Thursday, June 22, 2006

“What It Takes” Triathlon Movie

“What It Takes” Triathlon Movie Offers Sneak Preview

GymSkinZ will be seeking ways to distribute this DVD

SEATTLE, June 1, 2006 – Triathlon fans’ wait is almost over. “What It Takes”, the documentary profiling four Ironman triathletes, will debut in the coming months through film festivals and selected distribution partners. Until those arrangements are finalized, the triathlon community can get an early peek at the movie’s first few minutes at http://www.witmovie.com/video.php?clip=teaser and a newly updated trailer at http://www.witmovie.com/video.php?clip=trailer. More clips will be released in coming weeks.

The feature-length documentary stars four elite Ironman triathletes – Peter Reid, Heather Fuhr, Lori Bowden, and Luke Bell – who together have won 6 world championships and dozens of major races. Viewers go behind the scenes in the quest for the 2005 world championship in Kona, Hawaii. Running just over 98 minutes, the movie includes footage of the athletes training, racing, and resting, and also opening up in extensive interviews to share their thoughts and feelings. The audience learns much about the sport of triathlon and the duel for athletic supremacy, but also about the very human issues which confront four athletes in an up-and-down, unpredictable year. “What It Takes” was shot at 24 frames per second on a Panasonic SDX-900, and is presented in 16:9 widescreen format. Its rich cinematic feel and sweeping visual imagery from places around the globe – including Australia, Canada, Dubai, and numerous locations in the United States, including Hawaii – combine with compelling storylines to produce a fascinating narrative about four athletes, four human beings, and one dream, the Ironman world championship.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

GymSkinZ supports Project Play 2006

GymSkinZ is proud to support Paige Dunn and her involvement with Project Play 2006.

Here's an excerpt from Paige's website: http://www.paigedunn.com

"Project Play an incredible adventure that I will be part of this November. I will be traveling with four others to Niger to help develop soccer programs throughout this African Nation. Enabling and encouraging participation in sports is something that I am very passionate about and very excited to share with you.

Project Play is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults in African nations through participation in the world's most popular sport - soccer. This collaborative effort will provide educational incentives, promote self-esteem and foster community pride while generating confidence and hope to those in impoverished African nations.

I have wonderful memories of growing up playing soccer and being excited and motivated every season to play and travel with my friends. Soccer provided the opportunity for me to learn the value of teamwork, to bolster my confidence and self-esteem as well as teaching me the value of creating a healthy active lifestyle – clearly something that has stuck with me all of my life. Youth soccer is such an integral part of our lives in the Bay Area that we don’t realize that playing soccer is a privilege that not every child shares.

This privilege is not available to the youth of Niger but “Project Play” can help make a difference. Niger currently has three million people on the verge of starvation. Our group’s purpose is to utilize a soccer project for constructive social purposes and help draw more attention to the needs of the Republic of Niger by working along side the government and in coordination with the nation’s Peace Corps Volunteers.

Along with the Niger Football Association (FENIFOOT) and the Niger Peace Corps, Project Play staff will travel to Niger's seven provincial capitals to implement the program and coordinate with the distribution of soccer balls and manuals to the Peace Corps volunteers. I am proud to be part of this team effort to make a difference.

The cost to deliver our goal of 5,000 soccer balls is $50,000 which includes transportation and administration costs. I am hoping that you will help support this worthwhile endeavor. For only $5 you can pay for the cost of one soccer ball which truly can change an entire village in Niger.

I know there are many many worthwhile groups and causes to support so if Project Play does not resonate with you perhaps you might consider forwarding my letter to someone you know. Any help or support is deeply appreciated.
However, if you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to Project Play, please email me and I will send you more information.

If you would like additional information about “Project Play”, please visit our Web site at www.projectplay.net. Or feel free to email me, paige@xcelsportsgroup.com, and I can tell you more about this exciting adventure . Thanks for your support!

Sincerely,
Paige

www.paigedunn.com"

Thursday, June 15, 2006

New Film about Le Tour

"Tour de France Confidential," a new film that features U.S. cycling's top riders and promises to provide an insider perspective on what really happens at the world's most famous bike race.

According to the film promo, riders, coaches and commentators tell stories of the Tour's intense rivalries, feuds and alliances. Revealed are "hidden tricks" from inside the peloton and the event's circus of off-bike diversions -- behind-the-scenes access typically reserved for racers and their closest confidants.

Now who could pass up a chance to see all that?

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Oliver Half Iron Triathlon Race Report!

Oliver Half-Iron Triathlon

...well that was fun... kinda sorta!

I am pleased to report I survived my first attempt at the half-iron triathlon distance.... suffice to say it was a *little* different than the sprints / olympic distance stuff that I've done in the past - and when I say *little* different, I mean in the "what? I can't go anaerobic / balls to the wall the ENTIRE time and still finish?". In any case, here's my "so-called race" report from this past weekend.

I can say without hesitation that I still absolutely suck donkey-ass in swimming (who takes 62 minutes to swim 2km? Oh wait, that would be ME!) It was my first open water swim of the year and thankfully shoe-horning myself into my wetsuit wasn't actually part of the race or I would have been dead last from the sound of the gun! Couldn't get into any sort of rhythm at all during the swim and was zig-zagging like some sort of Grand Slalom downhill skiier.... Must have been absolutely PAINFUL for spectators to witness from the beach - "Hey, who's the idiot swimming perpendicular to the swim-course?!" I'm sure the other swimmers were saying the exact same thing as I found myself bouncing off of others left and right like a pinball the whole way, and of course being slower than EVERYONE, people had to swim around me, over me, under me, etc etc. No matter how hard I tried to stay wide of the main traffic, I kept veering right back into it... Note to self, learn how to sight before Ironman... Regardless, I was simply happy to *complete* my first attempt at swimming 2km in open water considering I could barely swim 100m around this time last year without getting my heart-rate up to about 220..... for crying out loud.... Anyway, lot of work to do in the lake over the next 12 weeks cuz if I have this kind of swim up at Ironman, it's going to be a RRRREEEEEAAALLLLY loooooong day.

So next was the bike... I was "instructed" to just treat it as a training day so as I was doing cart-wheels through the transition area since I simply made it out of the water alive, I had to keep reminding myself not to hammer like a mad-man during the ride. Of course that's easier said than done since I was so jacked on the fact I was still upright and breathing, and not lying in the back of the EMS ambulance with a couple paramedics yelling "CLEAAAAR!!" as they attempted to revive my lifeless carcass. Anyway, jumped on my bike and started BLOWING by people which felt fantastic, but not really part of the race plan. Once I settled down and got my heart rate to something respectable, it all worked out to a comfortable 2hr 47minutes on the 92km bike course (was 96th overall for the bike). I think that averaged to around 20 or 20.5 mp/h which was great for the rolling course. Was REALLY nice to get off my bike and actually be able to jog back through transition but I did hang out there for a little longer than I should of - mental note - put my speedlaces back on! In my previous sprint races, my legs were rather twitchy and it took me a while to stop cursing at the thought of still having to run but at least this time, sitting down on the concrete to put my shoes on wasn't an exercise in futility...

So after I jammed my feet into my runners, I started haulin ass to the run course when one of the marshalls near the END of transition was nice enough to point out I forgot my race-belt / number.... After hauling ass BACK to my bike (about 100 meters the opposite direction) to find my number, I was finally out on the run course after a rather long transition, but oh well, what's a minute here or there WASTED from stupidity? So anyway, I don't think I've spent more than 1.5 hours on my feet since the California marathon last December, so I was a little worried what was going to happen. It was nice being able to actually RUN coming off the bike as opposed to shuffle/limp/cramp/stretch/curse/jog/repeat. Still, I literally didn't know if I was going to implode 5km into the run or 15km into the run so I figured I better run purely on heart rate as opposed to trying to keep my normal half-marathon pace (which is normally around 1:30 to 1:35 - but a little easier when you haven't rode for almost 3 hours!). Anyway, first aid station, it felt like I was grocery shopping since I gunned down a bunch of gatorade, a gel shot, a couple slices of oranges and I think a chocolate chip cookie that was crushed in the process of trying to grab everything. Basically just ran until my watch started beeping at me letting me know I was out of my zone1 heart rate which I wanted to stick to for at least the first couple miles. At this point, I noticed my watch wasn't showing any pace - *sigh*.... wasn't going to stop and figure it out so I just kept truckin along and relied on heart-rate. Was a nice and slooooooow pace in order to keep my heart from exploding (around 9:00min/miles), but legs felt great the whole time and as much as I wanted to drop the hammer and push, I stuck to the race plan and literally treated it like a Sunday long training run. No idea what was going to happen so I figure I'd just go at this pace until I knew the end was near and pick it up LATER rather than sooner. For once I actually stuck to the plan! Saw my buddies at various points of the run with signs and doing the wave and cowbells and all sorts of other fun stuff so that was fantastic. The people lining the course were great and everyone at each aid-station was awesome! I remember at one of them I asked for a pillow and a comforter instead of the regular "water/gatorade/gel/or fruit and the gal *almost* took me seriously! Always gotta keep a sense of humour I tell ya....

So all in, finished right at 6hrs feeling fantastic - albeit a little disappointed I panicked like a little baby during the swim and probably could have went a LOT quicker during the run - but I really just wanted to finish strong and boost my confidence for Ironman Canada.

Anyway, thanx to the tremendous support of my buddies who came up to support myself and a bunch of others in our "pre-ironman" warm-up race. If any of you want to send me some "long-course open water anti-panic tips" - that would be greatly appreciated ;)

I'll post some pics as soon as the gang sends them over!

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and look forward to catching up with ya'all soon!!!

Tav!

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

GymSkinZ off to Oliver Half-Ironman Triathlon!

Where the HELLLL did the year go?!? Suffice to say the last couple months have been an exercise in patience / tolerance / sleep deprivation. So many things going on these days, I'm not even sure where to begin!

I'll be doing the Oliver Half-Iron triathlon this weekend in prep for the "big-one" (Ironman Canada) in August. Training has been rather sporadic lately due to ongoing projects at the office and trying to stay on top of the chaos with GymSkinZ! Big thanx to everyone from around the world who has visited GymSkinZ and left me comments, as well as picked up some gear. Nothing makes me happier to hear from someone who found me because they saw one of my shirts at a race in some foreign country! To date, there have been some notable GymSkinz sitings in Italy, Australia, the UK, Japan, France, all over the US and even a few right here in Canada ;) A couple pro-triathletes are even sporting some GymSkinZ designs so that's very exciting - you may even see my stuff in the next edition of Triathlete magazine! If you're really bored, come and hang out at the GymSkinZ "myspace" - http://www.myspace.com/gymskinz and join my "gymskinz nation" forum where various multisports athletes from around the world are starting to congregate.

In any case, would love to hear from ya'all to see how you're doin. I've been pretty much a prisoner of my own office and the Peak Center for Human performance the last little while, and will continue to be throughout the summer in prep for Ironman, but drop me a note and look forward to catching up. Stay tuned for my Oliver Race report next week!

cheers
Tav.
www.gymskinz.com

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

V02 Max / Lactate Threshold Training

VO2 Max
Some people have asked where to get V02 Max / Lactate Threshold tests done, how much it is and whether doing one is even worth it.

Well, typically you can ask your local university human kinetics department or physiology department if they offer them. Often grad students will recruit guinea pigs for projects and will test you for free as part of their curriculum. I did both of my run and bike tests at a place called the Peak Center for Human Performance who also offer coaching and personalized programs based on your goals / test results as well as the university of British Columbia Human Kinetics Lab. The cost can vary greatly I suppose, but you can expect it to be anywhere from $125 to $200 - remember you get what you pay for. As you can see in my video for the bike test, it's in a controlled lab environment and obviously requires some special equipment to do the test - think lab rat

Is it worth it? In my opinion, it's a resounding YES. It has helped me train "properly" for endurance sports and provides structure to why and when you need to train slow, and why and when you need to train fast. Most recreational triathletes train purely on RPE (or rate of perceived exertion). Basically, you train as hard as you can, or as long as you can keep up with your training buddies or run group without barfing a lung, you think everything is all good... not usually the case! I train with some of my best friends and as much as I love their company on those long rides or runs, since we're all at different levels, we all have our own specific heart rate zones we need to train at and have to do our own thing although we could probably all alter our mere "speed" to stick together as a group. As much fun as that is, what might be aerobic for one of us is anaerobic for another, or what is a comfortable pace for one, is near race pace for someone else. This is TOTALLY ineffective training if you have a specific goal in mind.

One of the numerous articles about lactate threshold training can be found here: http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/lactatethreshold.html

The most important thing you'll need when you train using these methods is of course a heart rate monitor, and access to a computrainer or power-tap for your bike (for power output in wattage). I ride with guys that can output 200 watts at around 100bpm for crying out loud whilst I'd be sucking wind so hard, a black-hole like vortex would envelop my riding space within 2 bike lenghts in all directions..... well, not really.. but you get the idea of typically every individual is at a different level. Just a few beats per minute either way can equate to a proper zone 1 aerobic workout vs. a zone 2 junk-mile workout - a very important line that you want to establish for yourself if you want your hard hours spent running / biking / swimming to bear fruit and make you quicker!

Hope this makes some sense!

drop me an email if this kinda stuff interest you in anyway, would love to share my data with ya!

cheers
Tav

Saturday, May 20, 2006

GymSkinZ Closet Clearance

Hey Everyone!

Just received a bunch of my "Threesome Anyone?" shirts in various colors / styles as well as a bunch of others - gotta clear out some room for my next batch of stuff coming in so drop me a note if you're interested in picking one or three up ;) starting at $14.99 taxes and shipping - drop by www.gymskinz.com/news.html for what's currently available.

For a limited time, I'm also releasing a few more of my highly coveted (and controversial) "F*CK STRONG" shirt, in absolutely NO WAY was this design created to disrespect or dishonor the foundation bearing a similar name with the same number of syllables ;) email me for details!

I have some REALLY COOL tech-fiber stuff being produced right now using "Chitosante Interlock" fabric which feels like butta! Lots of things happening with my little "side project' so stay tuned! Oliver Half Iron is just a couple weeks away so I'm sure that will inspire at least a couple new shirt designs ;)

cheers!
Tav!
www.gymskinz.com

Monday, May 08, 2006

If this doesn't inspire you, I don't know what will...

Part of the Ironman video series - AWESOME.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgS2y3Rkx2I&search=ironman%20addicted%20drug

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Gag T-Shirts

Gag T-Shirts have invaded the often oh-so-serious world of Multisports! Welcome to the official blog of GymSkinz Corp. - the home of hillarious Gag T-Shirts relating to multisports and LIFE! In our Blog and upcoming Podcasts, you'll find all sorts of information and news (some useful, some not so useful ;) regarding multisports, the triathlon lifestyle, funny stories, our crazy gag t-shirts and of course stuff about me - Tavis - the guy that started GymSkinZ!

What is GymSkinZ? Our mandate is to simply put some fun (back) into the typically monotonous and often gruelling act of training for triathlons, marathons, or whatever it is you do to get you off your ass and outside to play!

We'll also use this as a way to update people on the PLETHORA of new designs we'll be releasing, featured designs, exciting corporate developments and everything else under the sun.

Get it? Have fun out there folks and look forward to catching up with you soon!

Tav
Ironman Canada 2006
drop me a note anytime!
tav@gymskinz.com

Funny T-Shirts for MultiSports Athletes!

Funny T-Shirts for Multisports Athletes!

Big things are in the works for summer here at GymSkinZ corp. Stay tuned for many new designs and race updates from the Oliver Half Iron, Squamish Triathlon, Peach city Triathlon, and of course the big one - Ironman Canada in August! Gymskinz will gear will be on the backs of a bunch of the participants - hopefully causing a laugh or three during the race ;)

cheers!

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Boston Marathon

Whoa, talk about inspiring! Suffice to say GymSkinz will be featuring a few more "inspiring" t-shirt designs as it was an AMAZING experience down at the Boston Marathon this past weekend. To everyone we met out the course, at the expo, in the pubs, etc etc, it was a pleasure and look forward to seeing you again soon! Now I just have to get my ass in gear and actually qualify! First there was ironman, next stop - Boston qualification!

cheers
Tavis

Friday, April 14, 2006

Gag T-Shirts gone to Boston

Gag T-Shirts gone to Boston
GymSkinz Gag T-Shirts and performance apparel are down in Boston MA for the marathon!! We'll be mixing and mingling with the thousands of participants and fans from around the globe. Be sure to check www.gymskinz.com for the upcoming photo-gallery!

A bit about the Boston Marathon:
The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's most prestigious road racing events. The Boston Athletic Association manages this American classic, which is sponsored by John Hancock Financial Services. The Boston Marathon has distinguished itself as the pinnacle event within the sport of road racing by virtue of its traditions, longevity and method of gaining entry into the race (via qualification).

Thanx for your continued support!
T.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Technical Fiber Gag T-Shirts

GymSkinZ Technical Fiber Gag T-Shirts are about to make their big debut down at the Boston Marathon this weekend! Hold onto your hats folks, it's gonna be a busy summer!

T.
IronMan Canada 2006
GymSkinZ Inc.
Technical Fiber Gag T-Shirts and Performance Apparel

Here's some other crazy obnoxious shirts for your viewing pleasure:

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Herbal Nutrition Supplement

Herbal Nutrition Supplement

Herbal Nutrition Supplement

That's right!! The Herbal Nutrition Supplement called FRS-PLUS boosted elite cyclists' performance by 3.1% in a clinical trial - and that's without any EPO ;) As a multisports or endurance athlete, gag t-shirts alone will not help you perform at your best - wish they did cuz I'd be in Kona no problem or running this weekends Boston Marathon! Anyway, so what the hell is FRS? FRS stands for "Free Radical Scavenger" and it is literally the best tasting stuff you've ever had - almost tastes like a melted orange creamsicle and they have a new lime flavour too. It's an antioxidant booster, as well as an antioxidant and multivitamin. Take this stuff with you on your next run or long ride, and you'll perform like a champ! ;)

What are free radicals?
Free radicals are reactive oxygen molecules that are created as a by-product when our body burns oxygen to create energy. These molecules have an unpaired electron in the outer shell that makes them unstable.

How often does our body produce free radicals?
Millions are produced every second.

What effect do free radicals have on the human body?
They damage healthy cell walls, reduce the energy producing capability of the mitochondria in the cells, and even damage the DNA in the cell nucleus.

What causes free radical cell damage to increase?
Exposure to environmental toxins, stress, chemicals, radiation from the sun, high fat diet, high sugar processed foods, periods of intense exercise, periodic over-exertion (the "weekend warrior syndrome") and lack of sleep.

What are some long term possible effects of free radical cell damage?
Premature aging, weakened immunity, and low energy. In addition, while disease conditions are associated with many factors, including family history, diet and lifestyle, scientific research now suggests that free radical damage may be implicated in over 60 diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and Alzheimer's.

What does FRS stand for?
Free Radical Scavenger.

What are Free Radical Scavengers?
Free Radical Scavengers, more commonly know as antioxidants, neutralize free radicals to help prevent damage to our cells.

What are flavonoids?
Flavonoids are polyphenolic substances present in most plants, concentrated in the seeds, fruit, skin, bark, and flowers. They are powerful antioxidants that fight free radical damage.

What are the key metabolic enhancers in FRS?
Caffeine
Quercetin
Vitamins C, E, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-12, and B-6

Why are those key metabolic enhancers beneficial for my body?
They help to absorb the other nutrients

How much caffeine is in a serving of FRS?
There are 38 milligrams of caffeine in an 8 ounce serving of FRS, which is equivalent to a cup of tea or approximately 1/3 cup of coffee.

What are the key active ingredients?
500 mg of quercetin, which is typically found in the skins of apples, onions and red grapes.
100mg of catechins extracted from green tea
100% + RDI of 7 key vitamins

Why are those key ingredients beneficial for my body?
Quercetin
• Quercetin has powerful performance-enhancing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Green Tea
• Green tea, recognized worldwide for its therapeutic properties, contains powerful flavonoids called catechins. The chief catechin in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, cholesterol lowering, fat burning and other beneficial properties.

Who should use FRS drink?
Everyone can use FRS to fight against daily free radical cell damage. Because of its caffeine content (about ¼ of a cup of coffee) and energy-increasing properties, FRS should not be given to very young children without a pediatrician's approval.

What will I feel after drinking FRS?
Consumers of FRS often experience an increase in energy and alertness within 30 minutes of ingestion.*
* Individual results will vary.

How often should I drink FRS?
Two 8 oz servings per day are recommended, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, to obtain the best results. A serving is 2 oz of FRS concentrate combined with 6 oz of chilled water to make an 8 oz drink.

How many servings are in a 32oz concentrated bottle of FRS?
There are 16 servings per bottle.

How do I make a serving of FRS from the concentrated form?
Shake the bottle of FRS well. Pour 2 oz of FRS concentrate into the plastic measuring cup and then pour into a drinking glass. Add 6 oz of chilled water and stir.

Is it okay to mix FRS concentrate with other liquids than water?
Yes, feel free to use in smoothies, juices or protein shakes.

What is the shelf life of FRS in the concentrated 32oz bottles?
1 year

Do I need to refrigerate the concentrated 32oz bottles FRS?
Yes, but only after opening the bottle

What is the shelf life after I open the 32oz concentrated form of FRS?
We recommend that the bottle be consumed within one month of opening.

Increase Your Energy Levels By Getting Rid of Toxins




Increase Your Energy Levels By Getting Rid of Toxins!

As a multisports athlete, we're constantly in search of ways to increase energy levels or performance. A product I've been using to stay awake while I build GymSkinZ into allll hours of the night, and give me the energy to drag my ass out of bed to continue training for Ironman is FRS-PLUS.

FRSPLUS is revolutionizing the Sports Performance market. Join the revolution and get a free sample!

Work based from home

Work based from home

GymSkinz currently uses CafePress to provision many of our hillarious Gag T-Shirt designs. Having said that, I run this entire operation from the comforts of my own home! It allows me the time to keep training for Ironman Canada, and make a little bit of money while people spread the word throughout races around the world with my funny t-shirts! Not a bad gig!

Check our site often at GymSkinZ for exciting new changes and additions of new designs! Add this .xml feed to your My Yahoo or My MSN space and be updated immediately with sales, promotions, and the launch of our new technical fiber line! (not available through cafepress ;)

cheers,
T.