Congratulations to Ogonna Nnamani (pictured above) and Ramon Miller for winning silver medals in Beijing!

Ogonna played for the U.S. Women’s Volleyball team in their loss to Brazil in the championship match, scoring three kills in the third game of the four game match. Brazil won three games to one.

Nnamani is a prodigious hitter, as she showed in Team USA’s final preliminary round match against Poland a week ago, scoring 11 kills and a total of 17 points, accounting for more than half of the 30 points scored by the U.S. team’s bench players. Her hitting prowess dates all the way back to her high school playing days in Bloomington, Illinois where she first experienced Athletic Republic’s Acceleration Training.

Ramon Miller ran in the semifinals of the 4×400 relay for the Bahamas, contributing to the success of his teammates in the final and, thus, earning a silver medal for his efforts.

Miller is a four-time national champion, a ten-time All American and will return to Dickinson State University (DSU) to compete in his senior season. Miller set the NAIA indoor record in the 400 meters in 2007 and was a member of the DSU 4×400 relay team that set the NAIA indoor record in 2006. Miller helped the Blue Hawks capture their third straight national outdoor championship in 2006 and to runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2008.

Dickinson State University is a strategic partner of the Athletic Republic. Under the guidance of Pete Leno, Director of Dickinson State’s Ben C. Frank Human Performance Center, DSU is conducting a series of studies to help Athletic Republic validate new measurement technology and training protocols as part of a three-year research agreement.

Brian Schaefering is a 25 year-old, 6′ 5″ 295 pound rookie free-agent in training camp with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns thought his story was interesting enough to post a story about “where Brian has come from” on their Web site.

In addition to coming from Lindenwood–a school that boasts two recent Super Bowl ring wearing alumni in DeDe Dorsey and Derrick Ward–Schaefering shares a training regime with Dorsey.

Here’s what Brian has to say about his Acceleration Training experience at Nutriformance Acceleration in Chesterfield, Missouri:

I was always a skeptic when it came to speed training–even while playing at the University of Illinois. It wasn’t until I came back for my senior year at Lindenwood that I broke down and tried it. I called Dan O’Donnell and made my first appointment and haven’t looked back since. The Acceleration Training program has put me in the best shape I’ve been in a long time. It helped me excel in my senior year and will help me perform the way I need to at the combine for the NFL. I was a skeptic, now I’m with acceleration for good.

Here’s hoping Brian’s hard work and perseverance pays off with a spot on Cleveland’s opening day roster!

When Vladi Nikiforov last checked in, he was headed to camp with the New York Islanders. Well, it didn’t go exactly as planned, as you will see:

July 15

Looking back on camp with the Islanders, I have no regrets; I played to the best of my ability and did very well.  There was even an article featured on the Islanders Web site about me.  I felt strong and ready, very well prepared for what was to come.  But, what came next was something I never expected.  During our first scrimmage I stepped on the puck and rolled my ankle.  I was diagnosed with a very minor high ankle sprain.  It’s been a battle, but this is what it takes. 

August 4

I just returned to Bluestreak after taking a few weeks off to rehab and recover from my ankle sprain.  It feels great to be back.  We are now in our 10th week of training and are focusing on agility and balance in our lifts.  As the season grows closer, I realize how important this program has been from start to finish.  It is very tough (mentally and physically) having to take time away from training to nurse a bum ankle.  For the past 2-3 weeks I haven’t done much in regards to training so jumping right back in has had both positive and negative effects.  I guess you have to take the good with the bad.  On the plus side I’m back, feeling strong and my ankle feels great.  Feeling good, however, has never come with such a price.  I am very sore, especially in my legs.  After a couple skates, I can say that I feel good on the ice and my confidence is back.

I am not 100% sure of where I am going yet, but I think it is going to be with the Islanders.  I am pretty excited for next season wherever it may be, I just want to play.  Bluestreak has helped me a lot, especially getting prepared for the camps with the Blues and Islanders.  I will continue to train at Bluestreak until early September.  I’m really looking forward in weeks to come … anything can happen. 

In the middle of summer, many more athletes across a range of sports complain about muscle cramping. The condition can be frustrating and debilitating, keeping athletes from performing at their best. Researchers think that most cramping is the result of muscle fatigue; so being prepared, well conditioned and well fueled may help delay fatigue and keep you cramp free.  Following are some tips to help reduce the risk for muscle cramping.

First it is important to rule out any pre-existing medical condition. If you can answer “yes” to any of the questions below, seeing a physician for an in-depth evaluation is recommended.

1.)   Is the cramping caused by physical exercise of very mild intensity and duration?
2.)   Does the cramping occur at rest?
3.)   Is the cramping associated with any other symptoms?
4.)   Does the cramping episode occur during every exercise bout?
5.)   Does passive stretching aggravate, rather than relieve the cramping?
6.)   Is there a strong family history of cramping?
7.)   Could the cramping be a side effect of medication?
8.)   Is cramping associated with dark urine after exercise?

Muscle cramping is more common in hot and humid conditions so be prepared for the environment in which you will be training or competing.

If cramping is a consistent problem, you may need to lower your intensity level to continue exercise without cramping.

Train!  Being well conditioned may help alleviate cramping symptoms and incidence.

Stay hydrated–know your sweat rate and drink accordingly. Sport drinks not only deliver fluid to maintain hydration, but they also provide carbohydrates and electrolytes–two key players in preventing cramping.

Pay attention to diet–being properly fueled with carbohydrates may help reduce muscle fatigue and prevent cramping. Consume a good pre-training/competition meal and stay fueled with sports drink or carbohydrate-rich snacks during exercise lasting more than 60 minutes.

Source: Schwellnus MP, Drew N, Collins M. Muscle cramping in athletes - risk factors, clinical assessment, and management. Clin Sports Med. 2008;27:183-94.

Opportunities are all to often cursed by those who “never got an opportunity,” and never acknowledged by those who earn their own opportunities. Every time I hear a player say “I just never got my shot,” I think of my teammates from IONA college who were truly devoid of opportunity after our Division I hockey program folded after my Freshman season.

I, among several others, transferred to Manhattanville College a Division III school, while several Juniors were forced to give up their dreams of hockey to finish their course of study. I struggled at first accepting I was no longer a Division I athlete and it effected my play considerably. I was a healthy scratch for 11 games my Junior year, and I owe a huge thanks to my coaches for not giving up on me when I had given up on myself. My senior year I choose to play hockey and not worry about where I was playing and I improved immensely. Not to many Division III players were receiving pro contracts, but I managed, on the strength of my senior year, to receive a CHL contract .

I was again a healthy scratch the first 12 games of my professional career, but learned day in and day out and showed improvement. I ended my CHL regular season with 3 goals and 14 assists in 43 games played. I ended the CHL playoffs with 6 goals 6 assists in 20 games played. I, from the strength of my playoff run, was invited to the Detroit Red wings main camp, where I was so nervous I struggled to even keep my food down, but managed to impress enough to earn an AHL contract.

If you asked me to tell you where in my story I was given my “opportunity” I could not tell you. I guess I am still looking for it.

The St. Louis Blues Rookie Camp experience was awesome! Although I can’t say that I learned too much because this was my second camp–many of the same things are done upon arrival at every camp. First thing in the morning you are brought to the doctor for a physical. After you’re cleared to skate, you are then brought to the rink. I wasn’t able to skate the first morning because my luggage was lost at the airport, so I basically showed up to camp with no clothes or equipment. The organization was very understanding of my situation knowing it was out of my control. Coach Murray even brought me in a few times to make sure everything was being taken care of. I met many different people within the organization. Al McInnis, Head Coach Murray, all the GMs and owners, and several players from past years were all there to help with anything anyone might need. They were all very nice and respectful. Everyone was treated like a king. St. Louis is a first class organization.

There were over 40 players at the camp. I didn’t really know anyone except the few OHL guys I have competed against over the years. I knew Cundari (Windsor Spitfires), Petrienagelo (Mississauga Icedogs), Livingston (Soo Greyhounds), and Nigro (Guelph Storm). I was also able to meet Erik Johnson, T.J. Oshie, and Keith Tkchuck. Playing with these guys was something new.

I thought I played very well throughout camp, especially when I was put with Nigro and Livingston for the last game. With all the new faces and the meeting of new people it was very easy to get caught up and lose focus. Everyday we followed a rigorous on/off-ice routine. Off-ice activities included: Bench Press Max, 85% Bench Rep Max, One arm lifts with DBs and Pull Ups with 15% of our body weight. One the ice, aside from our games, we did a lot of conditioning and edge work. I felt really good knowing that I excel in both areas. I think the hardest drill we did was the on ice beep test. The beep test is a series of stops and starts which utilize a beeping sound where the athlete must start and stop without losing synch or rhythm to the beep. I was happy I did the best because the scouts/coaches said this was the most important to them. Everything else was fairly easy. We also had speakers talk to us regarding nutrition, regeneration, drug abuse and women.

Overall I thought I had a great showing. They said they would be in contact with me over the next few weeks regarding my future with the St. Louis Blues. Until I hear otherwise, I’m just going to keep working hard and direct my focus on my next camp with the New York Islanders.

As many of you gear up for summer training camps and intense workouts with your high school teams, paying attention to your hydration status can help keep you at the top of your game. Here are some quick tips for staying hydrated during the heat of the summer:

• There is no set amount that you should drink in a given day, and remember that both food and fluid contribute to overall hydration status. Foods with high water content include fruit, vegetables, cooked grains, soups and dairy and should contribute to your daily diet. The bulk of your fluids should come from water, low fat/nonfat milk, sport drinks (during exercise) and 100% juice.
• Eating helps keep you hydrated. Be sure to drink fluids while you are eating; make it a habit to drink at least 16 oz of water, juice or milk with meals.
• If you are exercising in the heat, saltier foods help preserve electrolytes as well as encourage drinking. Reach for pretzels, dry roasted nuts or whole grain crackers as a pre- or post-workout snack.
• Know your sweat rate. Weigh yourself before and after a typical workout to see how much water weight you have lost and determine your sweat rate. (1lb = 16oz of fluid.) Replenish your fluid losses by 150%. For more information, check out this sweat rate workshop PDF.
• If you are a salty sweater (i.e., salt residue on clothing or salt crystals around face) consume a sport drink (containing electrolytes) in addition to water during workouts that will exceed 45 minutes.
• Start your workout well hydrated. Before a game or match in the heat, hydration must begin at least 4 hours before you step to the line, or walk onto the field or court to allow your body time to absorb the fluid and reach an appropriate equilibrium.
• A simple way to monitor your own hydration status is to evaluate your urine color. You’re goal should be the color of pale-lemonade.
• Follow your thirst – being thirsty is a good indicator that you need something to drink; however in young athletes (<18 years) the body’s thirst mechanism is still developing, so it is imperative to establish good eating and drinking habits for optimal hydration.

ATTN: Female Athletes

The sport dietitian’s ability to make recommendations for athletes is constantly evolving as we learn more and more about how athletes respond to nutrition practices before, during and after exercise. One of the ways in which we gather this information is through research involving athletes.

A area of particular interest is the female athlete.  Boys and girls are different, and learning how to best treat each group individually is a major effort of the sport dietitian.  For the past 15 years we have been evaluating a condition known as the Female Athlete Triad (Triad), which is the relationship between eating habits, menstrual function and bone health in young women.  As our understanding of this syndrome evolves, we recognize that there is a lack of research with younger women.  Understanding this younger, adolescent population is a key component to developing recommendations for a lifelong approach to athletic and nutritional health.

We are searching for young female athletes (all sports), ages 13-19 to take part in a research study that will help develop more fully the understanding of the Traid in adolescents.  To participate in this confidential and anonymous, online survey, please follow click here and answer the questions that follow.  Your participation is greatly appreciated.

Stay tuned to this blog for more information about the three components of the Triad.

Hi, I’m Vladi Nikiforv and I was born in Villnuis, Lithuania, on October 7, 1987. When I was 3 years old my parents decided to move to America in search of a better life. I was left to my grandparents until the age of seven.

My hockey started very basic by attending public skating sessions with my father. My dad always believed that learning the importance of skating before stickhandling was the most important. In the beginning, I never used a stick. Years later, I’m able to look back and see how important skating was. I am not a very large player by any means. I stand at 5’6 and tip the scales at 147lbs. Skating is my game and I’ve learned that with my size, I have to use everything to my advantage. I played many years under my father who has coached nearly every team I’ve played for. He is my biggest influence and has taught me everything I know. My first experience away from my home and influential coach came 3 years ago when I left home to play in the OHL. My first two years were spent with the Barrie Colts. This past year I was involved in a nine player trade where I was acquired by the Sarnia Sting. Things were going so well I was in the top ten in points in the OHL, and then I received an elbow to the head and broke my jaw. I was out for the next fifteen games.

I have been invited to the St. Louis Blues rookie camp on June 23, 2008. Following that I will also be attending the New York Islanders Camp held on July 14, 2008. For the past two off-seasons I have trained at Bluestreak Sports Training–a proud member of Athletic Republic–in Hauppage, New York. Everyday I’m able to work out with players ranging from NHL experience to D1 College and prep school. My time spent there has greatly enhanced my strength and quickness; it is a great hockey environment.

I’ve always hoped to one day play in the NHL. I’ve come along way and I know that I still have along ways to go. This year I am focused on playing in the American Hockey League where Ill be able to play and develop. My goal is this summer is to become both as mentally and physically prepared as possible in efforts to take that next step in my future.

Thanks for reading. I hope you find my posts over the summer to be of interest.