Japan – Finals – Move Out – Dominion Riverrock – Ahhhh, HOME.

All in 7 days.

My last week has been pretty jam-packed but maybe one of my most successful weeks yet! After being in Japan for the Invitational Lead Master where I took the Silver Medal, I flew back to NYC to write my final exams. I had 15-hours on the flight to study so I guess the time spent sitting on the plane in transit studying would have been spent sitting at the library instead. So, in my opinion, this worked out fine – multi-tasking style =]

After finishing exams at 10pm I went to Brooklyn Boulders, and had one more training session with my new coach Alexi Thomakos who has been INCREDIBLY helpful for me especially in training my power and mental game. I also have to thank Robyn Ebersfield for helping me with my latest progression. Between working with Alexi and Robyn, I can attest to the fact that mentally and (hopefully!) physically, I am stronger and really motivated for the next feat.

The next day, I packed up all my stuff from where I was living in NYC into my car and moved out. I drove from NYC to my family home in DC for a night, then the next morning drove to Richmond for the Dominion Riverrock Festival.

Dominion Riverrock is perhaps my favorite event of the year. The overwhelming number
of friends, crowd support, energy, and general excitement always amazes me. The competition is so unique and fun, I can’t foresee ever not wanting to go! Thank you, Sport Backer, Peak, and everyone involved in the production and execution of this event!!!

I was also really happy with my performance in the competition and to defend my title as the Champion =] Yay!

Yesterday (Sunday) I drove home from Richmond to DC, unpacked, and collapsed in my own bed for the best night of sleep in a while!

Now, I am in DC for a few days before returning to film one more time with Good Morning America and Ginger Zee, but this time outside climbing, in New York, then Boston Friday night for the weekend!

I am finalizing my summer plans now and getting really excited to get back outdoors for the next adventure!

Stay tuned =] Always PSYCHED!

Xx S <3

The post Queen of the Mountain: Sasha talks about her recent trip to Dominion Riverrock appeared first on Live Inspired.

Here at LifeStrength, we praise the human drive to be great and live an active, healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately during the pursuit of greatness, accidents can happen. When they do, there’s myID. myID is the number one medical ID bracelet with an easy- to-update online profile that provides the fastest and most complete medical information to first responders.

Time is precious during an emergency, especially if there are life threatening injuries involved. myID medical ID bracelet provides quick and comprehensive medical information to first responders which enables them to treat you with the best care possible with access to vital health information such as:

• Pre existing conditions
• Blood type
• Food and drug allergies
• Current and past medications
• Previous medical conditions and
• Emergency and physician contact information.

myID is perfect for:

Added Benefits:

• Hospital pre-notification service for serious and non life-threatening injuries
• Lifetime warranty
• 24/7 Emergency call center for first responder access to your profile
• Easy health profile setup – online or by phone
• Exclusive Ion Health Technology

Unfortunately accidents can’t always be prevented, but when they do, trust myID medical ID bracelet to have your vital medical information readily available for first responders. But don’t just take our word for it, see what our friends had to say about their myID bands:

The post myID: Medical ID Bracelet to the Rescue appeared first on Live Inspired.

AMA National Hare and Hound 

Round 6, Sage Riders MC

Starting off, just writing the “UT” on this made me happy! I was stoked to say the least to get back to UT my home state to race the Sage Rider’s round! My buddy Cameron set up a lot of the course and told me how fast it was going to be, I love that type of racing! I really feel at home on the bike when I’m in 5th tapped! The weather was great at 77 Degrees as the high for Saturday but the ground was still dryer than a popcorn fart. Skyler and I made it out to the race sight around 8PM and we had dinner with the Bangerts! We had a good ole time talking about where Mitch grew up, something to do with born on the mountain raised in a cave, and then something about sisters… haha!

Race Day:

Woke up that morning feeling confident and hungry for a win in dang-ole Utah! I ended up running the bomb; it was more of a MX start, about 300 feet before we would all funnel onto the dunes. I found a great line that I had worked in but I had to make sure to get the bike back ready to go so no one would steal it from me. I went back got the bike prepped and had it up there an hour early, I then came back to the box van to get pumped. I hitched a ride with my buddy Brody Ervine, as usual, two dudes on a quad going through dirt bike pits didn’t look right but with two strapping young lads like ourselves we just smiled and waved. We reached the start had our rider’s meeting and waited for each wave of the dirt bikes to start. I was really excited because this would be probably the only race that we had a totally different loop from the bikes so we wouldn’t be doing any passing on bikes the first loop.

The banner raised, I fell into my tunnel vision and waited for the faintest sign of movement from the two course workers holding it. It was a short banner which caught some rider’s off guard but I rocketed out front with Chris Brigman on the left of me, neither of us was going to let off. Chris was the first to the uphill dune with me in toe. A mile from the start, there was a road crossing but no arrows on where to go next. By then all of the racers had met up and all looking at each other for advice what we should do. Chris Brigman took off towards the course so I jumped in behind him and the 3 way battle between Chris, myself and Brody Lovell was on. Chris had the lead going through
the hooners and dunes followed by me and Brody in third (a hooner is little sand mounds hidden throughout the grass that dominate you). The position changes were unbelievable as each of us led at one point or another, I just stayed patient. Brody ended up not clearing a road crossing which caused him to flip, so it was just me and Chris. About mile 15 I knew that the fast dirt roads were getting close, I made a final pass for the lead as we hit the dirt road. I was so stoked; it was time to let the ole Deere run! Cameron didn’t lie to me, the mile markers were coming so fast 20, 25,30,35,40, and 90% off that in 5th gear! The last ten miles of the loop was a long section of hooners, it felt like an infinite amount of time, I just kept pushing myself. I ended up reaching the finish line in first as I headed back out for the second loop, I didn’t know but I was 2 minutes ahead. I had a quick pit from Skyler Howes and Brody’s dad Don. I headed through the pits and with a lot of thumbs up from the on lookers I was feeling great, I could actually win my second race this year! The quad alternate looped up through some cedar trees and went across the main road. I saw some course marking in a lower location so I followed them, worst mistake of my life, I was on the mini dirt bike loop… I ended up coming to the last road crossing of the loop, I just came through there about 5 minutes before, and I knew I had screwed up huge. I had to come back through the pits and find my way through cedar trees. Luckily I found the way through the fence and put my head down. I knew I was away back, probably 7th quad at this point.
The only thing I could think about was not letting this championship slip away from me. I made it through the dunes, picking off
UTV’s and quads. My trusty Cardio Surge from Precision Nutrition Plus kicked in and I didn’t feel the rough terrain, with help from my Flexx Handlebars and Exit/ARSFX Suspension.

I came to the last check point of the race and asked the nice lady “how many quads are in front of me?” She replied “Only one, GO GET EM! I obliged! My mind was on fire, hoping it wasn’t current point leader Andy Lagsdins. As I reached Cameron’s road crossing I started yelling obscenities’ at myself racing down the dirt road. It was my dads (Val) native tongue. I just was screaming don’t give up in a colorful way; I’m sure it would’ve made Coach Bobby Knight blush. As I creeped closer I could see who it was, it was Delta native Brody Lovell! I was relieved but also determined to take the win. I pushed through the last of the rough ten miles but I didn’t have enough time. I came in
2nd 20 seconds down. I was stoked for Brody for the fact the he had just raced the course with stock suspension (which is horrible for quads). I was happy with my 2nd place finish and I was happy to see my friend Jace Penny come in 3rd. Flexx Handlebar and Millard
County sweep haha!

I am now sitting one point behind Andy for National points. Cherry Creek is in two weeks and it’s my favorite venue, I can’t wait!  I have to thank the Blais Racing Crew for helping me this weekend. Also, a big shout out ffor all of my sponsors, I couldn’t do it without their help!

The post Racing with Colt Brinkerhoff: AMA National Hare and Hound Round 6 appeared first on Live Inspired.

Voyaging around the world has taken another level for me lately while balancing my studies at Columbia University, to the point that I am on return now from my latest weekend trip: to Japan!

While being in school, I really can’t make long trips because I need to be in present for class in NYC as well, so in order to make the annual Invitational Lead Master in Osaka, Japan, I left school Thursday evening and am returning Monday morning to finish writing exams.

The international sport-climbing event went really well for me. I was pleased with my performance and my place: Silver Medal! I was honored to stand on the podium amidst Japanese victor, Jiyota, and Johanna Ernst of Austria.

Competitions can always be finicky – the outcome is contingent on such a miniscule part of a career at whole – it all comes down to one day, one climb; one mental and physical performance. I cannot control what type of route I am given or what sort of physical attributes it will include, but I can control my own preparedness and approach.

 My competition approach is always changing, adapting, and evolving. Sometimes I am happy with my performance, and sometimes, like in Colorado at the competition last month, I am upset with my climbing and inability to control my nerves. A lot of competition climbing comes down to dealing with the mental approach and channeling nerves in the right direction. What I find similar to outdoor climbing is that I need to find that balance between caring and not caring – between trusting myself and being in control, but having enough freedom to open my boundaries of control and to let myself go. I perform best when I can climb freely and relaxed, while climbing with efficiency and a fiery force of drive to excel.

In my opinion, there is no such thing as a perfect competition- I will always see what I did wrong before I see my performance strengths. However, I also know that finding happiness in my successes and motivation in my failures is necessary to continue training and pushing myself in the different scopes of climbing, be it in the outdoor arena or in competitions.

Therefore, I was happy that my latest training paid off for me in Japan.

Now, I have my final exams to finish early this week, and then it is onwards to my summer adventures.

Off to STUDY!

Xx S

=]

The post LifeStrength Athlete Sasha DiGiulian: Rock Climbing at the Invitational Lead Master in Osaka, Japan appeared first on Live Inspired.

I wanted to let you know about my experience with LifeStrength™ bands because it was life changing for me.  I have relapsing remitting Multiple Sclerosis.  I was diagnosed about six years ago after a long first episode in which I lost most of the ability to move my right side.  I could not walk well with my right leg.  I could not write or type with my right hand.  As a result, I could not drive, write or even type with any efficiency.  This lasted for about two months.  It was debilitating personally and professionally.

After my episode subsided, I still had times when I had muscle weakness on the right side of my body, especially when I was fatigued.  I also have a slightly (mostly) unnoticeable gait issue on my right side.  This was most apparent when I would walk on my treadmill and the right side of my hips was smaller than my left because of the extra strain used to walk on that side.  I had to use an ankle weight on my left foot to even out my gait.

Additionally, I was not able to ride on things, such as a bike, skateboard, or many of the rides at Lagoon.  The Tilt-O-Whirl almost killed me.  I had to lie down for about an hour after riding it the summer after my episode.  I had to return a brand new bike I had gotten because the feeling of dizziness and the disorientation I had when riding on it only one house up my block.  It was unbearable.  I loved to ride bikes and be on other things with motion.  It was clear me that since getting MS, I was not going to be able to do those things any longer.  That was a really sad and depressing realization.  I was not able to be me and the disease now defined my abilities.  I HATED that.  My doctor said that I was one of the lucky ones, since I had recovered almost completely after my episode.  I didn’t feel so lucky.

Late in 2010, I started looking into balance bracelets to see if I could help my balance issues.  I was tired of squatting down and falling over or not being able to get dressed without one hand on the wall.  I had heard about the Ionic bracelets, and was intrigued by them.  My son wanted to try “the one at the mall” (LifeStrength™).  We then went to the mall and that’s where we met a LifeStrength™ vendor.  He didn’t put down the Ionic one I was wearing, but challenged me to try the LifeStrength™ one alongside of the Ionic one.  I tried the balance test (standing on one leg with my arms out while he put pressure on one arm) without anything on.  I didn’t do well.  My balance is awful since my episode in 2007.  I then tried it with the Ionic one with very minimal improvement.  Then we tried the LifeStrength™ one.  I actually was able to stand on one foot and not get knocked over while he applied what felt like more pressure to my outstretched arm.  I was in total disbelief.  I had him do the same thing with the other side with the same results.  I was in shock.  I then had him try it on my husband, who is such a big skeptic of anything like this.  He did the test and said, “I’ll take one.”  He has NO balance issues at all, but even he could see that the technology was amazing.  We bought one for every member of our family that night.

The first night, my arm felt slightly “charged” or tingly for lack of better verbiage.  It wasn’t painful at all, just kind of an odd sensation.  Then, the next day I couldn’t even tell I was wearing it, except that my balance was amazing.  I didn’t fall over when getting dressed and I could once again stand on one leg for long periods of time.  I tired Yoga poses and had no problem doing them.  Again, I was in shock.  Could the answer to my balance issues really be this simple?

I decided to do the ultimate test.  I took down one of my older son’s bikes and decided that I was going to try riding it.  That was the one thing that I knew could not be faked, even with shear willpower.  I got on the bike and rode it down the driveway and onto the street.  I was exhilarated.  I had no dizziness at all.  I decided to speed up a bit.  It felt amazing.  I then did a quick turn and came back to my house at full speed.  My husband was a bit concerned, but I felt great.  I had no more dizziness at all.  I then got out my son’s Powerwing.  It’s a scooter-type thing that you have to wiggle back and forth and takes great balance to ride.  I was able to ride it all over the driveway and I even did circles on it with no issues.

That settled it for me.  The LifeStrength™ bands were my answer to my balance issues.  I’ve since bought myself quite a few of them and so have my husband and son.  We love them.  They don’t really have balance issues, but both of them say that when their balance gets off snowboarding, it helps them to recover quicker.  They feel more energized and just better overall.  I second that feeling.  I have little to no fatigue anymore and walking on my treadmill can be done now without holding onto the side with one hand.  I do wear two bands when I walk and sometimes when I don’t feel 100%.  It helps me to feel better.

I’ve gotten one for my mom and mother-in-law.  Both have said they love them and can’t stop telling others about them either.

I can’t explain how it works, but I do know that it gave me my life back.*  I’m eternally grateful and telling everyone I know about this amazing product.  I hope you keep selling them for a very long time!  I know that they can help many people, especially other MS patients.

*Results may vary depending on patient. 

The post Negative Ions and Their Effect on Multiple Sclerosis Patients appeared first on Live Inspired.

“After resting my elbows I started using Lifestrength’s strength tape to support and aid recovery so I could start training again slowly. I’ve been using 2 pieces of Strengthtape on my elbow that I wear for about five days during the week when I train. The support helps to take the pain away and supports my muscle recovery and repair.”

“It is easy to apply… It does not hurt to remove unlike other tapes. I literally wear it 24/7 even in the shower. In fact I forget its there some times. As I climb most days, Lifestrength’s Strengthtape gives me the support I need  but also doesn’t limit my movement so that I still can make the long reaches with out being limited. I am happy to be back training with the help of Lifestrength’s Strengthtape.”

The post Lifestrength Athlete Tim Muller Talks Elbow Injury and Strengthtape appeared first on Live Inspired.

Here at Lifestrength, we praise the human drive to get out and be active, and are inspired by those who challenge themselves mentally and physically to achieve something great. But here’s the catch: Your “great” is different than my “great”. And his “great”. And her “great.”

You don’t have to get out and run a marathon, win an olympic medal, or complete a triathalon to be great.

For some of us, greatness is achieved by simply taking a walk around the block. For others, it may be getting back to the gym after a year or two.

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great.”  

I often hear stories of people who want to live a healthy and active lifestyle, yet do little or nothing to change their habits to improve for fear that they will fail.

But if you don’t even try to change in the first place, then you have already failed.

It’s little everyday improvements that lead to bigger and greater things, but you have to get started in order to ever see any results.

So if you wake up tomorrow and all you do is start out with a 5 minute walk to improve your greatness, then that’s alright. The next day, walk 10. The next week make a goal to jog for 10 minutes, and so on and so forth. You’ll be thanking yourself in 3 months when you run your first 5k.

So now it’s your turn. What has helped you find your greatness? Leave a comment below and share your story with us!

The post Everyday Greatness appeared first on Live Inspired.

Artichoke Salsa

This quick and yummy salsa is sure to please any crowd. It’s packed with magnesium and folate from the artichokes, and the tomatoes provide a good source of Vitamin C and lycopene. Click here to get the full recipe and more to add to your Cinco de Mayo party.

Simple Healthy Switch

This Cinco de Mayo, try swapping these:

for these:

It’s a simple swap from using white flour tortillas to lettuce leaves to hold all of your taco yummy-ness, but can save you a lot of carbs in the grand scheme of things. Simply use large iceberg lettuce leaves and add all of your favorite taco ingredients for a healthy and delicious Cinco de Mayo meal. And if you’re still stuck on wanting to use a tortilla rather than lettuce, try using corn, wheat, or multi grain tortillas in place of white flour ones for a healthier alternative.

Homemade Chipotle Burrito Bowls

This healthy homemade version of Chipotle’s burrito bowls are sure to be a killer addition to any Cinco de Mayo fiesta. For less carbs, try using brown rice instead of white or swap for quinoa. Click here to view this recipe and find out how you can impress your Cinco de Mayo guests with this recipe remake!

The post Have a Happy and Healthy Cinco de Mayo appeared first on Live Inspired.

Age: 25

 Born: 3/13/1988

Sport: Professional ATV Motocross and Desert Racing

Tell us your story:

I’m 25 years old and race Pro ATV’s in USRA, WORCS, AMA National Hare and Hound and Quad Cross series. In 2010 I achieved a life long goal of winning the Pro Quad class Championship in the USRA series. With eight seasons of racing behind me I know I have the maturity, experience and program put together to be a threat at any race I attend.  I work at Fasst Company/Flexx Handlebars.

Alright Colt time to brag. What are some of your biggest accomplishments in racing so far?  2010 USRA ATV MX Pro Class Champion, 2012 Yamaha Quad X Series 5^th Overall Pro Points

What is your favorite thing about racing?

Mainly, its the rush and atmosphere of it. It’s unlike anything else I’ve experienced.

How did you get into the sport?

I started riding quads at age 4 but didn’t start racing until I was 17, after the first MX race I attended I was hooked!
What does a normal day in the life of Colt Brinkerhoff consist of?

I work from 8-5PM, after work it consists of working out and riding. Also bike preparation in between all of that as I am pretty much my own mechanic.
What is your training schedule like?

I work out after work, it usually consists of stretching and Cross Fit. It varies by week but usually 5 times a week.
When you’re not out on the track riding, what do you do in your spare time?

I love to snowboard, hunt, mountain bike, shooting guns, bowling and riding. Just being outdoors is huge because I work in an office all day long.
What motivates you to continue racing?

Since I have turned Pro back in 2008, I have been working very hard to achieve my dreams and continue to race. My motivation comes from all of family, friends and fans. It also comes from all of the hard work I put in to feel that rush I receive while racing!
What do you hope for the future?

I hope that I will be able to stay healthy enough to continue to race pro well into my 30’s, maybe even my 40’s. I just want to continue to do what I love, not a lot of people get the opportunity to do so.

Images C/O: 763 Edits.

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My story

The post Coast to Coast in a Day with Thomas Kneen appeared first on Live Inspired.