Since today is Earth Day, we wanted to take a moment to honor brands that are walking the walk the other 364 days of the year. From recycled fabrics to fair-trade materials, ethical labor practices, and limited and conscious production, these 12 brands create amazingly technical performance activewear while doing their part to protect the planet and its people. Shop these brands for added peace of mind.
Training for the Olympics is no joke, and few people have their formula down quite like swimmer Natalie Coughlin. The 12-time Olympic medalist knows a thing or two about consistency, as she's been competing (and winning) for about two decades. This year, she's gearing up for the Summer 2016 Olympics in hopes of qualifying for Team USA yet again via the trials, so she's got quite a busy training schedule.
For the past three years, her training schedule has been EXACTLY the same, every day. Natalie is in the water about eight times a week, and each of those swim sessions runs anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours. Add in her gym time four times a week - in which she's weightlifting and cross training - for about the same duration, and you've got nearly 30 hours of intense workouts, every single week. "It's pretty hectic," Natalie told us. "I work out Monday through Saturday, and I have Sundays off."
We're seriously impressed but also wondering: how does that look in terms of day-to-day life? Each day is scheduled out. Here's what it looks like:
Ready to see all this hard work pay off? We're cheering on Natalie and hoping we'll see her in the Olympic games, starting Aug. 5.
There are definitely ways to prevent a run-induced stomachache, but if it's too late and you're past the point of no return, then listen up: we continued our talk with DIAKADI running and training coaches Elijah Markstrom and Angela Tieri to get the skinny on treating an upset tummy after a hard run.
If you got to this page because you currently have a stomachache, the first note that Elijah made was to consider what you ate, and when. "When and what did I eat prior to the run, what did I consume during the run, and when and what will I consume after the run?" Elijah said that some stomach issues are the result of chronic issues, while others are more acute and circumstantial.
"When performing high-intensity exercise, blood is shunted from digestion to the periphery, in order to accommodate the oxygen demand to the working muscles," said Elijah. In other words, your stomach is freaking out because it can't digest properly when you're running - meaning much of these stomach issues come from food and digestion.
Another factor to consider: are you on your period? Angela told us that women who run during their cycle are subject to extra stomach distress and sensitivity, and suggests you "run a route with public restrooms," if that's the case for you. Don't say we didn't warn ya.
In summary, you're feeling crappy for one of these reasons:
Now let's get into how we prevent and treat these issues.
While these tips are remedial on a case by case basis, if your issues are chronic and seem to be coming up each time you run, then it's time to consult your doctor.
Life gets busy, which makes it hard to carve out time to sit down and savor a snack. If the only moments you have to squeeze in an afternoon snack are between hitting a deadline and heading to a meeting, you can enjoy something delicious that's also better for you. Most of these hacks are easily prepped ahead, making them grab-and-go options for your busy life.
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