A blog to help you optimize your full-body and life performance

Known to be one of the most grueling tests of endurance and the oldest 100-mile trail race in the world, the historical Western States 100 is set on technical trails and terrain from Squaw Valley to Auburn, California. As the countdown to race day continues, we had the opportunity to chat with a few athletes about how they’ve used InsideTracker to help get them to the start line prepared to tackle 18,000 feet of ascent and 23,000 feet of descent over 100.2 miles... all in (mostly) one day.

At InsideTracker, our work revolves around the concept that no two people are the same. Accordingly, neither is their health. And yet until now, we've all been treated with the same remedies, taught the same health-boosting tips, and followed nearly identical dietary patterns. But do such practices get us closer to optimal health as individuals, or farther away? We think the latter. So we've gone rogue; we track biomarkers, use them as a signpost for where our health is going, and change course – even if it's the path less traveled. 

Meet Chris McNamara, a total badass. With more than 15 years of active duty, being a Master Sergeant and member of the Army Special Operations Command qualifies him for the superlative alone. Add to that, his Joint Service Commendation Medal, 5 Bronze Stars, and USOC Medic of the Year awards along with the fact that he’s a CrossFit Regionals athlete, and a testicular cancer survivor, and you’ve got a deadly combination on your hands. 

So how does he stay on top of all it, and continue to operate at peak performance like his life depends on it (oh wait, it does!)? Simple, he takes the time to ensure his motor is running like a finely tuned sports car. Just like checking the oil, he tests with InsideTracker, and encourages the athletes he coaches and his fellow unit members to test as well.

In anticipation of Veteran's Day, I had the pleasure of sitting down with him to talk about his experience…

No one can deny that the feeling of fall can’t be beat. With temperatures finally going down and the prospect of apple picking right around the corner, it’s hard not to love the season. For some, though, the winding down of summer can also be a stressful time. Whether it be going back to school, the end of vacation, or changes at work as everyone returns from break and buckles down, fall introduces disruptions for most people that can throw off even the most resolute nutrition and wellness routines, and trigger weight gain.

A great way to decrease stress and control your weight and eating during times of transition is through mindful meditation. Although we at InsideTracker have found the research on weight loss to be too limited to make mindful meditation an official recommendation, we believe that it has great potential to help, and we are keeping a close eye on this exciting, developing field.

Nine hours, twenty-eight minutes, and twenty-nine seconds. When is the last time you did anything for that long? No, really. Have you even slept that long lately? Well, that's how long it took InsideTracker athlete, Kevin Portmann, to cross the finish line of Ironman Coeur d'Alene.

By crossing the finish line in personal record time and nearly 10 minutes faster than the runner up, he not only punched his ticket the Ironman World Championship in Kailua Kona, he also grabbed his Pro Card - a feat by any measure.

After this triumphant win, our colleague, Mariah Bridges, caught up with Kevin to talk about his training, nutrition, and the role InsideTracker plays in all of it. View the video below, or read the Q&A instead!

Just breathe. Chances are, you've heard that advice before. Chances also are, you're not doing it correctly. Whether you're involved in competitive sports and looking to maximize your performance, or just looking to feel better and more focused throughout your workday, breathing properly can help.

Joe DI, Director of Sport at Spartan Race, returns as our guest blogger for the third installment in a series of posts featuring his training expertise. This time, Joe discusses why breathing has become a focus of the performance world, why he ensures his athletes and coaches practice it, and how he integrates proper approaches to breathing into their routines in a practical way. In fact, studies have shown that diaphragmatic breathing can help workplace stress by reducing cortisol levels¹. 

Challenge yourself to follow Joe's guidance and focus on breathing the right way to improve your life, both on the field and off...

As a CrossFit L1 Trainer and all around enthusiast of the sport, this time of year is exciting because we get to watch our sport take the spotlight. We see the underdogs reach new levels at CrossFit Regionals and in the same moment see our favorites fall from their podium. It is exhilarating and heart wrenching. The sport is constantly varied which seems to mean anyone can come from the shadows to win, and we’ve seen that happen many times. But, are those athletes lucky? Are they really in the shadows?

Here at InsideTracker, we aim to bring you content you can use everyday: in the gym, on the race-course, on the road, at work, and at home. That's why we're excited to welcome a new guest blogger to the platform: Joe DiStefano, better known as“Joe DI”, is Director of Sport at Spartan Race, and he's a longtime friend and user of InsideTracker. Over the next few months, Joe will be sharing some of his incredible training insight on our blog. Be sure to subscribe.  

In his guest blog debut, Joe DI discusses his unique and highly effective approach to recovery — specifically, sleep. Here’s what he had to say about sleeping like a pro…

Every February, the “ultimate” job interview is conducted in Indianapolis, Indiana. The best college football players come from across the country to show their skills in the NFL Combine.  The top draft picks have waited their entire lives for this one moment in time to prove they deserve a roster spot—the chance to go pro!

Being the best on one or more particular days is something everyone wants, especially those that compete and dream of a personal best. This article reviews the scientific art of tapering: strategic resting to maximize the hard work of preparation so it manifests with breakthrough performance on game day. Whether you’re prepping for an obstacle race, a CrossFit session, marathon, triathlon or a weekend 5k, you can benefit from tapering your training like the pros. 

Mom always told you to eat your beets. As usual, her instruction was on point. The health benefits of beets are well documented, but there’s a new trend on the performance-enhancing block in the form of juice — and not the illegal kind. Beetroot juice is all the rage these days, and it turns out it could be the key to unlocking increased speed and endurance in everyone from weekend warriors to seasoned pros.

Beetroot juice also packs a powerful cardiovascular health punch. That makes it the perfect topic for February’s theme of red: there's Valentine's Day, National Heart Health Month, and of course, February 5th was National Wear Red Day, the American Heart Association’s annual initiative to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke in women. Whether you decide to wear red or drink it, there’s more than one reason to try beetroot juice. We've even created a recipe so you can make your own!