Articles

The race to better performance never ends.

Client Profile: Kevin Bender posted on December 21, 2011 It came, as it always does, as a shock - the sudden impact of steel on flesh as a car unexpectedly occupies the same space as a cyclist. Only this was even more shocking than usual, the rider, Kevin Bender, wasn't just out for a ride; he was in the middle of the bike portion of a triathlon. Read more...

Swimming Advice - How Do I Find A Source That Works For Me? posted on December 12, 2011 We all walk onto the pool deck with vastly different swimming experiences, fitness levels, reasons for dragging ourselves out of bed at obscene hours, and goals. Perhaps you can relate to some of the following swimming profiles: Read more...

Goal Setting to help you achieve your New Year's Resolution posted on November 14, 2011 The New Year is just around the corner and if you are like many of us, you will enter into 2012 with a spark of energy to change something in our life. You are determined that this year will be different from other years. For the first few weeks, your energy and determination hold strong. You then begin to waver. Slowly your New Year's Resolution slips away. Read more...

Winter Running posted on November 12, 2011 For a runner, winter presents challenges: It's cold. It's dark. It's wet. Under those conditions, the attraction of running pales in comparison to huddling close by the fire, with a hot beverage in hand. Read more...

5 Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating posted on November 14th, 2011 The holiday season brings us together with our loved ones and friends. Unfortunately, it also brings us together with food...lots and lots of tasty but high calorie foods that can wreak havoc on our fitness and training plans. Read more...

Sunshine and Olympians: OptumHealth Performance Training Camp Clermont posted on November 4th, 2011 Imagine: It's January, and instead of bundling up against the frigid air – or stomping away on a treadmill in your basement – you're enjoying the warmth of the sun while running, swimming, and riding with top Triathletes/Olympians Jarrod Shoemaker, Sarah Haskins and Sara McLarty. Read more...

Training with a Coach Yields Huge Gains for Local Runner posted on November 2nd, 2011 Runner Mike Johnson decided to get serious. Though proud of the fact that he had finished two marathons, his finish times of 4.5+ hours were, by his own reckoning, mediocre. But those disappointing finishes were no surprise: his training program was drawn from an article downloaded from a running magazine, and nutrition for one of the races consisted of a single nutrition bar split between Mike and his running partner… and he lost his half before he could eat it! Needless to say, the races were both painful experiences that left him unsatisfied. Read more...

CompuTrainer™: So Much More than an Indoor Trainer posted on October 30th, 2011One of the most useful training tools for competitive triathletes or cyclists is the CompuTrainer™ indoor bike system. You can use this high-tech system to diagnose your own training needs, to get a workout, and even to prepare for upcoming races by "riding" the course.

The CompuTrainer™ system combines a stationary trainer - the athlete uses his or her own bike – with a computer/video system to create a training experience that generates a huge amount of data and facilitates a great workout. Read more...

New training option - Cross Country Ski Fundamentals posted on October 3rd, 2011 Cross Country Ski classes start Oct. 10th at OptumHealth Performance. Get out and enjoy the Minnesota fall trails while getting a full body workout. Read more...

Next Season Starts Now: Time for Offseason Testing posted on September 26th, 2011 Metabolic testing and specific technique analysis are two critical steps to planning a successful training program. This telling data around your fitness level will provide the basis of how to structure your training and racing plan for success. Read more...

Strong Performance at Ironman Wisconsin 2011 posted on September 12th, 2011 Ironman Wisconsin 2011 Recap: Twenty-four OptumHealth Performance athletes completed the 2011 Ironman, WI, highlighted by strong performances from Lydia Novotny, James "Scot" Wickhem, Adam Mohr and Greta Simpson. Read more...

The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill® posted on August 24th, 2011 OptumHealth Performance in partnership with Spine and Sport Institute is proud to offer training with the new The AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill®. Read more...

Client Profile: Mitch Talbot posted on August 22nd, 2011 Mitch Talbot has been a client of OptumHealth Performance since April, 2010. He also leads the OptumHealth Performance Bike Team. Read more...

OptumHealth's New Business: Wellness for the Very Well posted on January 21st, 2011 "That's great. You're doing a lot of amazing things for 5 percent of our employees. What about the other 95 percent?"
Rob Webb, CEO of OptumHealth Care Solutions, says that message came from corporate clients using OptumHealth's wellness programs, and it's one reason for the launch of a new business. OptumHealth Performance supports triathletes, marathoners, and anyone training for endurance sports, including novices preparing for their first 5k run. Read more...

Midlife Crisis: Corvette or Cervelo? posted on September 1st, 2010 Life was creeping by. The pounds were accumulating and the hair follicles were depleting. The daily routine was mundane, drag myself out of bed, head to work, go to the kids' soccer game, inhale dinner, sleep a few hours and repeat. The rear view mirror of a Type A personality showed action plans executed upon, goals obtained, and personal accomplishments summed up by "done that", "atta boy" and "next challenge please". Read more...

Breaking News...Mosher Attempts His First Ironman Triathlon posted on July 14th, 2010 I would like to thank everyone for the countless emails, texts, voicemails and notes of encouragement which helped get me across the finish line. Your support was with me throughout the entire 14 hour and 42 minute adventure. The advice I received from former Ironman athletes was to enjoy every aspect of the day. As I anxiously entered the water, I distinctly remember the emcee asking "......are you ready to be an Ironman today?" as they blasted "Beautiful Day" by U2 over the loudspeakers. The swim was like a salmon river run, competing for space with 2,550 other 'fish'. Read more...

Multisport Pro Says Winning Doesn't Come Naturally posted on June 14th, 2010 It might surprise those who know him well, that for Dan Cohen, being an athlete didn't come naturally. He started the way a lot of kids do in the "state of hockey" (Minnesota) – on a frozen pond. But these days, Cohen's gear is for the open water, the open road and a fast finish. Read more...