes and active people.

Clif Bar Pace Team Leaders, Darris and Star Blackford, provide advice on how best to tackle the challenges of the Boston Marathon course – and make that run down Boylston truly triumphant!

Team Clif Bar athlete Ian MacNairn visits us from his home in Canada and talks about the different ultra-running races he’s done, how he manages his nutrition as a diabetic and what he hopes to pass on to the next generation.

Many people run to clear their mind and improve their mood. We know that physical activity has a positive effect on mood, studies show this. But how does food affect our mood? In this episode we explore how running and eating changes the way we feel and highlight some great mood boosting foods.

University of Toronto PhD candidate Nanci Guest talks about her research on the effects of gene-nutrient interactions (nutrigenomics) on athletic performance. According to Nanci, much of how our body reacts to certain nutrients is due to our genetic composition. By understanding our individual genetic composition we can figure out what best to eat, when, how much and why. In this episode, she shares what she has learned in her research and tells some true stories of how she has seen athletes improve their performance based on their nutrigenomics.

Our immune system is complex. But when you take good care of it through proper nutrition and rest, you won’t even notice it’s there. In this episode we discuss how running can affect your immune system and the best foods to eat to stay healthy.

Sports Dietician & CLIF Bar Pace Team leader, Lori Tubbs, provides practical tips and advice on how best to eat & drink during marathon weekend. A good nutrition plan will help you perform your best on race day.

Bob Seebohar is the former director of sports nutrition for the University of Florida, a sports dietician for the 2008 Olympic committee and, an accomplished athlete himself. In this episode we discuss, amongst other things, the best kind of nutrition 90 days out from a race and why it’s important to think that far ahead.

In this episode we discuss what to do on a long run when you don’t want to eat anymore and share some good alternatives to traditional sports nutrition.

In this episode, host Ricardo Balazs sits down with Clif Bar Registered Dieticians Tara and JAC to make sense of the latest sports nutrition trends and fads. Find out what the latest research has to say about high fat, beets, caffeine and more!

Find out how Ultra Running champ Geoff Roes has dealt with adversary, what challenges he’s faced with his health, the lessons he has learned and the ways in which he is helping other runners find their way.

What is energy exactly? What kind of energy does each food group offer? And how important is energy to a successful run? Find out the answers to these questions and more on this updated episode.

The overnight relay race is one of the most memorable events a runner can participate in. Besides having fun, one of the most important things to plan for is your nutrition. Find out how to prepare for a Ragnar relay, what to eat during and the importance of recovering after each of your legs.

Weight management is not about dieting. It’s about figuring out what your ideal running weight is and how to attain through good nutrition and exercise. In this episode, we discuss how to best you feed your body and how that changes when your running mileage changes.  You’ll also learn the best ways to manage your weight and what running workout is best for burning fat.

It may seem that your workout ends when you stop moving but your downtime may be one of the most important parts of building fitness. In that vital recovery period, your body rebuilds and repairs to prepare itself for its next workout. And if you don't recover properly, you may not be able to train and, ultimately, race properly. What are some good things to eat right after a run, when should you take something in and what role does hydration play? These and other recovery topics are what you'll hear about in this episode of ClifCast, a re-release from a few years ago containing the most up to date information and science on recovery. As usual, we hear from new and seasoned athletes and we also hear great information from our nutritionist Tara who sheds light on what the "window of opportunity" means.

We recently invited folks to tweet in their sports nutrition related questions. In this episode, our in-house Nutritionist, Tara, answers some of these questions. What are some great ways to prepare for a marathon, what are some good recovery tips and, maybe most importantly, just how many Clif Bars can you have in a day?

Team Clif Bar athlete Stephanie Howe is remarkable: she didn't set out to be a runner but after doing a race on a whim she discovered a talent and passion she didn't know she had. She’s now a professional ultrarunner, all the while getting her PhD and managing her own coaching business The post Stephanie Howe appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Training effectively Triathalons and the three disciplines – swimming, running, and cycling - is mentally, physically, and nutritionally challenging. On this episode we hit one mountain head on - Nutrition. Learn what will help your body be its best on race day by fueling it properly for each activity - when and with what? The post Nutrition Basics for Triathletes appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

At times, the latest expert advice can appear to be contradictory from one period to the next: Fat is bad for you, a little fat is good, chocolate is a no-no, a little chocolate is healthy, even wine has been contested. What should we believe and what are the current trends today that will hold up the test of time? On this episode of CLIFCast, we speak with Mitzi Dulan, a nationally recognized sports nutritionist who has written countless articles, authored a book, has nearly 4 four million followers on Pinterest and coaches professional athletes on nutrition. The post The Latest Sports Nutrition Trends with Mitzi Dulan appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

The two best foods to help you sleep better and why don't I need great sleep the night before a race. The post Sleep: Why runners need it and the best ways to get it appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

She's the 2011 & 2012 North American Female Ultrarunner of the Year and a Team CLIF Bar member plus a vegetarian. Hear what she has to say about her success, strategy and diet. The post ELLIE GREENWOOD appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

CLIFCast caught up with renowned Ultra Runner and Team Clif Bar athlete, Ian Sharman, to hear more about his record breaking run during this year’s Grand Slam of Ultra Running – a series of four 100 mile races here in the US. Sit back and listen as Ian shares some great stories from his amazing […] The post Ian Sharman appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Whomever said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." hasn't listened tot his episode. It's worth more. The post Injury Prevention appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Our in-house Registered Dietician Tara Dellolacono Thies joins Chris Randall to share the latest research on hydration. How do carbs play a role? What are the warning signs of dehydration? What are the consequences of poor hydration? On this episode of CLIFCast you’ll learn the answers to all of these questions, plus how to calculate your sweat rate-and why that’s important to know- and what kind of nutrients you’ll need that you can’t get from plain old water. The post Hydration appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Let’s talk about protein. What’s the difference between animal and plant protein? How much protein do runners actually need? When is the best time to take in protein? In this episode, we update one of our earliest episodes about protein, the nutrient that’s essential to your health and well-being. The post Protein appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

How do you prepare for your morning run? Do you need to eat before? Or can you roll out of bed and go? And if you don’t eat before, what do you need to eat after your run to recover? Today we sit down with some CLIF runners to talk with them about their experience with morning runs. We’ll also chat with our in-house sports dietitian and nutritionist about the best way to prepare yourself for your morning run and everything that follows. The post Morning Runs appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Ever gone on a trip to Boulder or Lake Tahoe and been unable to maintain your usual pace? Have you felt nausea, headaches, light-headedness, and dry mouth and eyes? That’s because running at high altitudes means less oxygen and moisture for your body. Tips from our experts include LOTS of hydration, and easing into your running routine. Start easy, and always have a water bottle in hand - before, during, and after your travel. Give your body the time it needs to adapt to its new environment if you can, and give yourself lots of recovery time. The post Running at Elevation appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Legendary ultra-runner Scott Jurek joined us at the Clif Bar Theatre for our Team Clif Bar Presents series, and we wanted to share some of our favorite snippets with you. Jurek is best known for his long list of ultra-marathon wins and course records, including the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon, all while being fueled by a vegan, plant-based diet. Most recently he’s authored the best-selling book “Eat and Run.” The post Legendary ultra-runner Scott Jurek appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

If you’re a runner trying to stay healthy and eat smart, you know that any kind of travel can be a challenge – whether it’s a trip to the office for the day or heading to a new location for a race. In this episode, we chat with a team of runners from CLIF Bar […] The post Eating on the Road appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Come celebrate the pain, sweat, and fun of finishing a marathon. Listen to You Did it! The Clif Bar band’s attempt at a super catchy, at times over-the-top, melodic rock song inspired by 80’s big hair rock, and children’s cartoons. Congrats on finishing your marathon – whichever one it may have been. You did it! […] The post You Did It! appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

On our last episode, you learned what it takes to prepare for a Tough Mudder race nutritionally. You also heard how difficult, challenging, and fun they can be. In this episode, Team Clif Bar runner Eric Johnson, who qualified and ran in the World’s Toughest Mudder event, sat down with us to share his story. […] The post Eric Johnson explains how, and why, he got into running. Across Nevada appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

You think running a marathon is hard? Ricardo Balazs and the CLIFCast team take you on a journey through what some have called “hell and back”. If you have never taken part in a Tough Mudder race, you will realize after listening to this episode that this could be one of the most fun races […] The post Learn how to take down one Tough Mudder! appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

People don't think about them often, but Aid Stations are your best friend on a course. Learn how not to make them an enemy. The post Learn how and why Aid Stations can make your next marathon your best. appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

There's nothing wrong with this bowl of spaghetti but learn what else will make it a great run The post Learn what Carbohydrates to feed your body for the best results appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

If you have the inner desire to do more, to push your body beyond a marathon, then gear up for this episode of ClifCast, as we sit down one on one with American Ultra Marathon runner, Dakota Jones. Learn about his favorite places to run, how he trains and eats, and more secrets that will make you a better runner. The post Hear from American Ultra Marathon Runner, Dakota Jones appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Almost every runner has experienced some kind of stomach issue on a run or in a race. Learn how to avoid and manage gastrointestinal, or GI, issues on a run. The post Avoiding GI Issues appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Runners, and other active people, do their best when eating good food and maintaining a healthy diet. But sometimes it’s hard to know if what you’re putting in your body is actually helping your performance. And what’s even harder is to remember exactly what you ate on a day to day basis. That’s where food […] The post Food Logs appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

In this special edition, we speak with Team Clif Bar runner Ian Sharman and explore how he first got into running, what keeps him going and what he eats and drinks to stay healthy and strong. The post Ian Sharman Interview appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Find out exactly what naughty foods are, whether runners deserve them more than others and are some “naughty foods” actually not bad at all. The post Naughty Foods appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Vitamins and minerals are vital to our health and well being. While supplements may sometimes be helpful, it’s our daily, colorful diet that ensures we’re getting exactly what we need to run strong, recover well and stay active for a long time. In this episode of CLIFCast we speak about the importance of vitamins and […] The post Vitamins & Minerals appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

One of our biggest challenges as runners, or any athlete for that matter, is rebuilding our bodies after a hard work-out. There are several ways to recover from inevitable muscle Inflammation. One great way to do so nutritionally is through antioxidants which are found in certain foods. Antioxidants help keep inflammation down so that we […] The post Antioxidants appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

One of the main reasons we run and stay active is to be healthy. While organic food and drink may not have an immediate effect on your performance as a runner, the long term effects of organic food on your overall health, as well as that of our planet, are important. After all, you are […] The post Organic Food & Drink appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

As a follow up to our recent Ultra Running episode of CLIFCast, here’s a video featuring Ultra Running champion Geoff Roes, giving us a taste of his incredible come-from-behind victory at the 2010 Western States 100 trail race.  Props to our friends over at Journeyfilm for sharing highlights of their upcoming documentary entitled Unbreakable: The […] The post Clif Bar Shot of COMEBACK – Geoff Roes at Western States 100 appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

What can the rest of us learn from how ultra-runners fuel themselves on runs of 50 miles, 100 miles or longer. Special guests include Team Clif Bar athletes Scott Jurek and Geoff Roes. The post Insights from Afar – Ultra Runner perspectives on Sports Nutrition appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Find out what electrolytes are, the best ways for runners to take them in and the importance of gauging the amount that’s right for you. The post Electrolytes appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.

Learn what Bonking is, how best to avoid it and best ways to un-bonk. The post Bonking appeared first on PAGATIM.fm.