As a kid, many of us dreamed of being a champion of some sort, with visions of holding a trophy above our heads while an adoring crowd cheered our name. Quite a few local athletes have made that dream come true, and are well known around town as experts in their chosen sport. You’ve read about them in the Vail Daily many times before, but have you ever wondered what health and fitness regimens they practice to be better than the rest? Their advice might not automatically grant you a medal, but they could leave you at least feeling and looking like a winner.
Here are some tips from those at the top of their game when it comes to skiing, cycling, running, hiking and more.
Sarah Schleper
Local skiing star Sarah Schleper has competed in four Olympic Games, won the U.S. Championships, and also won at the FIS World Cup.
After Schelper retired in December, she took a break from training for awhile. Schelper’s now back to working out after taking a boot-camp style class that inspired her to get in great shape again. When it comes to diet, Schleper tries to follow a raw food lifestyle after reading the book Crazy S-e-x-y Diet by Kris Carr.
I really like her philosophy of eating mostly raw foods, lots of vegetables, nuts and legumes, Schleper said. I want to try and skip on all animal products, although I do eat fish and milk and eggs.
Schleper finds that eating sushi and alkaline foods gives her the boost she needs while skiing.
I always feel like I ski better after I eat sushi, Schleper said. It’s the seaweed superfood, the omega’s in the fish and the lightness in the rice. Sports nutrition is becoming more and more advanced. They are finding that keeping your body alkaline helps with inflammation, and keeping it energized.
Now that she’s no longer competing, Schleper will be the head coach and program director at Echo Mountain, dolling out plenty of advice for those looking to improve their skiing groove.
I always try to tell the athletes I work with to learn their bodies, Schleper said. No one will know their body like they do.
Jake Wells
Jake Wells is a professional cyclocross racer, a National Champion mountain biker and an elite level road racer. He’s also a personal trainer at Dogma Athletica in Edwards and a cycling coach.
Wells has adopted a gluten-free diet to help him be more aware of what he eats.
I don’t know that (a gluten free diet) has directly helped my performance, Wells said. But I think when you introduce a dietary change like that, it forces an extra level of consciousness and makes you think a little bit more about what you are fueling your body with. Also, as an endurance athlete, finding a no gluten option for carbs, such as rice or potatoes, can be a little easier on your stomach.
When it comes to training, Wells thinks there’s one thing many athletes and active people forget about.
I think an area that is often overlooked is rest, Wells said. Going easy or taking a day off allows your body to recover and grow from the work you have been doing. It’s easy to get into the mentality of only having a short amount of time, so (people) go out and ride too hard, day after day… It’s one thing to be fit, but if you are not mentally rested and fresh enough to push yourself, then the motivation to train can quickly go away.
Mary Ellen Gilliland
Mary Ellen Gilliland wrote the book on hiking, literally. As the author of The Vail Hiker and The New Summit Hiker, Gilliland has not only made it to the top of a plethora of peaks, but helped make it easier for others to get there too. While many consider the view from the heights to be better reward than standing on a podium, hiking in high altitude can still be a grueling experience and requires a certain level of fitness.
Although the summer hiking season is nearing an end, Gilliland advises fellow altitude ascenders to keep right on trekking through the winter.
Exercise year round, so you don’t have to get in shape for hiking every spring, Gilliland said. Cross-country skiing in winter keeps me in shape for summer hiking because it includes hill climbs for maintaining lung performance, maintains downhill muscle strength and generally builds stamina.
Gilliland said there are ways to develop your hiking skills every day, even during regular walks by focusing on the length of your stride.
Practice making each step forward a longer step, until long steps become a habit, Gilliland said. Don’t talk while climbing hills; it causes breathlessness, which makes you feel like you can’t accomplish your goal. Every day add length and increase strenuous challenges in your workout just a little bit.
Josiah Middaugh
On Saturday off-road triathlete Josiah Middaugh won the Xterra USA Championship, adding a fourth and final victory after previously winning the Xterra East Championship, Xterra West Championship and the Xterra Mountain Championship. As a trainer at Dogma, Middaugh often teaches his tricks of the trade to fellow triathletes.
Middaugh thinks putting your dollars towards a personal trainer is more cost-effective than buying the latest fancy equipment.
A little bit of direction and accountability can make a big difference, Middaugh said. I would recommend investing in a coach before investing in expensive lightweight equipment.
While it would be nice if there was a simple shortcut to becoming a champion, all the athletes we talked to agreed that devoting your time and having the drive to achieve your fitness goals is the most important piece of advice they could give.
There is not one secret to the top, Middaugh said. It’s a combination of motivation, hard work and the right direction.
But who knows? Trying some tips from the pros might make that dream of holding a trophy high happen just a bit faster.
Resources:
Sole Source TIPS Cuticle Conditioner – Liquid Filled Cotton Swabs (Misc.) tagged “health tips” 8 times
Mon, 7 Jun 2010 04:18:28 GMT
Sole Source TIPS Cuticle Conditioner – Liquid Filled Cotton Swabs (Misc.)By Sole Source Click for more info Customer tags: cuticle care(8), health(8), cuticle(8), cuticle conditioner(8), health tips(8), beauty tips(8), beauty favorites(8), b003o1x4yq http://www.amazon.com/Sole-Source-TIPS-Cuticle-Conditioner/dp/B003NSETFI/ref=tag_rso_rs_edpp_url?ie=UTF8&creative=381421&tag=thedays-20
Sole Source TIPS Cuticle Conditioner – Liquid Filled Cotton Swabs (Misc.)By Sole Source Click for more info Customer tags: cuticle care(8), health(8), cuticle(8), cuticle conditioner(8), health tips(8), beauty tips(8), beauty favorites(8), b003o1x4yq Healthy Living (Fit to 100: Secrets to Health and Longevity) (Kindle Edition) tagged “health tips” 8 times
Thu, 23 Aug 2012 19:22:02 GMT
Healthy Living (Fit to 100: Secrets to Health and Longevity) (Kindle Edition)By C.D. Shelton Buy new: $0.99 Customer Rating: 
Customer tags: long life(8), healthy living(8), health tips(8), live long(8), health and wellness(7), longevity(7), live longer(7), healthy lifestyle(7), health(7), health and fitness(7), healthy aging(7) Annie Jaffrey: 5 Health Tips!
5 Health Tips! Good morning angels! Filmed a health video yesterday, talking about 5 ways that you can get healthy starting today. Simple little things that can make such a big difference! I love that you guys are interested in … http://www.anniejaffrey.com/2012/09/5-health-tips.html
Tips for finding the right individual health insurance plan …
How you can find the right individual health plan if you’ve lost your health insurance through an employer. http://www.insurancequotes.com/individual-health-insurance-plan/
Prevention Books Everyday Health Tips
2012-09-25T08:06:28.000Z
End Date: Tuesday Oct-2-2012 1:06:28 PDT
Buy It Now for only: $3.99
Buy It Now | Add to watch list
Health Tips For Horses, EZ Veterinarian Advice to Best Care for your Horse BOOK
2012-09-18T20:53:33.000Z
End Date: Tuesday Sep-25-2012 13:53:33 PDT
Buy It Now for only: $4.75
Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list
You Can Help Your Child Get More Exercise By Following These 5 Tips
Does your child get enough exercise? You can get your children more active with these 5 fun parenting tips.
Better Health in Four Steps
In just four steps, you can improve your health for the better and this article will show you how. The steps below are bite-sized nuggets of health information you can actually use to live a healthy life. Here we go… Nutritional supplements are the first step As far as I’m concerned, they are very important […]
Top 4 Nutrition Predictions in the New Year
Several food and nutrition trends were in the spotlight this year, including the continued rise of plant-based diets, non-dairy ice creams and superfoods that are blasts from the past — legumes, apples and cabbage. It can be easy to experience nutrition whiplash in the New Year, but don’t be a victim. Get a jump-start on […]
Want to lose weight? Research proves a big breakfast is the first step
If you want to lose weight, you’re not alone. More than half of Americans desire to shed pounds, according to Gallup. This goal inspires people to take action in many ways, from increasing exercise to modifying meals. One thing many people do is skip breakfast in order to lower calorie intake. While this may seem […]
Health Tips And Vitamins I Should Take Being A Growing Teen? Anyone recommend any daily vitamins i should take? please provide the store i can get em at and the price. what it does and all the details please. also any random health tips would be appreciated. thanks.
A multi vitamin suh as centrum is good. Flaxseed oil capsules are great as well.
Any Health Or Beauty Tips You Know About Weightloss, Looks, Health Etc? I want to try and be heathlier and feel better about myself because at the moment I have really low self esteem and I want to know any health tips you guys can give me.
Examples:
– How to lose weight safely
– How to brush your hair or teeth properly
– How to apply makeup
– A good cleanser that won’t harm your skin.
Basically just anything you know about being healthy or anything you can think of.
Person with the most tips gets best answer!
Hi Kara!
I have dealt with this problem of weight lose (and low self esteem too!) for a couple of years now. But now I reached a point where I know if I will not do something for myself, no one will do it…So, here is a list of some questions/ideas that I think you will find useful and by answering to these question you will have some ideas on what to work on.
1. Make the time to focus on health.
2. Take a long hard look at what you are putting into your body.
3. How much are you eating?
4. Drink WATER!
5. How much do you move each day?
Hope you will be ok soon!
Kindly,
Irene
Do These Health Tips Actually Work? 1 apple / day – no doctor
1 lemon / day – no fat
1 cup of milk / day – no bone problems
3 ltrs water / day – no diseases…
Also what are some losing weight health tips?
No, these health ‘tips’ are actually myths. It’s all very healthy to do that, but no.
To lose weight, all you can really do is exercise more and eat healthy and try to keep your calories at around 1600 a day. It’s good to drink homemade lemonade that tastes pretty sour and not sweetened very much- it’s good for your metabolism. Tea is good, fruits and vegetables are good. It’s a great time to get active because it’s summer and you’ll sweat more, which is awesome for your body to flush out toxins and such. I like making fruit smoothies and adding spinach or kale (you can’t taste it and it’s so good for your body- not to mention filling). When you snack during the day, only snack on ‘raw’ foods like fruits and vegetables, or maybe a few almonds.
Good luck!
I’m Trying To Loose Weight, What Are Some Health Tips? I’m making a modeling portfolio, and I know I need to be slimmer. What are some health tips, such as eating veggies, and colors to dress in the make you look slimmer? What is skinny for height 5’8″? I am Indian (India) & German and I have blue eyes.
Unfortunately there are no easy ways to permanently lose weight and most people who lose weight regain it all.
A vegetarian or vegan diet for the rest of your life might perhaps be a good option as very few vegetarians or vegans are overweight.
If you want a life changing permanent weight loss you need to follow a maintenance diet for the rest of your life after you reach your target weight with one of the many diets you can choose from.
You can see further details in a web search for “how to lose weight and keep it off”.