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Success
Stories - Nutrition/Endurance Performance
Troy
Adamson 
This
summer in Northern California has been crazy! The extreme hot
weather has made this a busy fire season. We have had shifts ranging
from 24 to 72 consecutive hours! We have gone literally non-stop
from one call to the next...all in 100-degree heat. Everyone on
our team is armed with Camelbak
hydration systems and drinking plenty of water, but we still experienced
extreme fatigue at the end of these big days.
From
my endeavors as an ultrarunner and triathlete, I have used Cytomax
with great success. When I started mixing Cytomax in my Camelbak
and also using Cytomax Pre-Formance when busy schedule caused
me to miss meals, I noticed that my energy stayed consistent all
day. I can tolerate the heat better (inside our suits its a lot
warmer than the 100 outside!) and recover quicker.
When
I shared my Cytomax with the other firefighters on my team, they
quickly became hooked. "Big difference from Gatorade",
were among the comments. Today we swear by Cytomax and other healthy
products from Bradventures.com to help us do our jobs and protect
Tehama County!
Troy
Adamson and Tehama County Firefighters
Tehama
County Fire Dept
Redding,
CA
Ed
Ashen 
I
have been an athlete all my life - football in high school and
college and for the past decade multisport events. My family genetics
make it difficult to maintain my ideal weight.
With
Brad's help and suggested supplement regimen, I was able to successfully
complete the Ironman Canada triathlon in 2000. I started my training
program and 191 pounds and was 167 pounds by race day. I have
much more energy than I did before I began paying attention to
healthy diet and supplementation.
Cytomax
is a must for every sustained training session. I have also found
great success surrounding myself with healthy snacks and energy
bars everywhere I go - on the golf course, in the office or in
my car.
Ed
Ashen, Age 40, Carmichael, CA
 Clarinda
Brueck
I
was diligently following a challenging training program to prepare
for the Hawaii Ironman, but something wasn't working. I was tired
all the time, eating too many sweets, questioning my nutrition
plan and growing less confident every day.
When
I approached Brad Kearns, he surprised me by suggesting that I
junk my "scientific" training schedule and pay more
attention to my intuition.
I
started listening closely to my body and taking care to reduce
the stress levels in my life. Soon my fitness level, my confidence
and my attitude improved tremendously. Everything was so natural
it seemed effortless. I relaxed my strict dietary guidelines,
paid more attention to proper use of my supplements - especially
before and after workouts - and quickly lost the last seven pounds
that had stubbornly stayed with me.
With
Brad's guidance, I won the world triathlon championship in the
Physically Challenged division and realized my goal of completing
the Hawaii Ironman.
Clarinda
Brueck, Age 43, Fairview, NJ
 Clay
Clarke
On
June 5th, 2005, Clay Clarke stood at the top of Mt. Everest, the
highest point in the world. He climbed all but a few hundred feet
of the 29,035 foot tall mountain without supplemental bottled
oxygen, a feat attempted by few climbers and completed by fewer
still.
"I
would love to say I had grandiose thoughts, but I was so oxygen
deprived I was just thinking about what a pain it was going to
be getting down," said Clarke, 35, a Santa Fe attorney with
the New Mexico Environment Department. Clarke was assisted on
his journey by a comprehensive regimen of CytoSport performance
supplements. "Typically, I would start my climbing day about
4am to get be able to make it through the Khumbu Icefall before
conditions got too soft.
The
Cytomax
Pre-Formance was great for this. I used Cytomax
in my Camelbak everyday (under my jacket or down suit) - all the
way to the summit. I also used the Gulp
n Go on every hard carry I made to the high camps and on summit
day. I used the Cyto
Recovery in all my high camps and when resting back in Basecamp.
At
high altitude it is hard to digest solid foods - especially those
high in fats and proteins. Using the Cyto line allows me to keep
up my calorie intake with a food source that does not make me
sick or slow me down. In the future I'm confident we will begin
to see a lot more climbers using these type of products at altitude.
The
photo of Clarke in red suit is actually on the summit of Mt. Aconcagua
- South America's highest peak at 22,841' above sea level. The
photo below is of Clarke and two Sherpas he summited Everest with
(Everest is big black mt. in the background, Clarke and the Sherpas
are tiny in the foreground, lower right.
Click
Here for complete Mt. Everest expedition story in the New
Mexican newspaper.
Clay
Clarke, Age 35, Santa Fe, NM
 Dennis
Curley
I
started running marathons in the early 90's. I enjoyed a high
fitness level for several years, but could never seem to shed
the extra 15 pounds I was carrying. My diet was not impressive:
a skimpy breakfast, fast food for lunch and lots of trips to the
vending machines during the workday.
When
I implemented the dietary practices described in Power
Month, I began to reduce my body fat immediately. I went from
over 200 pounds to 178 before the biggest challenge of my life:
the 1998 Western States 100-mile ultramarathon trail run.
I
finished the race successfully - a credit to my improved diet,
supplements like Cytomax
and energy
gels on long runs, and emphasis on aerobic exercise.
Dennis
M."Run DMC" Curley, Age 47, Auburn, CA
 Sue
Davis
I
really do notice a difference when I take Active
Greens. Maybe that’s why a rarely get sick, even with
a challenging training schedule, coaching clients and a full time
job. I have yet to get sick, stay home from work or miss training,
in the new millennium! Thanks also for the great canine products.
My dogs are hooked on them and performing like champs!
Sue
Davis, age 43, Newport Beach, CA
 Craig
Eigenbrod
I
am absolutely ecstatic with the quality of coaching received and
nutritional supplements received from Brad Kearns over the past
two seasons. His guidance and instruction have extended far beyond
daily training schedules to include a more holistic approach to
my healthy lifestyle, including:
-
Stress management
- Diet/Supplementation
- Rest/Recovery
- Periodization
- Balance
of schedule (job, family, training)
Brad
also has proved to be extremely motivating and insightful with
race strategy. Recently I enjoyed the greatest moment of my athletic
career when I won the 158-mile Race Across Indiana on July 12,
2004. At Brad's suggestion, my teammates and I embarked on a pre-planned
breakaway in the first mile of racing! By halfway, we had amassed
a lead of 10 minutes over a group of 1,000 riders behind. However,
I was completely fried from the effort. Then, my crew handed me
a couple of Cytomax Gulp 'N Go's and I immediately felt better.
With Cytomax and Gulp 'N Go helping nutritionally, I pressed on
with my teammate and super-domestique Bryan Boggs. At the finish
we were four minutes clear of the field - an unforgetable journey
across the Hoosier state! Brad Kearns will, without doubt, continue
to be an essential part of my ongoing athletic training arsenal.
Craig
Eigenbrod, Age 38, Lebanon, IN
Julie
Fingar
CytoSport
sponsored athlete Julie Fingar has placed 11th, 6th and 6th in
2003-2005 Western States 100-mile Endurance Runs from Squaw Valley
to Auburn, CA - across the entire western slope of the Sierra.
Julie shared her experience with MusclEnergy during the 2003 event
with the following letter, "I first started using MusclEnergy
leading up to the WS 100 mile run - for the final month I did
some long runs and felt a noticeable effect. Then on race day,
I took 3 before the start and 3 every hour for the first 62 miles
of the race. At that point comes a 20-mile downhill where runners
notoriously suffer from painful quads from running so far before
the section.
"My
quads felt amazing - I passed people the entire way. I was absolutely
shocked at the total lack of pain or soreness in my quads during
the descent. Commonly after running 50 miles, my quads have absolutely
nothing to handle sustained downhills. Over that 20-mile section,
I beat my time from the previous year by over 20 minutes! Without
MusclEnergy, I would not have completed that section before dark
and would have lost even more time negotiating that downhill trail
before dark. After the conclusion of the event, which I finished
in 22 hours, I took the product at regular intervals for two days.
The reduction in muscle soreness was dramatic. Six days after
the event, I was back exercising!"
PS
- Julie's competitive season did not end after Western States.
She went on a tear in late 2003, winning the 50k Run on the Sly
in August and the Sierra Nevada 50-miler on Sept 13th. At the
Run on the Sly, Julie very nearly achieved the unthinkable - an
overall victory against a top field of male competitors. In dominating
the women's event, Julie was only 1 minute, 30 seconds behind
the winner in second place overall - 43 minutes ahead of her nearest
female competitor. Julie consumed 16 bottles of Cytomax during
the event and 24 MusclEnergy pills (three per hour). Immediately
after the race she had a Cytomax Recovery drink. "The vanilla
Recovery drink tasted great after the race. It gave me a chance
to get the recovery process started during the long drive back
to town for my huge burrito!", commented Julie.
If
you are engaged in long-distance training in preparation for a
late-season peak event, try some MusclEnergy and notice the difference
in muscle soreness afterwards.
 Scott
Galati
I
have been working with Brad and utilizing his approach for the
last year with great success. I am full into my first triathlon
season after being sedentary and extremely overweight for 15 years.
Brad taught me how to recognize signals and be "in-tune"
with my body. He then helped me design a training program that
was based on sound intuitive principles, a "key" workout
strategy and incorporating the most forgotten component of the
program - RECOVERY.
This
year, I have completed several sprint triathlons, the 1.5-mile
Alcatraz ocean swim and my first international distance triathlon.
Brad's instruction is delivered in a clear, concise and almost
always comical fashion. He has helped turn my weakest sport (swimming)
into my strongest. Aside from the technical and physiological
advice, Brad also provides excellent guidance toward reaching
your goals by teaching the mental focus and aspect of competition
employed by great athletes. This easily translates into other
areas of your life. I look forward to completing my first half
ironman this fall and an ironman distance race next year utilizing
his services.
Scott
Galati, Age 40, Sacramento, CA
 Mike
Giard
Train
hard, train harder, train until you drop… this was my mentality
and the training method of countless athletes and coaches. It
WAS my mentality.
I started getting coached by Brad about six months ago and what
a transition those six months have been! The first few months
I fought the idea of stress along with plenty of rest. How was
I supposed to get stronger if I wasn’t constantly working
hard on my running, biking and swimming? What do you mean I need
to take an easy week? The other racers won’t be taking an
easy week and they are going to get even faster while I sit around
getting slower.
Well I stuck with his advice figuring I was the Karate Kid and
he was Mr. Miyagi. The Karate Kid stuck with the wax on and wax
off and he won in the end. I would do the same. And it has paid
off in a big way! I am going to be competing in Ironman Arizona
this year and have about 10 weeks until race day. I have never
felt so strong and energized in all of my years of training. I
worked out 5x harder for Ironman Florida and I am in twice as
good of shape as I was then. I'm not tired and beat up but instead
am rested and energized! What a difference. I know that when I
toe the line on race day, I will be ready. Ready to enjoy the
day at a peak performance, not suffer through hours of torture.
Which would you rather do?
Mike
Giard, Age 35, Rocklin, CA
 Dennis
Gunther
I
ran varsity cross country in college and used swimming for cross
training and recovery purposes. I have never stopped running and
competing since that time. Over a decade ago, I fell in love with
the sport of triathlon and the new challenges and demands it places
on my body and mind.
I also became aware of the importance of good nutrition and the
roll it plays in performance and recovery. Cytomax
is an absolutely crucial component in my training program. While
training as many as 25 hours a week, it is easy to become dehydrated
and electrolyte depleted. I can notice a distinct improvement
in my workout energy level and recovery rate when I use Cytomax.
Although
I never thought it would happen, I have converted from using Gatorade
for most of my athletic life to using Cytomax, especially for
cycling purposes.
Dennis
Gunther, Age 52, Saline, MI
Jeri
Howland
I
have completed 6 ironman-distance triathlons since 1998. Through
trial and error experience, I have learned that nothing is more
important than hydration and caloric intake on race day.
Regardless
of what the ads say, the only products that truly work the best
are the ones that I have tried in training and agree with my body.
My
favorite long workout and race fuel is Tangy Orange Cytomax
and water for hydration, Gu
or new Gulp N' Go gels and Cytomax
Pre-Formance for liquid calories. Knowing what works gives
me the confidence and energy to complete ironman-distance races
successfully.
I
also credit good nutrition and supplments with allowing me to
train hard and still enjoy a hectic, fast-paced lifestyle.
Jeri
Howland, Age 48, Corte Madera, CA
Richard
Kane
My
first two years of triathlon training followed the more typical
approach of swimming, biking and running several times a week,
trying to achieve both hours and mileage. I did ok with this approach
but it was starting to consume my life and it became challenging
to achieve balance as I increased the hours and mileage for my
first Half Ironman.
Having
met Brad Kearns before and hearing positive things from another
of his athletes, I contacted him four months before my goal race
of the Vineman Half Ironman. One of Brad's observations was that
I was too regimented, I would achieve better results through a
more athletic approach that balances stress and rest. It's refreshing
to hear someone say that you can achieve significant performance
breakthroughs and be able to have more easy days and more recovery
days.
Brad
focused me on paying greater attention to my body both in terms
of heart rate and energy levels; resting when it said rest but
taking greater risks when it felt good; pushing myself each week
with key overdistance aerobic workouts, one ride and one run.
The rest of the week would be maintenance, recovery or complete
rest days in preparation for those key workout days. Brad's coaching
went beyond training, it extended to nutritional and race advice,
he was always there to answer any questions I had.
In
July 2005 it all came together at Vineman. I had high levels of
energy, confidence and felt fully prepared and ready to race my
first Half Ironman, crossing the finish line in a time of 5:22.
In September 2005 it all came together again at the CaliMan Half
Ironman as I crossed the finish line in a time of 5:14.
Richard
Kane, Age 35, Rocklin, CA
 Dr.'s
Steve and Joni Kobrine
Dr.
Steve Kobrine, a 41-year-old family physician from Billings, MT,
and sister Dr. Joni Kobrine, a 39-year-old anesthesiologist from
Irvine, CA, climbed the highest peak in Africa, 19,335' Mt. Kilimanjaro
in Tanzania in 2004. Steve and Joni are both experienced marathon
runners and endurance athletes. They led a group of physicians
from across America on this excursion. Prior to departing, Dr.
Steve investigated numerous energy drinks and chose Cytomax for
its superior ingredient formulation and excellent taste. "I
had never been at altitude anywhere close to 19,000 feet. I knew
how important hydration, electrolyte balance and sustained energy
levels would be on this climb. There is simply no way to truly
prepare for what happens to the body at high altitude", explained
Steve.
"Cytomax has worked well for me in marathon training and
racing, so I decided to pack a supply for the climb. I mentioned
Cytomax to my fellow doctors and they eagerly sampled some. By
the end of the climb, over half of the doctors in the group were
drinking Cytomax - we had to ration my supply! Every single member
of our group reached the summit. Cytomax works - even at 19,000
feet above sea level." Steve and Joni Kobrine are pictured
at the summit.
 David
and Eric Kobrine
The
Kobrine brothers of Newport Coast, CA won dual national titles
at the 2004 USA Clydesdale Marathon Championships in San Antonio,
TX. Eric won the overall title in the 190lbs+ competition with
an amazing 2:53 - 20 minutes ahead of his nearest competitor.
It was his third title in a row and he is the only Clydesdale
athlete to ever break three hours in the championships. Dave won
the Master's title for 40+ Clydesdales.
Dave
is a former Hawaii Ironman finisher and varsity basketball player
for UCLA. "As a lifelong athlete, I am always looking for
new challenges. Eric and I enjoy running and were intrigued with
the competition for athletes in our weight class. With our grueling
long training runs over the summer, we actually dropped some excess
weight and were both under the weight requirement come race weekend.
In fact, I was 8 pounds under! The day before the event, we consumed
5lbs of fruit and 5lbs of drinks (including mass quantities of
Muscle Milk smoothies) in 1 hour, 30 minutes before waddling over
to the expo to barely make weigh in!"
Dave
and Eric Kobrine, Newport Coast, CA
 Bob
Korock
18
years ago I began my triathlon journey. In this time I've tried
most every avenue for getting faster. The first half of my career
I trained with little or no speed work. This reaped rewards such
as 4th at the long course nationals and a 9:24 at the Hawaii Ironman.
At
the time I was 24 years old and everything seemed easy. I figured
all I needed to do was push a little harder in training, speed
up every workout just a little and I would break through again
to an even higher level. I added more anaerobic training to my
schedule - at one point I was training anaerobically for nine
months out of the year. This left me in a downward spiral of injuries,
fatigue and inconsistent race results.
When
I discussed my training schedule with Brad Kearns, he immediately
suggested backing off from the high intensity and rebuilding my
aerobic base that had served me so well early in my career. I
was amazed at how the intense training made me aerobically unfit!
It was a long, patient process to rebuild my fitness and restore
my energy. I also intensified my use of Cytomax
Pre-Formance before and after workouts to keep the tank full
and keep the fat burning efficient.
Today,
as I explore other extreme events after the end of my professional
career and with two young children running around the house, my
training schedule has to be very efficient and effective. The
principles outlined in the Power
Month course allow for just that - and my race results are
better than ever!
Bob
Korock, Age 36, Acampo, CA
Geno Madruga
In 2005 I pursued the most daunting
goal of my athletic career - to return to my native Portugal and
complete the
Supertravessia,
a grueling 11 day mountain bike endurance stage race
that covers 700 miles and 68,800 feet of total climbing! While
I have enjoyed mountain biking and fitness activities for years,
this goal was quite a stretch. I followed the principles in Brad
Kearns' Power Month program to ensure that my life was healthy
and balanced as I escalated my training for the event.
Previously, my sports nutrition
was an afterthought, but I knew I needed to get serious if I wanted
to recover and climb so hard day after day. In training and in
the event, I relied on products like:
Cytomax
energy drink, Cytomax
Recovery, the Athlete
Stress Formula and the Clif
Bars. I am proud to say I am one of only
11 official finishers (3rd oldest) of this incredible event. It
was the experience of a lifetime that I shared with family and
friends in Portugal. I'll be back to race again for sure!
Geno
Madruga, age 52, Ophir, CA
Tim Monk
I
began Brad's program six month's before my first ironman. Brad's
approach was like nothing I had seen before. Where most programs
include a spreadsheet of cookie cutter workouts, Brad sat down
with me and set up a plan based on my family life, my travel schedule
and my goal races for the 2005 season. Not only did his plan include
how to train intuitively, but also suggested lifestyle changes
necessary to compete successfully in triathlon.
Brad recognizes that most age groupers have other responsibilities
besides training. Thus, his plan focused specifically on building
my aerobic fitness by focusing on Key Workouts. He also changed
my entire thought process by getting me to slow down and emphasize
aerobic workouts for the first three months of the program.
Brad's training showed in my results. I was able to go 5:00 in
my first ever 1/2 Ironman at Oceanside, CA in March 2005, then
finished Couer D'Alene ironman in 10:38 in June 2005. Thanks to
Brad, I felt energized, rested and confident at the start of both
races.
Brad helped me reach a level well beyond my own and my training
partner's expectations. I cannot wait to have him help get me
to Kona in 2006!
Tim
Monk, Age 33, Rocklin, CA
Toni Mounts 
I
met Brad at the beginning of my triathlon career over a decade
ago. The advice and support I received from Brad Kearns has touched
me in a special way.
After
only a few years of training, I ascended to a world-caliber age
group triathlete, representing my country in national and world
championship competition. But something was not right. I was exhausted
constantly and would get sick or injured several times a year.
I
kept looking for the perfect training schedule that I could follow
exactly to ensure my success. But every time I followed a strict
schedule, I got in trouble. Several years after our initial meeting,
I solicited Brad's advice. It was almost too simple: He told me
that I needed to listen to my body, but I didn't like that advice.
It
was easier to follow a charted program than search for the answers
myself. When I finally committed to Brad's suggestions, I experienced
a wonderful awakening of energy and enthusiasm for training and
competing. Soon I expanded my horizons from triathlon to ultramarathon
running and Eco-events.
My
training schedule is sensible and balanced, with the primary emphasis
on recovery. As a personal trainer, I tell all of my clients that
if you learn to recover well, you will improve. If you don't learn
to recover, it's just a matter of time until you are injured
either physically or mentally. The principles outlined in the
Power Month
course will ensure that you benefit from your training program
in every way possible and avoid the inevitable setbacks that come
from following a strict schedule.
Toni
Mounts, Age 53, Fair Oaks, CA
Kevin
Pedrotti 
As
a competitive triathlete and finisher of the Hawaiian Ironman
triathlon, I thought I knew everything about endurance training.
I figured it was just a matter of putting in the hours every week.
I suffered from overtraining and fatigue from time to time, and
performances were up and down like any other athlete. Supplements?
I figured those were a waste of money.
When
I implemented Brad Kearns' Power
Month principles and supplement recommendations, I experienced
amazing breakthroughs. My race times improved, my energy levels
became much higher and more stable and I accomplished more in
far fewer weekly training hours. In particulare, consuming Cytomax
Pre-Formance before and during long workouts makes a huge
difference. I just don't have those energy lulls towards the end
of the session and I bounce back quicker the next day.
Kevin
Pedrotti, Age 47, Gold River, CA
Courtney
Polakovic
As
an All-New England collegiate cross country runner and competitive
marathoner, I struggled for years with injuries, fatigue and poor
race performances.
Often,
I left my best performances on the roads and wondered if my intensive
training was partially to blame. After a severe knee injury, I
felt as if my dream of running in the Oympic Marathon trials was
over.
During
a long and difficult rehabilitation, I followed Brad's advice
and made profound changes in my training and diet. Previously,
my 70-mile training weeks were fueled by caffeine and large amounts
of sugar. My frequent long, hard runs at race pace left me exhausted
instead of energized.
I
started to emphasize more healthy foods in my diet and use performance
supplements instead of junk food to fuel my long runs. I quickly
I began to notice a change in how I felt and performed. Five months
after a surgery I was told I might never fully recover from, I
ran for 4 hours and 10 minutes -- my longest run ever.
Now
I am able to train hard without injuries or fatigue, have more
energy, less stress and better performances. I sleep better, think
more clearly and don't crave sugar anymore! Brad's Power
Month program will inspire you and teach you how to create
balance in your exercise program and in your life.
C.
Courtney Polakovic, Age 37, Duxbury, MA
Tim
Twietmeyer 
Every
year, I drink Tangy Orange Cytomax
throughout the entire Western States 100-mile run. I can drink
Cytomax with no stomach distress and enjoy all of its performance
advantages.
It's
the only drink that tastes good enough to use for 17 straight
hours. No matter how effective a product is, if it doesn't taste
good it's worthless. I recently tried the new Cytomax Pre-Formance
and was very pleased with the results.
It
mixes easily in a water bottle with no clumps; Now I can get the
calories I need during long runs to maintain high energy levels
and minimize muscle breakdown.
Tim
Twietmeyer, Age 45, Auburn, CA
- 5-time
Champion - Western States 100-mile run, Masters Course Record
- 25-time
sub-24 hour finisher
- 14
consecutive top-5 finishes
- 7-time
champion, California 50-mile endurance run
- Course
record holder, Eagle 100-mile run, Penticton Canada.
Matt
Winstead 
I
met Brad after becoming frustrated with feeling chronically fatigued
from a robotic coaching experience online. My performance was
ok, but I constantly felt like I was about to get sick, or could
sleep all day. After reading about Brad’s coaching philosophy
I became very excited about a new mindset towards my training.
I had hit rock bottom and needed something totally different to
pull me out of the hole.
By
training with Brad I was able to complete workouts of duration
that I never thought possible. I learned that its OK to take days
completely off, or a week of little to no training, all while
the magazines and websites will tell you that one day off a month
is plenty and fine. I learned a great deal by working with Brad,
not only on how to approach my sport but on how to approach life.
I feel that any athlete of any level or sport can learn about
how to train and compete with the most healthy and balanced approach.
Thanks for everything Brad.”
Matt
Winstead, age 24, Huntsville, AL
Overall
winner of 6 Alabama triathlons, USAT Nationally ranked age group
competitor
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