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Show Me the US Open Money!

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0700

The US Open drew to a close yesterday afternoon, as Roger Federer beat Andy Murray in three sets. Federer claimed his 13th grand slam victory and vowed to try to win another one, because staying at 13 would be so unlucky. On the women's side of things, Serena Williams rallied through two sets to beat Jelena Jankovic.

Along with gaining another grand slam title and the silver chalice, how much did these folks win in prize money? Take this quiz and see if you can show me the US Open Money.

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Serena Williams Named Woman of the Year

FitSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:30:37 -0800

Looks like having a potty mouth won't hurt you too much. Serena Williams is one of 11 outstanding ladies Glamour magazine has chosen for its Women of the Year issue.

Glamour cites Williams's competitive spirit and drive as a testament to her success, even in the face of hardships like the tragic murder of her sister Yetunde and her rise through the rankings after suffering injuries in 2006. This year it all came full circle for Williams when she captured the Wimbledon victory against her sister, Venus - whom she credits as being a major force in motivating her to work the hardest and become the best.

Besides her Wimbledon victory, Williams has 11 Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals, and has earned more prize money than any female athlete in history. But her trophies and bank account aren't the only reason Glamour thinks Williams is tops. Between winning matches, she's managed to start her own clothing line, pen an autobiography, and open a school in Kenya through her Serena Williams Foundation.

Who else did Glamour name as Women of the Year? Some of the other notables Williams holds court with are Michelle Obama, Maria Shriver, Rihanna, and poet Maya Angelou.

Boston Marathon: Kosgei Wins, Goucher Takes Third

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:30:00 -0700

It was a dramatic finish for the women running the Boston Marathon today, and the official results are in. Crossing the finish line first was Kenyan runner Salina Kosgei, with a time of 2:32:16. Congratulations to the champ! Just one second behind Kosgei was Dire Tune of Ethiopia, who collapsed soon after finishing the race and had to be carried out on a stretcher. I sincerely hope she is OK; stay tuned for updates.

Meanwhile, third place went to one of my favorite runners, Kara Goucher, who had a time of 2:32:25. She was one of just two American women to finish in the top 10. Pretty amazing considering the Olympic middle-distance runner just started marathoning last Fall!

To see who won the men's marathon and the amount of prize money the winners receive, read more.

American Ryan Hall came in third as well, with a time of 2:09:40. He was a little over a minute behind Deriba Merga of Ethiopia (2:08:42) who won the marathon. Second place winner is Kenyan Daniel Rono with a time of 2:09:32. The prize money for men and women is the same and the winner takes home $150,000, while second place wins $75,000, and the third place purse is $40,000.

Are you watching (or running) any marathons this year? . . . Oh, I'm sorry, can you repeat that? I missed your answer because I was too busy coveting these runners' quadriceps.

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Fitness Boot Camp For Teens: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:15:00 -0800

The FitWit Foundation is focused on combating childhood obesity, but I'm wondering if its methods are both healthy and effective. CNN compares the nonprofit's six-week afterschool boot camp program to the Biggest Loser competition: While Biggest Loser rewards adults with large sums of money for meeting fitness goals, FitWit's competition rewards Atlanta Public School students with prizes like an iPod Nano.

Each week, volunteers lead students (who aren't involved in organized sports) through three 60-minute sessions involving fitness instruction and physical health education, and participants do two at-home workouts between sessions. FitWit instructor Ben Thoele said, "After six weeks, all participants have an increased total fitness ability. We averaged over 40 percent improvement in total fitness in our first program last spring. It's common to have a participant double their fitness ability."

I have no doubt participants leave the program with increased fitness levels, but I'm wondering if a six-week competition with prizes is the best way to influence kids to be healthy in the long-term. What do you think of the way the program is set up for students? Is it cool or not?

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Biggest Loser Families Recap: Alliances Prevail

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

There is always a point in the Biggest Loser where you are reminded repeatedly that this is a game with prize money involved. The show starts to seem like a character study to see what the possibility of winning $250,000 does to people rather than a weight-loss show. I know editing has a lot to do with it, but how many times did Vicky smirk right into the camera after brokering deals, stirring up tensions, and judging prizes not worth her effort.

Even while the gaming is on, both teams were treated to unorthodox workouts: a challenging ropes course for the black team and circus arts mixed with a dose of self-defense for the blue. This show really hammers home the power of physical metaphors, and watching Michelle and Renee, the last remaining parent/child team meet in the competition, meet each other halfway while balancing high above the ground was rather sweet.

The challenge, with the prize of a video from home was upgraded to a live video chat - almost as if to spite Vicky's lackluster attitude toward the reward, involved stability and concentration. "Take it one step at a time" was the mantra as the team walked circular balance beams placed over water that challenged balance as well as focus. Renee rose to the challenge finishing the last nine laps solo after Phil fell into the water. Before competing in the challenge, all the contestants were treated to a midpoint checkup with Dr. Huizenga and everyone was quite pleased with their results - all the contestants are considerably healthier after six weeks of lifestyle change.

To hear about the drama of the last workout, the weigh-in, and the player eliminated, just read more.

Jillian seemed hellbent on making a black team member vomit. "If you are not throwing up you're not working hard enough" might just be my favorite quote of this episode, and of course this sentiment was uttered by Jillian, with a smile on her face! Bob was determined to load the leg-press machine with the maximum challenge for his team members. This left Phil to comment that he hadn't noises like that come out of his wife since childbirth, as Amy P. pressed 450 pounds with her legs. Unfortunately, Amy P.'s positive attitude and hard work did not pay off. After only losing two pounds, the alliance of Heba, Vicky, and Brady joined forces to vote Amy off the show. Aside from personal grudges, their theory is that with Amy P. gone, her husband on the black team would lose focus, making him vulnerable for elimination.

After all the subterfuge, I still have no idea who will win the game, but I do know now who I hope loses. To see how Amy P. is looking these days, check out this video.

Are you rooting for a player? If yes, tell me in the comments section below.
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The Sad Cinderella Story of the Nike Women's Marathon

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

I have always heard that the Nike Women's Marathon is a super empowering experience. Running with a pack of women and receiving a charm necklace designed by Tiffany (pictured below, some finisher is selling it on Craig's List for $175) at the finish line sound great. I even plan on running the half marathon next year.

On hearing Arien O'Connell's tale, I feel almost as disappointed as she must have. This fifth-grade teacher from NYC ran the course the fastest, but is not officially recognized as the winner - wtf? - due to this unfortunate rule: you have to register as an "elite" runner to qualify for winning the race. The race officials were "flabbergasted" that a non-elite runner could win. O'Connell is not alone in this non-elite unrecognized status. Last weekend at the Chicago Marathon, the fourth fastest runner was not officially recognized as the fourth place winner. He didn't start the race with the elite group so he didn't collect the fourth place prize money. It wasn't until the finishing times were announced at the Nike Marathon closing awards ceremony that O'Connell realized she had the fastest time.

To see O'Connell's finishing time and by how many minutes, not seconds, she beat the official winner, read more.

Arien O'Connell had the best run of her life, shaved 12 minutes off her personal record, and finished the hilly course in 2:55:11. Her official finish time, recorded on the race's computer, was 11 minutes faster than the first place winner. Wow! That is no small margin. I need to ask, why have chip times if no one is going to check them before the winners are announced? One would hope that Nike would figure out a way to celebrate this modest runner, who classifies herself as a solid runner rather than an elite runner, even if the closing ceremonies were completed. Instead, the Nike spokesperson said, "At this point, we've declared our winner." What about thinking on your feet, or dare I even say, thinking on the run? Figure something out, bend the rules, give this gal, who is fleet of feet, some form of acknowledgment.

The press reports that O'Connell is not bitter about the situation; she's just proud of her new personal record and it sounds like she knows she won.

How would you feel? Tell me in the comments section below.

Please read the update with press release from Nike.

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ACTivism: Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:15:00 -0800

If you're really into snowshoeing, check out the Tubbs 2008 Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer. It's a series of fund-raising events that involve snowshoeing walks, races, free demos and prizes. All the proceeds go to benefit the Susan G. Komen For the Cure foundation to raise money (and awareness) for breast cancer research, education, and treatment.

Want to see if there's an event near you? Then read more

All these events include a 3K Snowshoe Fun Race and a choice of a 3K or 5K Benefit Walk. You can raise money as an individual or a team, and prizes will be awarded for the top three overall individual fund raisers and the top team. Preregister for $25 before the event or $30 on the event day.

January 26: Mountain Creek, NJ

February 2: Parley’s Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah

February 9: Stratton Mountain, Vermont

February 23: Mount Hood, Oregon

March 8: Frisco, Colorado

What's Your Biggest Weight Loss Motivation?

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:15:00 -0700

From companies offering cash as rewards for employees to lose weight to watching the Biggest Loser where there is a $250,000 prize for the person that loses the most weight, I am starting to wonder about our motivations, as a society, to get healthy. Healthy folks pay less down the line in medical bills and some even get an insurance break for having healthy BMIs.

Once upon a time losing weight was all about vanity, and then it was all about living longer and now it seems to be all about money. Even new studies are showing that people paid $14 to lose a few pounds in research are much more successful than those paid $7.

So with all this in mind, I am curious about you guys -- What is your biggest weight loss motivation?

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Speak Up: $1000 Bonus for Your Weight Loss Efforts

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:45:00 -0700

It is not uncommon for employers to penalize employees for their unhealthy habits, especially since word on the street says the cost of health insurance is going to rise in 2008. It was pretty unanimous across the board that negativity and threats are not ways to get employees to be healthy, but what about $1000?

Apparently Agora Inc., a Baltimore based corporation, has spent $90,000 for a 12-week weight loss program modeled after NBC's Biggest Loser (my favorite show, yay!). Employees have the option of working with personal trainers during classes at the company's gym or having unlimited access to a local gym. The Agora gym has free weights, cardio machines and weightlifting equipment in an exposed-brick decor. The reward: A $1,000 prize for the top "losers" in male, female and team categories. Pretty cool, but I can't help but wonder what the incentive is for all the employees that are already healthy. It sort of reminds me of when my parents would give my D-student brother money for getting B's on his report card while mine was already strung in A's and I got zilch. Ah, but I digress...

Would a $1000 reward get you to lose the extra weight? Is this program unfair for the already healthy folks who don't need to lose weight? Speak Up and share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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If You Can Walk, You Can Snowshoe

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 03:30:00 -0800

What better way to spend a morning with your favorite person than walking through the woods on a beautiful, crisp and clear day. If you love to hike in the Summer, you've got to try snowshoeing in the Winter.

If there's snow on the ground, snowshoes make it much easier to tromp around. Many gear stores that sell or rent skiis and snowboards also rent snowshoes. Go the day before to rents shoes and poles and ask about some great beginner trails.

What is so great about snowshoeing? It's easy to learn, inexpensive (compared to other winter sports), and it's like walking, so there's little risk for injury. Plus, it's a great cardiovascular work out - snowshoeing for 1 hour burns over 600 calories.

You've got the shoes and poles, but what about the rest of your body? What else do you need? read more

Before you head out the door, make sure you're dressed for the weather.

Layer up with a Polypro or Wool baselayer, a fleece, and a waterproof down coat over it.
On the bottom, wear a baselayer underneath snowpants.
Make sure you have warm socks on and waterproof winter boots.
Don't forget your warm hat and waterproof mittens too.

Fit's Tips: If you're really into snowshoeing, check out the Tubbs 2007 Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer. It's a benefit that involves snowshoeing walks, races, and free demos and prizes. It's a great way to raise money (and awareness) for breast cancer research, education, and treatment.