NYX News: November 2024 – NYX Endurance

navigating the holidays: a triathlete’s guide to surviving the season

Ah, the holiday season! A magical time filled with joy, family, and an ungodly amount of food. Don’t panic, fellow athletes! With a little strategy, some festive humor, and maybe a yoga mat to hide under, you really can survive the season of too little time and too much food.

Read the full guide here.

what makes us better:

Coach Alison: Giving Ourselves Some Grace

We’re entering a season when it’s hard to stay in sync with our usual patterns. Holiday cookies are everywhere we turn, schedules are upended and travel and family events eat into the time we usually devote to training. Instead of feeling guilty about indulging in some treats and missing a few workouts, go ahead and give yourself some grace. It’s hard – and unnecessary – to be on top of your game 52 weeks a year, and this is the perfect time to let things slide here or there. Stay in touch with your fitness, enjoy your favorite treats, sneak out for a few minutes to complete your daily run/core/mobility challenge, and plan to be rested and recharged to start strong come 2025.

did you know?

Coach Julie: Creatine

Did you know that creatine supplementation can enhance endurance performance and provide specific benefits for peri- and post-menopausal women? Here’s a closer look:

Creatine Benefits for Endurance Athletes

Increased ATP Production: Creatine boosts ATP availability, allowing athletes to maintain higher intensities for longer.
Improved Recovery: It reduces muscle damage and inflammation post-exercise, facilitating quicker recovery.
Muscle Mass Maintenance: Creatine helps increase lean muscle mass, which is crucial for endurance performance.

Creatine Benefits for Peri- and Post-Menopausal Women

Muscle Strength: It can help increase muscle mass and strength, combating the natural decline during menopause.
Bone Health: Creatine supports bone mineralization, reducing the risk of osteoporosis when combined with resistance training.
Enhanced Exercise Capacity: It improves physical performance, encouraging regular activity vital for health.
Cognitive Benefits: Creatine may also boost mood and cognitive function during hormonal changes.

Post Note: Some individuals may experience gastrointestinal issues when starting creatine supplementation. It’s advisable to monitor your body’s response and adjust your intake accordingly.

random musings:

Coach Shana: On Success

What is the measure of success at a triathlon or other endurance adventure? The numbers on the tracker/watch/etcetera are certainly important, but that only tells part of the story: how far I went, how long it lasted, how many other people my age did it with me.

Numbers don’t tell what happened though, or how it felt. What unexpected things were met and overcome, what strangers said that was entertaining or helped in a hard moment, how you conquered a fear, or how you upped your mental game to get that FINISH LINE. Such things are an integral part of the success story too!

Here’s my point … YOU get to determine how to define your success. Every time. Keep adventuring!

meet a teammate:

Teammate: Coach Alison, resides in Louisville, CO with her husband, Chris, her two dogs, Rosie and Goose, and the occasional presence of her three basically grown-up kids, Gray, Colby, and Daisy.

Favorite race: I love IM Coeur d’Alene, but Coeur d’Alene hates me
Walk-out song: for a long time it was Hello by Martin Solveig & Dragonette, but it’s recently been replaced by X Gon’ Give It To Ya by DMX
3 Words that family/friends would use to describe you: thoughtful, organized, focused
Worst style choice you’ve ever made: it took me years – sadly my middle school years – to realize that (A) my hair was very curly and (B) you should never brush curly hair
If you could have an unlimited supply of 1 thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? ohhhh picking just one thing is hard, but I have to go with time with my kids

NYX Endurance